to all the actions
of the human organs. It is an essential part of circulation. The breath
we take meets the blood. The blood is carried from the heart through the
lungs and back to the heart, then out through every organ of the body
and back again to the heart. The whole circulation is a mighty process
by which the blood receives sustenance, bears this to every organ of the
body and carries back the refuse which is oxidized and given out by the
lungs. The blood, according to the earliest tradition, is the life.

All ancient writers on long life "regard the control of the breath as a
fundamental sign." A person with little control of his breathing is
doomed to a short life.

Nature has so constituted us that at the moment of some excitement, or
the reception of some impression, or the instant we try to do something
unusual, we take a greater amount of breath. In any exercise, always
allow the breathing to act freely. Observe that breathing is the
initiatory act or condition of all human effort. It is a sign of the
reception of an impression and is thus one of the conditional acts of
expression. Breathe deeply and freely at all times. A deliberative
breathing exercise, such as the preceding, strengthens all the
respiratory muscles and corrects abnormal tendencies.

5. PRIMARY CO-ORDINATION IN LEVITATION

Simultaneously lift and expand the summit of the chest as you
actively extend the balls of the feet downwards.

The opposition between the lifting of the chest and extending the balls
of the feet takes place in all good positions in standing and walking.
This exercise initiates or accentuates the co-ordination of the muscles
used in standing. It tends also to harmonize and bring into unity all
the conditions so far attained, and gives practical application to those
parts of the body which are active all day, in standing, walking and in
sitting.

All exercises must be performed rhythmically. There are many elements
in rhythm, one is activity and passivity, and another is the alternation
of parts:--one limb is active and this helps alternation or rhythm.

6. HARMONIC AND RHYTHMIC EXTENSION

Lift the chest and extend the right foot downward, then lift the
chest with the downward extension of the left foot, rhythmically
alternating from one to the other. This is the first step in the
development of rhythm.

This alternation is still more akin to the action of the body in
standing