THE PASSES TO RELIEVE TENSION
Ontario, CA 8/98

With these passes we are to begin to listen to our own bodies
concerning the duration and intensity of the movements.  All
but the last three are released by letting the body completely
relax and fold at the waist like a rag doll as one makes a sigh
of release.

1.  In horse stance, the flat palms face the floor and slowly
    shoot straight ahead as the torso leans forward;  make
    fists and tense the entire body.  Relax as the arms swing
    out and around in a breast stroke while the body straightens.
    The palms are again fisted palm up by each hip; tense the
    whole body, then release.

2.  In horse stance, the hands are held in loose palm-down fists
    with the straight arms to the front in a scissors fashion,
    left below right.  The arms switch position 11 times, so that
    the left ends up above the right.  Tense the whole body, then
    release.

3.  In horse stance, the facing palms go straight ahead to form an
    arrow as the body leans forward.  The palms flip as the arms go
    around to the back, palms facing the floor.  The wrists are
    pulled pack and the hands fisted as the whole body tenses, then
    is released.

4.  In horse stance, the right palm is held face down below the right
    breast, fingers pointing left.  The left palm is held facing the
    floor by the left hip, fingers to the front.  As the torso (not
    the knees!) turns left,the right arm points slightly up towards the
    left side as the left arm points behind to the right side--the palms 
    are fisted as the whole body is tensed, then released.  Mirror.

5.  In horse stance, the right palm is held face down at the solar
    plexus, fingers pointing left.  The left palm is held facing the
    ceiling behind the back at the same spot, fingers to the right.  As
    the torso (not the knees!) turns left and the head looks straight
    back,the left arm point slightly up towards the back as the left arm
    points to the front--the palms are fisted as the whole body is tensed,
    then released.  Mirror.

6.  In horse stance, the body stoops over, shoulders slightly rounded
    and the palms held one over the other below the chest at knee level,
    left over right, fingers pointing to the opposite sides.  The arms
    are pulled straight out to the sides at the shoulder, then the arms
    swing to the front to side-by-side as the head looks down and the knees
    lock--the hands are fisted as the body tenses.  Unlock the knees back
    to the horse stance before releasing!

The next two passes are released by looking up and opening the arms
to the ceiling, like saying "Hallelujah!" (or "Oy vey!", if you prefer.)

7.  In horse stance, the left fist is held palm down, knuckles right at
    the forehead, the right fist mirrored behind the head.  The fists
    exchange places 10 times, then the whole body is tensed, then
    released.  Mirror.

8.  In horse stance, the right fist is held before the forehead as in
    7., while the left is held palm down, knuckles right at the left
    ear.  The right fist makes ten small counterclockwise circles
    in front of the forehead, then the left fist makes ten small forward
    circles by the ear.  The whole body is tensed, then released.
    Mirror.

9.  In horse stance, the hands begin as in 7., but with the right fist
    in front.  The torso (not the knees!) turns to the left as the right
    hand goes straight out and slightly up to the front, the left hand
    straight back, as the head faces front.  (This was described as a
    "Victory!" stance.)  Tense the whole body, and turn back to the front
    before releasing.  Mirror.