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Chapter XXIII: Rules for Relaxation.1909
soon work wonders with you, and you will arise from this “resting exercise”
much refreshed and feeling able to do your work well.
There are also a number of other exercises in Relaxation taught and
practiced by the Hatha Yogis, the following being among the best of what
are known to the Yogis by the term (free translation) “Loosen-up” exercises:
A Few “Loosen-Up” Exercises.
(1) Withdraw all prana from the hand, letting the muscles relax so that the
hand will swing loosely from the wrist, apparently lifeless. Shake it backward
and forwards from the wrist. Then try the other hand the same way. Then
both hands together. A little practice will give you the correct idea.
(2) This is more difficult than the first exercise. It consists in making the
fingers limp and relaxed and swinging them loosely from the knuckles. Try
first one hand and then the other, then both.
(3) Withdraw all prana from the arms and let them bang limp and loose
by the sides. Then swing the body from side to side, letting the arms swing
(like empty coat-sleeves) from the motion of the body, making no effort of
the arms themselves. First one arm and then the other, and then both. This
exercise may be varied by twisting the body around in various ways, letting
the arms swing loose. You will get the idea if you will think of loose coatsleeves.
(4) Relax the forearm, letting it swing loose from the elbow. Impart a
motion from the upper-arm, but avoid contracting the muscles of the
forearm. Shake the forearm around limp and loose. First one arm, then the
other, then both.
(5) Let the foot be completely relaxed and swung loose from the ankle.
This will require some little practice, as the muscles moving the foot are
generally in a more or less contracted condition. But baby’s foot is loose
enough when he is not using it. First one foot, then the other.