In this exercise, the head should be held up, the body erect, the
shoulders back, the arms extended, the hands shut, and the feet turned
outwards. At first, the balancer may be assisted along the bar; but he
must gradually receive less and less aid, till at last the assistant
only remains by his side.
The pole may be mounted either from the ground or from the riding
position on the beam. In the latter case, the balancer may raise the
right foot, place it flat on the beam, with the heel near the upper
part of the thigh, and rise on the point of the foot, carrying the
weight of the body before him. (Plate XIV. fig. 1.)
In this case, the beam must not be touched with the hands; the left leg
must hang perpendicularly, with the toe towards the ground, and the
arms be stretched forward. After keeping the balance for some minutes
in this position, he must stretch the left leg out before him, place
his heel on the middle of the beam, with the toe well turned outward,
and transfer the weight of the body from the point of the right foot
to the left heel--(Plate XIV. fig. 2). These steps he must perform
alternately, till he reaches the end of the beam.