Cure-all — all for $20

Press, 3 May 1977, Page 6

Cure-all — all for $20

Calisthenics and yoga — according to a Christchurch man selling a technique resembling this combination, is a “revolutionary” panacea for most physical ills. For $2O. those who wish can be taught the technique in eight "easy” lessons. Then, “like turning on a tap,” they will be able to remedy bodily ailments and restore flagging energy at will. This was the promise made to about 30 persons who gathered last evening in response to an advertisement in “The Press” on Saturday. It had described a "simple” exercise, which had “helped to relieve a wide range of disorders” in students of the technique’s developer, Mr Bruce Martin. Last evening, Mr Martin

elaborated on his theory, and demonstrated an initial exercise in the technique. Holding his breath, “to exert pressure on the sensitive bundle of nerves in the solar plexus,” he bent rapidly backwards and forwards with hands clasped behind his back. In this manner, he was able to “redirect the excess energy” from various parts of his body, to where -it would most benefit. There were two main centres of energy in the human body, Mr Martin said — the brain and the solar plexus. By consciously altering “the Speed of the nervous system” through adjusting the amount of energy in these centres, users could achieve the results he advertised.

I He described having toured ■ through 30 countries evolving the exercise. To establish the ■ exact method which would i produce results, he had in- • duced certain illnesses in ' himself — and cured them, i He emphasised that, unlike i yoga, the technique involved no complicated exercises, and i brought rapid improvements ;in ailments ranging from ; colds and headaches to seri- : ous illnesses. A different aspect would be taught in each of the eight , hour-long lessons, and he • would guarantee further tui- . tion to those who did not s rapidly acquire the skill. Several signed a contract u to undertake the course at the ( meeting’s end, agreeing to I pay $2O within two weeks.