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

THE COMBINED MASSAGE EXERCISE No. 10

Massaging with the left hand, from the side of the right hip, straight across the lower abdomen to the left side. Then, with the right hand, from the side of the left hip, straight across the lower abdomen to the right side. Massaging again with the left hand from the side of the right hip—but this time with the hand placed about four inches higher up—inward and upward underneath the border of the false ribs to the sternum (the bone in the middle of the chest, and to which the ribs are attached in front). Then massage with the right hand from the side of the left hip inward and upward under the false ribs to the end of the sternum, placing the right hand on top of the left, when massaging with the latter and vice-versa.

Detailed Description

Position.—Standing erect, heels about six inches apart and feet pointed slightly outward, legs and feet stationary.

Exercise No. 10.

Fig. 10 A. Fig. 10 B.

Fig. 10 C. Fig. 10 D.

Fig. 10 E. Fig. 10 F.

Fig. 10 G. Fig. 10 H.

Place the left hand with the right on top transversely over the outer side of the right hip in such a way that the fingers of the left hand are pointing outward or around toward the back, and the hand is in line with the lower abdomen (Fig. 10 A). Stroke thus from there, straight across the lower abdomen just underneath the umbilicus to the left side, pressing continually with the right hand on top (Fig. 10 B and C).

Then stroke with the right hand and pressing with the left on top of it from the side of the left hip directly across the lower abdomen from that side, in the same way. (Fig. 10 D. Being similar to the movement just completed, only one figure is shown here.)

Now, place the left hand, with the right on top of it, again on the side of the right hip, but this time about four inches higher up, so that the thumb is just above the crest of the ilium, or hip bone (Fig. 10 E). Stroke from there, with the left hand, inward and upward underneath the border of the ribs as far as the sternum (the bone in the middle of the chest). The palm of the hand, which of course precedes the fingers, moves at first slightly transversely (Fig. 10 F). The inner side of the ends of the fingers are pressed in under the ribs with the help of the right hand until they reach the sternum or where the ribs are slanting downwards to the left side (Fig. 10 G).

Stroke now, with the right hand, the left pressing on top of it, from the side of the left hip, with the thumb just above the hip bone, inward and upward underneath the false ribs, that is, in the same way as was done with the left hand from the right side. (Fig. 10 H. Here, likewise, only one figure is shown.)

Thus, first stroke once from each opposite side across the lower abdomen, then once from each opposite side inward and upward under the ribs. The exercise has been executed once.

Five times will take about forty seconds.

Note I. The trunk should be kept in an upright position and not bent to the right, left or backwards. The abdominal muscles should be relaxed so that the stomach and bowels are neither distended nor contracted, but are held naturally.

Note II. The movements can, of course, also be done with one hand, but because pressure should be fairly strong (especially in stout people) to influence the digestive and abdominal organs and the nerve-centers properly, it is best to use both hands, one on top of the other. The strain will thus also be removed from the fingers when they are pressing inward and upward under the false ribs.

Analysis and Effects of the Combined Massage Exercise No. 10

In this exercise especial attention is given to the massaging of the internal organs, muscles, nerves and vessels of the abdomen, without any movements of the body except those of the arms.

The movements of the arms and hands in applying the massage movements, exercise the muscles of the arms, the shoulders, upper chest and back.

The massage influences the digestive organs and glands as well as all the other organs in the abdomen.

This exercise is very beneficial for all the digestive and abdominal organs in women as well as in men. (See also chapter for women, [page 17], and Digestive Disorders in Supplement, [page 88].)