Massage & Exercises Combined / A permanent physical culture course for men, women and children; health-giving, vitalizing, prophylactic, beautifying; a new system of the characteristic essentials of gymnastic and Indian Yogis concentration exercises combined with scientific massage movements; with 86 illustrations and deep breathing exercises

by Albrecht Jensen

Exercise No. 1

Massaging with both hands simultaneously from the forehead or each temple up over the top and side of the head and continuing down the back of the head, neck and cervical vertebrae, and thence around both sides of the neck and down each side of the throat; at the same time bending the head forward and backward.

Detailed Description

Position.—Standing or sitting erect in a chair or bed.

Exercise No. 1.

Fig. 1 A. Fig. 1 B.

Fig. 1 C. Fig. 1 D.

Fig. 1 E.

With the four fingers together and the thumbs close, place the inner side of the fingers in the middle of the forehead, so that the hands are nearly parallel to each other (Fig. 1 A). Stroke from there with the fingers and palms of both hands simultaneously up over the head; at the same time bending the head forward (Fig. 1 B). Continue down the back of the head and neck as far as possible, pressing with the fingers on each side of the cervical vertebrae (Fig. 1 C). From here continue the stroking with the palms of the hands and the fingers around each side of the neck toward the throat; at the same time bending the head slowly backward (Fig. 1 D). When the fingers reach the throat they stroke downward on each side of it (Fig. 1 E).

Doing this exercise five times will take about half a minute.

Note I. While the fingers are stroking the neck on each side of the cervical vertebrae, the elbows should be elevated as high as possible.

Note II. Inhale while the hands are moving over the head and down the back of the neck. Exhale while the hands and fingers are moving around the neck and over the throat.

Note III. Women with long and abundant hair, which in hanging loose might interfere with the movements of the hands and fingers, can braid it at the back of the head (pigtail fashion) and the fingers can stroke around each side of it. Or the loosened hair may be parted in the middle, thus leaving the back of the neck comparatively free.

Analysis and Effects of the Combined Massage Exercise No. 1

The influence of the massage movements on the muscles, nerves, tissues and circulation as well as on the internal organs has already been described to some extent in the Chapter, “Construction and Characteristics of the Combined Massage Exercises.” Therefore, the analysis and effects of this and the other exercises will only attempt to explain how each exercise is combined, and what nerves, muscles and organs are influenced by it.

This exercise is combined in such a way, that there is obtained the movements of the arms and the bending of the head forward and backward, together with the massage of the temples, the forehead, the scalp, the cervical vertebrae, the neck and the throat.

The movements of the head, arms and hands in applying the massage movements, exercise the muscles and nerves of the hands, arms, shoulders, the upper back, the sides and the chest. They also stretch the muscles and nerves of the latter two.

The massage influences the muscles, vessels, nerves and tissues of the temples, scalp, neck, throat and likewise the glands in the neck.

This exercise acts as a preventive to, and is beneficial for headache, facial neuralgia, falling hair and a disordered circulation to the head. It will reduce fat shoulders and necks and will build up thin ones.

It is also beneficial for singers and public speakers.