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. 9

Massaging with the right hand from the outer side of the left thigh, upward over the left hip and lower side of trunk, continuing from there, inward and upward over the left nipple or breast and upper chest and across the latter outward to the right armpit. Then, stroking with the left hand from the outer side of the right thigh upward over the right hip and lower side of trunk, and continuing from there, inward and upward over the right nipple or breast and upper chest and across the latter out to the left armpit; at the same time bending the upper body slightly forward and to the right and left.

Detailed Description

Position.—Standing erect, with heels about eight inches apart and feet nearly parallel, legs and feet kept stationary.

Exercise No. 9.

Fig. 9 A. Fig. 9 B.

Fig. 9 C. Fig. 9 D.

Bend the trunk forward and slightly to the left and place the right hand transversely on the outside of the left thigh in such a way that the four fingers are close together and pointed outward and backward (Fig. 9 A).

From there, stroke with the right hand, upward over the side of the left thigh, hip and lower side (Fig. 9 B) and inward and upward over the left nipple or breast and upper chest and outward to the right armpit; at the same time raising the trunk.

When the hand strokes across the upper chest the upper body is bent to the right, but not forward (Fig. 9 C).

Release the right hand at the right armpit; while the upper body is still bent to the right, bend it forward and place the left hand on the outer side of the right thigh (Fig. 9 D) stroking from there upward over the right hip, lower side and inward and upward over the right nipple or breast and upper chest, outward to the left armpit; at the same time raising the upper body. This time, however, the trunk is bent to the left, as the hand strokes the upper chest outward to the left armpit.

Begin again with the right hand on the side of the left thigh and continue thus each side alternately.

This exercise done five times will take about twenty-five seconds. If counting each time when commencing to stroke from the side of the hip, it will be ten counts.

Note I. When stroking and pressing upward over the side of each thigh, let the raising movement of the trunk pull the arm and hand up as far as the motion permits.

Exercise No. 9 A

Position.—The same as in exercise No. 9.

Here the same movements are done as in Exercise No. 9, but the following arm exercise has been added:

While the right hand strokes upward over the left side and upper chest, and the body is raised and bent to the right, the left outstretched arm is carried or swung around to the back and upward over the head to the front and down on the outer side of the right thigh, so that it reaches there when the right arm is released at the right armpit. The right arm then performs a similar movement, while the left hand is stroking upward over the right side.

This is somewhat similar to a swimming arm movement. It is also very like the motion used in throwing hand grenades.

Note I. Women with well-developed breasts, who might find it somewhat difficult to stroke inward and upward over them, may stroke more or less sideways inward over the breasts, or raise the palm or the back of the hand slightly outward from the body.

Analysis and Effects of the Combined Massage Exercise No. 9 (9 A)

This exercise is combined in such a way that there is obtained the movements of the arms and the bending of the upper body forward and to the sides, together with massage of the outer side of the thighs, the hips, the lower sides of the body, the chest and breasts.

In bending the body forward and to the side, in order to stroke upward over the opposite side from the thigh, the body makes a sort of twisting movement which is especially beneficial for the muscles of the lower sides, the upper abdomen and the lower back, as well as for the liver. These muscles then become stretched when the hand strokes outward to the armpit, on the other side of the upper chest, and the body is bent to that side.

The movements of the body and arms in applying the massage movements, exercise the muscles and nerves of the arms, the shoulders, the back, the chest, the lower sides and the diaphragm. They also influence the liver, the heart and the digestive organs.

The massage influences the muscles of the outer side of the thighs, the hips, the sides of the body and the chest and breasts.