tive emotions, such as fear, despondency, or antagonism, cause
contraction and tend to constrict the vital organs.

It can, of course, be seen at once that expansion is due to the activity
of the extensor muscles. The stretch is, in the main, an expansion. At
any rate, it is always associated, co-ordinated, when properly
performed, with expansion.

Moreover, if we observe the action of animals and all true spontaneous
actions in a human being, we observe that the activity of expansion
begins in the centre of the body. It is at this point that we should
initiate our expression. The actions in the middle of the body are more
conditional than those in the feet, hands, or limbs, but the awakening
of conditions should precede modulation. A certain activity of expansion
and diffusion is the very basis of all conditions.

All exercises should naturally begin with expansion. A true exercise
means an increase of activity. Moreover, not only does life expand, but
all positive emotions, such as joy, love, courage, cause activity of the
extensor muscles. These emotions, as is universally known, improve
health.

If we observe the structure of the torso, we find that the chest has no
prop from below; that the ribs are placed at an angle with the spine,
sloping downwards as low as forty-five degrees, while at times they may
be lifted seventy-five or eighty degrees or more. The expansion of the
chest lifts the ribs.

If we study a skeleton, we see that it must be suspended, that it cannot
be propped up.

Man, accordingly, stands and walks primarily on account of the active
expansion of his whole chest. He is the one animal that has levitation,
as will be shown later.

We find that under the ribs in the torso are all the vital organs. The
lungs, the heart, the stomach, all these depend for their normal
position, their normal action upon the expansion of the chest.

When a man stands, the tendency for the chest is to sag. There are no
bones to elevate it. Man has levitation as well as gravitation, and the
expansion and elevation of the chest lie at the basis of all good
position in standing, sitting and also walking.

There are certain co-ordinate curves, beautiful, spiral, rhythmic, in a
normal and healthy human being. These curves depend upon this expansion
of the chest.

All the best gymnastic exercises centre in the development of activity
in the muscles concerned in keeping the chest elevated and harmoniously
expanded.