Page:Massage & exercises combined (second version).djvu/33

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pressure that she can exert, because its strength will be in proportion to the strength of her body.

If it is a question as to whether each exercise should be practiced a lesser number of times with the strongest pressure or a greater number of times with a moderate or strong pressure, the latter method is not only advisable but preferable.

Therefore, in most instances a moderate or strong pressure should be used when the same pressure is exerted throughout one performance.


Using different degrees of pressure for one exercise is not only quite practical, but also as effective as using the same pressure for one performance. For instance, if an exercise is practiced five times, the first time a light pressure may be exerted, the second time a moderate, the third time a strong, the fourth also a strong and the fifth a moderate pressure.

If an exercise is done ten times the different degrees of pressure can, of course, be accomplished with more variation. In other words, a changing pressure may be utilized by gradually increasing it each time, until the exercise has been executed five or six times, then gradually decreasing for each of the remaining four or five times. If the exercise is practiced fifteen times, increase the pressure until the seventh or eighth time, decreasing it for each of the remaining times, and so forth.


THE DEGREE OF EXERTION

Whether the massage exercises are practiced a lesser number of times with a strong pressure or a greater number of times with a light pressure and whether they are executed quickly or slowly; each exercise may be practiced until the desired fatigue is induced.

A boxer, wrestler or any other athlete in training may wish to practice the exercises in such a manner and to such an extent

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