V. HEAD AND NECK EXERCISE. FIRST SERIES. First Position. No. 129.-The instructor will command: 1. Head and Neck Exercise; 2. First Series; 3. First-POSITION. No. 130. On the second word of the third command, the student will take the position from the habitual or military one, p. 120, by simply placing the hands back of and upon the hips, with the thumbs front, as represented in Fig. 59, the head being held vertical. The elbows will be forced down and back as far as possible. This is the position of the arms and hands for all the movements of the Series. FIG. 59. No. 131.-First Movements-RIGHT. At this command, the head will bend down to the right, as represented by the dotted head of Fig. 60, and regain the commencing position four times; then, at the command, LEFT, four corresponding motions from the position will be made to the left; then, at the command, ALTERNATE, four of these motions will be made alternately, first to the right and back to the commencing position, and then to the left; and finally, at the command, Bотн, eight motions will be made completely over from side to side, the first motion commencing from, and the eighth terminating at, the commencing position. All the movements of the head and neck are to be done in slow time. They comprise flexions, turnings, and extensions. In executing the flexions of this class of movements, the head is exactly bent to the side designated, without FIG. 60. twisting the face or shoulders, and with no raising of the opposite shoulder, nor sinking down of the shoulder on the same side. No. 132.-Second Movements. The commands of execution are: 1. FRONT; 2. BACK; 3. ALTERNATE; 4. BOTH. the commencing position the head is vertical. The movements are executed directly front and back, as represented in Fig. 61. The number of motions, and the order in which they are made, are the same as in No. 131. No. 133.-Third Movements-RIGHT. These movements are executed by first turning the head horizontally to the right side, without the least flexion, so as to bring the inner corner of the left eye in line with the eyes of students in, or supposed to be in, the same rank, as in Fig. 62, and regaining the commencing position four times; then four corresponding motions from the commencing position will be made to the left; then four of these motions will be made alternately, first to the right and back to the commencing position, and then to the left; and finally, eight motions will be made from side to side, describing one half of a circle with the head at each turning, only the first motion commencing from, and the eighth terminating at, the commencing position. Second Position. FIG. 61. FIG. 62. FIG. 63. No. 134. At the command, Second-POSITION, the neck will be bent first to the right, and the head lowered as far as possible, as represented by the dotted head of Fig. 60. No. 135.-First Movements. These movements are executed by first describing four circles with the head and neck from the right shoulder, the head advancing to the front before passing over the left shoulder, as represented in Fig. 63; then four circles are described from the right shoulder, the head being carried to the rear before passing over the left shoulder; then the position is taken over the left shoulder, and four circles are described by moving the head to the rear before it passes over the right shoulder; and finally, four circles are described from the left shoulder by advancing the head to the front before it passes over the right shoulder. The circumference of the circle will be as great as the articulation of the neck renders possible. Students will first employ the third variety of counting, p. 144, in connection with these movements. The chin passes over a shoulder on each accented number. These movements set all the muscles of the neck in motion, and render their action freer. They are a valuable remedy against nervous giddiness and stiffness of the neck. SECOND SERIES. First Position. No. 136. The instructor commands: 1. Head and Neck Exercise; 2. Second Series; 3. First-Posi TION. At the last command, the students will take the position of Fig. 59. No. 137. First Movements-RIGHT. At this command, the head is turned over the right shoulder, and the neck is stretched, with a downward flexion, as if one were trying to look at the heels, as in Fig. 64. As soon as the neck has been stretched as far as possible, the head is turned front and raised into the vertical position. This motion from the commencing position is described four times to the right; then, at the command, LEFT, a corresponding motion is described four. times to the left; then, at the command, ALTERNATE, four of these motions are made alternately, first to the right; and finally, at the command, BоTH, eight FIG. 64. FIG. 65. FIG. 66. |