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The word yoga is here used as it can aptly be applied to the practice which is going to be described, however in this context it is not describing a psycho-physical discipline with its origin the Far East and, as well, dynamically it is the very opposite of typical hata yoga methods where absolute stillness is required in any of the various yoga postures (asanas) employed. That it may bring about some results similar to those achieved in laya yoga, in respect to what is symbolically described as the coiled serpent in Kundalini yoga and as well in the yogic practice of the psychic heat, (tūmmō) as evidenced from purely subjective experience, is indeed likely, however this practice is mostly a tonic and therapeutical exercise and, in this respect, of all things which life may offer us there is only one which we would never forsake: good health!

Tremor, as an intrinsic manifestation of our psychophysical constitution, is indicative of certain metabolic changes under particular situations such as fever, illness, physical discomfort, extreme cold and psychological stress such as fear, rage and a variety of other circumstances, both physical and psychical. As such it reflects certain states of our psychophysical stand due to sustained biochemical changes within our organism, changes which can be traced to the release of diverse neurotransmitters from the synapses in our neural networks.

Although tremor is an autonomic property of the nervous system indicative of homeostatic unbalance we can easily imitate or feign it to a certain degree by a deliberate act of will and a set goal.

The exercise in itself is, initially, very easy in that it simply consists on generating a vibrational effect throughout the body, not dissimilar from shaking and trembling and akin to the vibration caused when you yawn and stretch your arms’ muscles. This can be effortlessly obtained by acting on the muscles in the body's trapezoidal, abdominal, and lumbosacral regions, in unison or separately, in so many ways as a practitioner can devise; anyhow, just to give an example: clench you fists and draw your scapulae inward and you will experience a strong vibration taking hold of your torso. The more you pull your muscles, the stronger tension you apply to them, the stronger the resulting vibration. This is not dissimilar from a stretching exercise but for the fact that stretching, by itself, will not generate sustained vibrations unless some other muscular structure is activated, as from the example above: if we just clench our fists we will obtain muscular tension in both arms, but if contemporaneously we pull the scapulae inward (the latter action also expands the chest) a vibration takes hold of the whole torso.

Given the easiness and lack of particular training with which tremor, or muscular vibration, can be generated it appears that it is an exercise that anyone can practice independently of sex and age and, nonetheless, even in those cases where physical ailments are extant. All in all it requires just a conscious act of will and giving due time to the exercise itself; as stressed above, tremor can be obtained in variety of ways which can best suit, or satisfy, the practitioner’s exigencies. While is just a matter of simple practice to devise a method which is personally more suitable, the vibrational activity should be extended to the abdominal and the perineal regions so that the vibration is fully felt all the way between the neck and thighs. It takes practice, but this is the part of the exercise where similarities with laya yoga and psychic heat (tūmmō) may be discerned and where health may be influenced for better. It goes without saying that coupling the exercise itself with a beneficial breathing practice will surely add to its positive effects. However, in the latter case, at least initially it is not easy to properly direct the mental concentration to two simultaneous activities, namely that of maintaining a steady vibration and that of sustaining a regular, conscious, breathing exercise. That will be achieved with due practice and the process will become automatic; if so willed, since the tendency to concentrate on the bodily vibrations apparently is stronger and both activities must be properly synchronized.

Basically, and in an extremely simplified description, the process behind the exercise can be traced in the following metabolic processes: we know that the resonant frequency of a nerve impulse is of about 360 cycles per second and that it can reach, under excitation, a maximum frequency of about 500 cycles per second. As well, we know that when a nerve cell is stimulated a single electrical impulse starts from a value of negative 60 millivolts, crosses a zero point and rises to a value of 60 positive millivolts; this potential then falls again, crosses the zero volt threshold of the cell's membrane, and again becomes 60 millivolts negative when the nerve cell comes to rest again. These differences of potential and frequency in the nervous system act on the permeability of the nerve cell’s membrane consequently favoring greater or lesser biochemical activation and exchange. Hence, more likely in the case in object, a balancing biochemical reaction, which in the last analysis is what lies behind good health. "The cell is indeed a machine";¹ it is within our powers to tame it.

This means that the exercise acts on all the components of the nervous system favoring, mechanically, a relaxation between tissues while, from a neurological and electrochemical point of view, we can envisage sustained favorable biochemical processes with a tendency to promote physiological equilibrium and in some instances even healing of certain ailments.

As related to personal experience, this exercise was devised in response to the excruciating and intractable pain generated from cervical spondylitis and the constant heavy need of analgesics in order to try living a normal existence. The immediate result was neither healing nor reshaping anew the encrusted cervical vertebrae but a remarkable remission of pain and long intervals between attacks which were almost daily. Hence a long practice with the technique itself and variations of the same followed so much so that the exercise, which can be practiced at leisure anywhere, has become almost addictive. Deep relaxation ensues after the exercise; a breathing exercise is practiced altogether.

In some instances, although not invariably, another effect, not easy to come about and reminiscent of what is what is known as psychic heat is that the abdomen and subsequently the thorax and above experience an intense pleasurable heat; in this particular case time and mental relaxation play a prominent part. Another physiological effect is arousal which may be sustained indefinitely so long as the exercise is carried out, and this happens if during the induced vibration constriction is applied to the muscles in the sacral region. This last effect, which very likely is cardinal to some practices of Tantric yoga, is brought about spontaneously and without any physical contact or mental imagery - namely, without induced stimulation whether physical or mental - hence it unmistakably indicates that the arousal mechanism of the brain is spontaneously affected; to state it differently, it unequivocally testifies to the strong metabolic and physiologic influence that the exercise exerts. Together with the psychic heat, it suggests similarities with some practices related to laya yoga. Additionally, applying force to both the sacral and abdominal muscles will give rise to “spikes” in that some jerky muscular contractions will abruptly raise the trunk if supine - since this may issue also as a sudden and violent reaction, proper control is necessary.² However, stabilized at a reasonable intensity, it will bring about an orgasmic effect. Properly forcing - without undue exertion which could bring about "spikes" - only the abdominal and coccygeal muscles to the exclusion of all other muscles will give way to a soft, almost subliminal, vibration in the whole organism. Possibly this should be the aim of the exercise since in the latter case the least effort is required and the best result obtained. With due stress on the fact that the observed results are strictly subjective, as a closing remark emphasis is to the effect that the outcome of the exercise is a substantial sense of power, of accumulated energy.

It may not be farfetched thinking that, under proper supervision, this exercise might help several myopathies, diminish seizures in epilepsy, reduce compulsive behavior, and therapeutically aid other ailments since brain stimulation can potentially help in a wide range of disorders.

If you are keen on meditation practices, something additional is indeed worth trying; its import will be self-evident as we read along.

When we look at a building in its complex, we perceive its outlines; then within the same its distinctive features strike our imagination: nice outfits and ornaments, or old and falling apart, or whatsoever. We hardly, if ever, give a thought to that which is hidden beyond the plaster, namely, bricks, stones, cement or whatever keeps it standing. Sadly, we normally do the same thing when we look at or think about our physical temple. We perceive an image and appreciate its youth, or its beauty; or we despise its manifest old age, or its ugliness and all sort of things. All in all we perceive a living entity, so dressed, so moving, so behaving, or so attractive or so repulsive. We look at it just like we look at the building above mentioned; we hardly if ever give a thought to the hidden structure which lies beyond the skin and bones which keeps it together. We are struck and narcissistically attached to the outward appearance. This hidden structure however, as we are too well aware, is made up by a myriad of living organism at a very primitive level, acting in concert – the cells which make up the various important organisms within the body itself. Each of these cells, singly among thousands of billions of them, has a life of its own, a motive power and intelligence and thence this temple of ours, as such, is not an individual living being but the sum total of uncountable microscopic organisms’ lives, each thriving with an exact purpose, an unerringly set goal. As to the purpose of this remark: so much so as it is useful to look within our mind, on the other side of the rope something equally precious is hanging but we never give it proper attention. We are hardly conscious that these myriad of lives are the very pedestal not only of our physical frame, but as well of our mind and that this complex frame of ours should, likewise, be properly visualized for what it is and not from the outward appearance of the structure. Looking at ourselves in such a wise a different reality is perceived, a greater, incomparably richer image teeming with life strikes our mental vision and widens its horizon towards border-less visions. Calling it “our physical temple” is not inappropriate because here it is that, like in prayer in a holy place, a greater discernment of our real place in nature, as well as a greater understanding of the nature within ourselves develops and matures; a keener view of what we really are.

Adapting this vision as it better suits you, you should cling to the same while doing the tremor exercise, possibly at that level which above was termed as subliminal vibration. Here you may find yourself as rigid as a corpse but, nevertheless, you will have the unspeakable feeling of every single atom vibrating in your organism.