CULT OF BEAUTY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 21, 25 January 1936, Page 3 (Supplement)

CULT OF BEAUTY.

x REDUCING BY MASSAGE, l r TREATMENT AT HOME. 7 j (By A SPECIALIST.) The three most effective remedies for I excessive fat, are diet, exercise and massage. The subjects of diet and exercise have been quite well treated in these 5 articles before, but there is yet much to be said about massage, especially as > a reducer. You will find in this article r something both new and wonderfully : effective. Because athletes depend a great deal upon the rubbing down and j the kneading given by their trainers, : some over-stout women have been frightened out of the idea of using ! massage, fearing that they would ■ acquire big musculine muscles. But let ' me remind you of the fundamental law, ' that massage, like exercise, tends to the normal; if you are below your cor--1 rect weight, it will help you to build up, 1 but if any part of the body is burdened I with fat, proper manipulation will certainly aid in its reduction. Massage again, like exercise, effects its benefits through circulation. A working muscle, or a massage muscle, , demands more blood than when idle. The circulation immediately becomes more copious and vigorous. Speaking generally, exercise builds tissues somewhat more effectively than it eliminates weight—anyway exercise as usually taken. But the reverse is true of massage—it is primarily a cleanser. A contracting muscle under a mass of soft tissue which is being massaged gives a firm platform "to work on;" you

I • The- Hips. In massaging the hips you can stand up and use both hands at once, side by side, or one on the other for additional pressure. As you rub and knead the fat lift the leg, keeping the knee stiff, in all possible directions, specialising on the movement' straight out at the side. Continue until one leg is tired, then use the other. For thighs, too, r both hands may be used at once, massaging one leg at a time, while you sink from a standing posture to a crouch. - Bend the legs completely, sitting on the i heels each side down. Knead the legs i thoroughly, as they will safely stand , strenuous measures, and complete the knee-bending until fairly tired. Rub ' the thighs vigorously from knee to hip, ' hand on each side of the limb. [■ Working on the same principle that L we have used on leg massage, you can ' easily devise movements for your arms. 1 Using a light dumbbell or some similar object, lift it to the shoulder from a straight arm posture down in front. While with one arm you do this exercise for the biceps, called "curling," place the hand of the other limb on the working arm, and vigorously rub, knead and squeeze the entire section between elbow and shoulder. Also push the bell above your liead (for the triceps) while you continue kneading. Many stout women are surprisingly fat on the back. You cannot massage your own back, but two of similar desires can bo of mutual benefit, and secure gratifying results. Rub straight down on both sides of the spine from neck to waistline. Then rub from the sides towards the spine, letting them meet over the backbone. Now shake the fatted portions of the back, as was suggested for the chest. Massage of those tissues near the spine has a fine effect on the nervous system, and you will feel particularly energetic and good for several hours after such treatment.