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of the spine; then abdominal walls in the front and back upto the hip. Now relax all the internal organs inside the abdominal cavity, viz. kidneys, intestines, spleen, pancreas, stomach and liver. Next, relax the chest muscles round the rib cage in the front as well as the back. The lungs and the heart inside the chest cavity have already been slowed down adequately. Having relaxed the whole trunk up to the top of the chest and collar bone, proceed to relax each arm in turn, first the right and then the left, from the fingers and thumb to the shoulder. Again upwards in small step from joint to joint, first the thumb, fingers and the palm upto the wrist, then from wrist to the elbow and from elbow to the shoulder blades. This brings us upto the neck. In the next stage relax the neck i.e. the top of the back, the nape and the throat.
We have now come to slightly more difficult part of the technique. It is comparatively easy to relax the large skeletal muscles of the trunk and limbs, but, because of our tightlipped posture, it is more difficult to relax the facial muscles. However, we have to proceed with the work with confidenand patience. Begin with relaxing the jaws, when the lower jaw falls without opening the mouth. Inside the mouth, the teeth must be unclenched and the tongue becomes limp. Next come to the facial muscles which surround the lips, mouth, nostrils and the cheeks. Then relax each in turn and come to the eyes. Eyelids are gently closed over the eyeballs without pressing them. Each eye is meticulously relaxed in turn. Now move over to the forehead and temples. Finally relax the whole scalp from right to left and back to front, upto the top of the head. Having gone over the whole body, from feet to head, the operation r
may be repeated, as in the meantime some muscles might have recontracted. This second round will be much quicker than the first, followed by a third if necessary. It should be remembered that the auto-suggestion is followed by an experience of relaxation in each portion of the body. The next stage is to recognize the state of relaxation. Having remained completely motionless, the first sign of relaxation is
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