[John Peterson]

Hey Friends,

As I have shared before, my Grandfather had an extraordinary Physical Culture Library. When he died in 1990 at the age of 97 I was given a large number of his books. One of them, "OLD AGE---its Cause and Prevention" by Sanford Bennett is a treasure. This book presents Sanford Bennett's personal story of how he was an old, wasted, and emaciated man at age 50 and how he totally rejuvenated his entire being and became young once again by following a self created exercise program that was composed almost exclusively of muscular contraction and relaxation exercises that utilized his own muscular system and no equipment. Many of the photos in the book show a remarkable level of muscular development in his back and arms. In fact, as I read the book slowly and carefully it became obvious to me that his muscular contraction and relaxation exercises which he practiced for 30 minutes each morning before getting out of bed had literally caused a mega-spike in both HGH and Testosterone production. So much so that in 1912 when Mr. Bennett was 72 years old and examined by medical doctors he was declared to have a much finer musculature than the vast majority of men 40 to 50 years younger. Bennett began his exercise program at the age of 50 and literally turned the clock back and was physiologically much younger at 72 than he was at age 50. One other take away is that by utilizing Muscular Contraction and relaxation Mr. Sanford dropped his blood pressure to that of a young man (110/68) and healed himself completely of arthritis and rheumatism while protecting against any form of joint, ligament and tendon injury. He mentions clearly in the book that he was not as self disciplined in matters of nutrition as he was in exercise. Yet in spite of the lack of nutritional discipline he lived to be 85 years young looking decades younger than his chronological age.

One other note; in terms of method and intention Bennett's exercises were virtually identical to those of Alois P Swoboda.

---John Peterson

[shadowman]

I have a copy and you are right, it is a remarkable story. The exercises are excellent.

[MikeNY]

I've read Exercise in Bed by Benett, fascinating topic. Some of the early pioneers in fitness are remarkable and this man is one!

[John Peterson]

Hello MikeNY & Shadowman,

I agree with both of you but I believe that "OLD AGE: it's Cause and Prevention" is the better book because it is more complete and it was written after the author had practiced and PROVEN his exercise system for more than 20 years. At 72, Sanford Bennett had a lithe, muscular body that was truly amazing. He had even regrown hair and re-attained his full youthful height. The man was a testament to the marvelous benefits of Focused Muscular Tension as an exercise system.


---John Peterson

[Andy62]

I remember thumbing through one of his books in a used book store decades ago,

Once again we find another case of the effectiveness of Focused Muscular Tension exercises to deliver not only muscularity, but mental and psychological benefts as well and wonder why it hasn't been more aggressively promoted.

I think that it is just one more case of another effective form of exercise being over looked because it has been more profitable to sell equipment than exercise systems where you only need your body and your internal force.

With the development of the internet and the backing of Bronze Bow I believe that FMT is finally on it's way to getting the recognition that it deserves.

[Hank_Z]

John, very interesting info.

Question: Did Sanford Bennett's entire exercise regimen consist mainly of the muscular contraction and relaxation exercises he practiced for 30 minutes each morning before getting out of bed?

--Hank

[trebor]

I bought this book thinking it was a novel. To my surprise and delight, I found out that it is an exercise system of physical rejuvenation. I was blown away by the pictures of Bennett in the book. He was 72 years old in the pictures, but he looked like somebody in his 30s.

This book was my first exposure to physical culture without weights. Then I stumbled upon transformetrics and started doing lots of push-ups. After just a month of doing Atlas III push ups, countless people are noticing my change in appearance. I work as a teacher in a local college and after doing high volume push ups and pull-ups over the vacation, my students kept asking me if I have been going to the gym. They could hardly believe when I say I've never been to a gym (I mean, is there any teacher with a spare time to go to the gym?)

Just last year, I spent hours lifting weights. After months of pumping iron, no noticeable effect occurred. But I was quite amazed that just a month of doing push ups, I physically transformed my body. Thanks John.

[John Peterson]

Hello Hank Z,

The answer to your question is YES! Mr. Bennett reasoned that exercising while still in bed would allow him to fully focus on his muscular contraction and relaxation exercises in an even better way than if he performed many of the same exercises while standing. He also believed that his muscles 'heated' much more quickly and therefore enhanced circulation to the muscles tissue in a way that was vastly superior to other forms of exercise.

Here's the bottom line Hank, I have studied Sanford Bennett's book in detail and examined every statement he made. The reason Mr Bennett achieved such extraordinary results was because he stimulated natural Youthful Hormone Production by performing his exercises intensely while causing no trauma to muscles, joints, ligaments and tendons. As a result his body wasted no energy in repairing trauma which drains the life force energy and gradually causes a loss of strength and development. He also practiced 'Costal Breathing'. Though he did not call his breathing method 'Costal Breathing', as described It was the same as that advocated by Edwin Checkley, a noted Physical Culturist that practiced the same concept of Muscular Contraction and Relaxation. Like Mr. Bennett, Checkley had a youthful and perfect physique right into his mid 70's when he died prematurely due to an accident.

My point in the above is this, For lifelong strength and youthfulness Focused Muscular Tension and relaxation exercises are the fountain of youth. These exercises Build and Concentrate the Life Force and are the "Secret" that everyone has looked for in achieving Lifelong Strength & Youthfulness.

---John Peterson

[Joe Hunley]

The good news...my library has a copy of Old Age, it's cause and prevention. The bad news...it was published in 1912, so you can't check it out. I'll have to make a trip downtown to read it.

[John Peterson]

Hey Friends,


The Best News Is that when we move to our new format for Members Only we will offer an online edition of Bennett's books as well as many other great Physical Culture authors that one will find no where else.


YES! There will a small monthly fee for the new site but it will be well worth it when people become aware of the information they can access. Also, I will make sure that certain undesirable people (people that have made themselves into internet scum) will not have access in any way, shape, or form because only real names and real addresses will be allowed to participate. If one manages to slip through that has been previously banned from this site I assure you that the moment one of them says even one obnoxious thing they will be history. Guaranteed.

---John Peterson