THE CONSTRUCTION AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE COMBINED MASSAGE EXERCISES
The chief characteristics of the exercises presented in this book is that scientific or medical massage movements (not mere rubbing) have been combined with the essentials of preliminary gymnastic exercises, such as for instance, bending, stretching and circulating movements of the arms, the bending of the body (trunk) backward, forward and to the side, turning and rolling it to the right or left, and bending and stretching the legs.
By this combined application of the massage movements with the movements of the body, there is also obtained the benefit of the essential characteristics of the Indian Yogis system or concentration exercises, so-called after the old Hindus,—the Yogi. For example, one of their exercises consisted of placing the backs of the hands on the back, and by concentrating the mind on the muscles of the arms a stationary pressure was exerted on that part of the body. Another consisted of clutching the hands firmly (with arms at sides) and rising up on toes, at the same time concentrating the mind on the muscles of the arms and legs. The Yogis also practiced other exercises, in which the hands exerted a stationary pressure on other parts of the body and against a wall.
The few more or less fantastic systems of exercise presented during the last fifty years, which consist mainly in producing an imaginary resistance to the muscles by will power only, originate from the Indian Yogis.
In the exercises presented in this book a natural, better and more agreeable resistance to the muscles of the legs, arms andtrunk is secured by stroking and pressing with the hands on the body and limbs.Here the pressing is not stationary, as in the Indian and similar exercises, but it is done while the hands are stroking.This stroking and pressingis done in such a manner that it is identical with scientific massage movements, some of which have been used by specialists prominent in Europe and America. To the exercises are also added those which in the author’s experience at hospitals in New York, have been found to be productive of the best results. The only difference is that they are here joined to the movements of the body and are performed by the individual.
These massage movements have a far greater beneficial effect—therapeutically as well as physiologically—than the body movements themselves, to which they are combined. A brief explanation of their effects may here be interpolated.
1. They bring about increasing activity in the glands and vessels of the skin and muscles. Waste and poisonous substances are carried away by the lymph and blood supply and disposed of through the skin, lungs and kidneys more readily than otherwise.2. Flabby and atrophied muscles are nourished and restored, while hard and contracted muscles are made more soft and supple; and fatigue matter removed from them.3. They stimulate and nourish the nerves and through them the tissues and organs of the body.4. They cause increased combustion in the tissues, more carbonic acid gas is eliminated and more oxygen absorbed, thereby stimulating and increasingrespiration through the lungs and skin pores.5. The massage movements will likewise stimulate and cause increased activity in the digestive organs. The flow of the digestive juices from the liver and pancreas, which are essential for proper digestion and absorption of food, is increased. They assist in preventing engorgement of the liver and are very beneficial to that organ. The stomach and intestines are influenced directly by the mechanical action of the massage movements and indirectly through nourishment of the nerve centres controlling them.6. The direct action of the kidneys and bladder is also stimulated, so that waste and poisonous substances are eliminated more quickly.7. The heart is influenced not only by massaging around and over its region, thus stimulating the muscles and nerves surrounding it, but also through the influence of the massage movements on the circulation of the blood. The strength of the heart-beat is thus increased and the number decreased.8. Weak eyes have been benefited by the effect of massage on the nervous system.
1. They bring about increasing activity in the glands and vessels of the skin and muscles. Waste and poisonous substances are carried away by the lymph and blood supply and disposed of through the skin, lungs and kidneys more readily than otherwise.
2. Flabby and atrophied muscles are nourished and restored, while hard and contracted muscles are made more soft and supple; and fatigue matter removed from them.
3. They stimulate and nourish the nerves and through them the tissues and organs of the body.
4. They cause increased combustion in the tissues, more carbonic acid gas is eliminated and more oxygen absorbed, thereby stimulating and increasingrespiration through the lungs and skin pores.
5. The massage movements will likewise stimulate and cause increased activity in the digestive organs. The flow of the digestive juices from the liver and pancreas, which are essential for proper digestion and absorption of food, is increased. They assist in preventing engorgement of the liver and are very beneficial to that organ. The stomach and intestines are influenced directly by the mechanical action of the massage movements and indirectly through nourishment of the nerve centres controlling them.
6. The direct action of the kidneys and bladder is also stimulated, so that waste and poisonous substances are eliminated more quickly.
7. The heart is influenced not only by massaging around and over its region, thus stimulating the muscles and nerves surrounding it, but also through the influence of the massage movements on the circulation of the blood. The strength of the heart-beat is thus increased and the number decreased.
8. Weak eyes have been benefited by the effect of massage on the nervous system.
Summarizing, it may be seen that: (1) In the massage exercises the essentials of preliminary gymnasium exercises are included with their resultant benefit. (2) The therapeutic and physiologic beneficial effect of scientific massage movementsare obtained. (3) The benefit of the essential characteristics of the concentration system originated by the Hindus is secured and in a much more effective facile and agreeable manner. (4) In addition, there accrue the other general advantages which the massage exercises possess. A few of these may be noted:
a. The maximum of effect with the minimum of effort.b. The stretching, pressing, stimulating and nourishing of the nerves in a natural way.c. The avoidance of mental fatigue. The longer the exercises are practiced the more they are liked, because of their agreeable nature and immediate effect.d. Inasmuch as they are regulated by the pressure of the hands, they may be adapted to any required degree and thus are equally beneficial to all, from the most developed athlete down to the little child old enough to understand their execution.e. The exercises may also be used in different disordered and diseased conditions of the body, of a mild character, in which massage is helpful. A person with injured legs and even one with no legs at all will be able to practice some of them in a sitting or lying posture; namely, massage exercises Nos. 1, 2, 10 and 12, and without the movements of the body also Nos. 8, 11 and 14.f. Because they improve the circulation of blood and lymph, enrich the blood, burn away fatty tissues, build up muscles, and have the most beneficial influence on the nerves and glands; they will improve the appearance and the figure of both stout and thin.g. They will preserve youth and retard old age.
a. The maximum of effect with the minimum of effort.
b. The stretching, pressing, stimulating and nourishing of the nerves in a natural way.
c. The avoidance of mental fatigue. The longer the exercises are practiced the more they are liked, because of their agreeable nature and immediate effect.
d. Inasmuch as they are regulated by the pressure of the hands, they may be adapted to any required degree and thus are equally beneficial to all, from the most developed athlete down to the little child old enough to understand their execution.
e. The exercises may also be used in different disordered and diseased conditions of the body, of a mild character, in which massage is helpful. A person with injured legs and even one with no legs at all will be able to practice some of them in a sitting or lying posture; namely, massage exercises Nos. 1, 2, 10 and 12, and without the movements of the body also Nos. 8, 11 and 14.
f. Because they improve the circulation of blood and lymph, enrich the blood, burn away fatty tissues, build up muscles, and have the most beneficial influence on the nerves and glands; they will improve the appearance and the figure of both stout and thin.
g. They will preserve youth and retard old age.