se in laughter sets free the vital organs and brings all parts
into harmonious, normal activity, stimulates the circulation, quickens
the metabolism of the cells and causes elimination. Each of these topics
might receive many pages of discussion.

You will be tempted to omit the practice of the chuckle, but it should
be especially emphasized.

It expresses and accentuates the permanent possession of the joyous
thought. No other exercise can so stimulate a right attitude toward
life, as well as restore the normal condition of the vital organs.

It has also, as have all of these exercises, a beneficial effect upon
the voice. In fact, all good exercises tend to improve the voice. This
is one of the most important tests of an exercise,--does it affect
easily, naturally and normally the vocal organs?

3. HARMONIC EXPANSION

Sustaining laughter and extension, sympathetically and joyously
elevate and expand the chest as far as possible.

Feel the breast bone separate farther from the spine, easily and
naturally as in the expression of joyous courage.

Expand slowly, sustain the expansion, gradually release, then rest, that
is to say, perform the exercise in the same quadruple rhythm of the
harmonic extension.

In this exercise you should feel a deepening of the chest chamber.

It is well at first, until you get the exercises correctly, to place one
hand at the back, the other on the chest, and in expanding to feel the
two hands separate.

This expansion should be sustained for several seconds. The release
should follow gradually. There should be a repetition of the expansion;
you should feel a sympathetic activity all through the chest and torso.

Sudden collapses should at all times be avoided, and they should
especially be avoided in exercises of the chest and of the central
organs.

The free, expansive facility of the whole chest is the measure of the
health, strength, grace and normal actions of a human being. It is of
primary importance.

4. RESPIRATORY ACCENTUATION

Keeping the body extended, the chest well expanded, take a deep,
full breath, hold it a moment and gradually release it, then wait a
second without greatly lessening the expansion of the chest

In this exercise be sure to accentuate the four elemental parts of an
exercise. Taking breath, the active stay of the breath, the gradual
release and then the complete surrender of the direct respiratory
muscles: that is,