There are several ways to practice this technique. I do it on a waterbed. That's what I have and it works well. If you do this program on a regular mattress you should place a soft, very flat pillow or pad beneath your hips. By placing your buttocks on such a pillow you'll create the necessary mobility of the lower back. The first objective of the Von Latta Technique is to allow you, through a series of manipulations, to exert the proper force, in the right way, on the right area. To do this it is absolutely necessary that the lower back be mobile. Also it is essential that you either be nude or wear very loose clothing while doing this series of exercises. You must be able to move your limbs in an unrestricted manner.

On occassions it may be necessary to spend a short period in quiet relaxation prior to attempting the Von Latta Technique. The muscles and tendons can become so strained that one must attempt to relax them before starting an actual session. When this is necessary, lie flat on your back, your head level with your body (no pillow) and concentrate on relaxation. Start with your feet, trying to isolate and feel them with your mind. Reach down into your subconcious and find the connection to your toes; that is, visualize your toes then concentrate on relaxing them. Then move your concentration to the muscles of the foot itself, then up to the calf. Once you begin this process, simply follow it through to the top of your head. After the calves, the thighs, then the stomach, onto the shoulders, arms, hands and fingers. Then the neck and head. Hopefully, by the time you've completed this relaxing journey from your toes to the top of your head your body will have relaxed enough to be successful with your efforts to ease your pain. If you r muscles are still too tight, try reading for ten or fifteen minutes while lying in a comfortable position. This will sometimes allow the body to loosen up enough to successfully apply the VLT.

I cannot emphasize enough the magical power I feel when I enter into the world of my own spine...closing my eyes and actually exploring the various regions. I stop for a moment to test a certain area then move on, remembering the sensations of that area for future reference.

The first step of the Von Latta Technique is to map the problem areas, isolating each of them and classifying them according to pain intensity, type of pain and related areas of pain. This allows me to determine which areas of pain are simply sore muscles and which represent areas that need corrective manipulations. The second step is the therapeutic application of the Von Latta Technique.

The series of manipulations and movements are, generally speaking, executed with the body in a flat, even position. No pillow is to be used under the head. A very thin pad, as outlined elsewhere in this book, should be used under the hips if the therapy is being done on a hard surface or regular mattress.

During step two, I use pressure to massage sore muscles. It often takes several minutes of applying the Von Latta Technique before I feel that my sore muscles have ceased to be a problem. Occasionally an adjustment will occur during the first few minutes of a session. If it doesn't then I am left with the misaligned area for my full attention. I am now relaxed enough to go on to the most important part, phase three. During this part of the therapy I use exercises that I've decided will benefit me the most. These determinations are made by each person as they learn to apply the different techniques of this therapy.