isfaction and in laughter.
These elements should be practiced on waking up.

The stretch should be in the nature of an indulgence, an instinctive
longing on first awaking, a longing in common with all animals. It ought
to be enjoyable and a help to sustain the laughter.

Count one for the active movement, or stretch, two for the staying of
the active conditions, three for the gradual release of activity, and
four for complete relaxation.

The exercise, as most of the others, should be repeated twenty to
twenty-five times, counting four for each of the preceding movements.
This will require eighty to one hundred counts. Each of the four actions
of the muscles should be carefully distinguished and accentuated.

Counting four in this way for an exercise and for each of the first
steps obeys the law of rhythm, accentuates all the elemental actions of
the muscles and establishes primary conditions of healthful activity in
all the vital organs.

The simultaneous elements or actions in this first exercise are of such
importance that it is well to practice each one separately, either
before or after the general exercise.

This distinct practice prevents the slighting of any of these elemental
conditions, restores harmony and stimulates normal functioning of all
organs. In fact, all these actions are really necessary conditions and
should be present as elements of all exercises.

The following exercises (2-5) are important, individual accentuations of
the essential actions of this general exercise, and the conditions of
all exercises.

The student should carefully study his tendencies to omit or slight any
one of these elements and accentuate carefully not only every step
separately, but observe with especial care the one most needed.

2. INITIATORY EXHILARATION

Sustaining the extension and full breath, laugh heartily, with
little or no noise, chuckle to yourself persistently for several
minutes. Centre the laughter in the breathing and the torso.

Joy and laughter must be considered the first condition of all exercise.
The reasons have been explained. If you are still sceptical, observe and
experiment. Everything that is truly scientific can be proved or in some
way demonstrated. As this is one of the basic principles of this book
and its companion volume, "The Smile," and as joy and laughter are met
as the first exercise of our program, it may be well to summarize some
of the arguments:

Exerci