Several years ago I discovered a unique and very effective means of
strengthening the heart, lungs, stomach and other internal
organs. I arranged a system of lessons, consisting of various pressure
movements, which I termed an Inner Strength Course. As my experience
with this course had been limited, I refrained at the time from
presenting its fundamental theories to the general public. I issued the
course in a series of four lessons, and the strength of each applicant
was ascertained through questions before the course was sent to him.
The experience with several hundred students, however, has so
thoroughly confirmed the value of this method of internal vitality
building that I am now in a position where I can present the ideas
upon which it is based to the general public. The usual price of this
course was five dollars, and several thousand courses were sold at
this price, each student naturally receiving a certain amount of
personal attention. The same ideas, however, are presented in this
chapter, with the warning that those who use the pressure exercises
recommended must take care to avoid pressing upon the internal organs
beyond their resisting power.
The various forms of pressure movements recommended are clearly
illustrated and those who are not especially strong should begin with
a very mild pressure and with the open hand placed upon the abdomen or
chest, though where ordinary or unusual strength is possessed, the side
of the open or closed hand could be used. These exercises are
especially valuable for strengthening the heart where the pressure
movements are used very freely near this particular organ. They can be
highly recommended for strengthening the stomach though they should not
be used immediately after a meal. I referred to their value in the
chapter on constipation in connection with the treatment of this
ailment. After a long trial this system of increasing the internal
strength is highly recommended, and will be found of special value as a
means of varying the health-building methods that may be adopted for
securing throbbing vitality. They are not a necessary part of the plan
of body building especially recommended in this volume, but are
presented merely as a valuable means of varying your efforts in working
for increased vitality.
It is an interesting fact that in some forms of athletics, the body is
subjected to a certain amount of internal stimulation similar to
that which I have systematized in these movements. This is especially
true in wrestling, where the vital organism is often compelled to
endure a great deal of pressure of this kind. The same is true of
American football, although this is too violent for those who are not in
an unusually vigorous condition.
To suit these varying degrees of strength I have arranged these
movements so that the first series (A) is comparatively mild. Those who
are not already vigorous can probably use the advanced form of
treatment, but in most cases it will be best to take them up
gradually. In cases of rupture, or where the abdominal region is
weak, there is a possibility of injury if one makes the movements too
vigorous.
The first series, however, in which the open palm of the hand is used,
is quite safe in all cases, if reasonable care is used. In each of
these pressure movements remember that the pressure should be applied
for one moment only, and then relaxed, repeating the pressure and
moving the position of the hands in accordance with the directions
accompanying each photograph.
When a feeling of pain or great tenderness is noted in pressing upon any
part of the body, this should be regarded as a warning that the
pressure is not to be repeated. If there is only a feeling of uneasiness
you can usually continue with the treatment and the discomfort will
disappear in practically every instance. And while an acute sense of
pain indicates the necessity for avoiding pressure on that particular
part, yet it is sometimes a good plan to exert the pressure upon
adjacent or surrounding parts, thereby influencing the circulation,
and continuing the treatment until the inflammation which is the cause
of the pain gradually disappears. One should be careful to exercise
moderation in all cases, however.
The second series (B) in which the closed hand is used is somewhat more
vigorous, and this is made still more energetic by grasping the first
hand with the other so that the pressure may be applied with the
strength of both the arms. As the student progresses, the number of
times that pressure is applied at each part of the body may be
increased, so that at the conclusion of the treatment he may feel
thoroughly tired, thus showing that he is making good progress toward
the goal in view.
The third series (C) includes movements especially intended for
stimulating the functional regions from the back of the body, and
should be given close attention. They are especially valuable for
strengthening the kidneys. The last and most vigorous of the movements
(series D ) are especially powerful in their influence upon the organs
lying within the chest as well as upon those beneath the diaphragm. The
heart and lungs will be very effectually stimulated and strengthened
in this way. In chronic bronchitis, coughs and colds on the lungs these
movements applied to the chest will be very helpful, besides directly
strengthening these parts.
You can absolutely depend upon it that when you have reached a condition
in which you can exert the most vigorous pressure upon all of these
parts, and do it with comfort and pleasurable results, your "department
of the interior" is in a strong and healthy condition. You will find a
radical change in the entire internal organism. You will find that the
abdominal organs feel more solid and substantial, while the
muscular walls of this region are far stronger. You will have a sense of
strength in this region, and this is absolutely the case in so far
as the external muscles of this part of the body are concerned. But the
more valuable gain will be in the strength of the organs themselves.
These organs are partly muscular in character, and they are firm and
strong, or soft and flaccid, in accordance with the intelligent
consideration that they receive and the amount of exercise given them.
Before long you should be able to use almost your entire strength in
exerting pressure, and feel nothing but beneficial results. But when
doing this it may be well to change the position of the hand slightly
for each application of pressure, rather than to repeat such strenuous
treatment so many times in one spot. The idea is to exert pressure
throughout the entire region of the abdomen, chest, sides and back.
It may occur to the reader that this form of exercise for the vital
organs has a certain distant similarity to some features of
massage treatment, known as deep massage. However, this method is much
more vigorous than any form of massage, and is of a character to build
a degree of real internal strength that cannot be attained through
massage of any kind. And it has the advantage of being
convenient for self-application.
After a time you may be able to originate pressure movements of your
own. One of my friends writes that he has used a similar idea
associated with a vibratory motion. He slightly agitates the hand in
different directions while pressing inwards. This is well worth a
trial, and it partakes very much of the nature of massage. Another
good practice is to inhale a deep breath and then while holding this
breath apply pressure all along the central portion of the abdominal
region, from the breastbone downwards, from ten to twenty times.
Then, without exhaling the breath, draw in all the additional air you
can and repeat the pressure movements six to twelve times, after which
you may be able to take in still more air. One should be careful not
to carry this holding of the breath too far. At the first signs of
discomfort the breath should be exhaled quickly.