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. 6

Massaging with both hands simultaneously downward on each side of back and buttocks; at the same time turning the trunk to the right and left.

Detailed Description

Position.—Standing erect with chest thrown forward and shoulders back, but without strain, heels about five inches apart and with the feet either pointed slightly outward to each side or parallel to each other, arms hanging loosely at side.

Exercise No. 6.

Fig. 6 A. Fig. 6 B.

Fig. 6 C. Fig. 6 D.

Without altering the position of legs and feet, turn the trunk around to the right so that if possible the chest and shoulders are facing squarely to that side. The trunk will thus have made a quarter of a turn to the right. While the body is in that position, clench the hands and move them quickly around and as far up as possible on each side of the back, the back of the hands turned toward the body, the knuckles of each hand opposite each other on each side of the spinal column (Fig. 6 A).

Stroke thus with the backs of both hands simultaneously downward over each side of the lower back and buttocks, where the hands are released (Fig. 6 B).

Now, without altering the position of the legs or feet, turn the trunk over to the left side, as far as possible, so that the chest and shoulders are facing squarely to the left. Thus this time a half turn is made. While in this position, stroke downward on the back in the same way as when the body was turned toward the other side (Fig. 6 C and D).

Alternate by turning to the right, that is, half a turn from the last posture, etc.

This exercise done five times will take about ten seconds. If counting every time the trunk is turned to the side, it will be ten counts.

Analysis and Effects of the Combined Massage Exercise No. 6

This exercise is combined in such a way that there is obtained the movements of the arms and the turning of the upper body to each side, together with massage of the lower back and buttocks.

The movements of the body and the arms and hands in applying the massage movements exercise the muscles and nerves of the arms, the shoulders, the upper chest, the upper and lower back, the hips and the sides of the body. They also influence the kidneys.

The massage influences the muscles, nerves and vessels of the lower back and buttocks, and also the kidneys, bladder and liver and, through the back, the nerves leading to the abdominal organs.