HELPFUL EXERCISES

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21384, 29 January 1935, Page 8

HELPFUL EXERCISES

to the editor of the pjiesa. Sir, As a visitor to your city, I should like, with your permission, to say how much I have enjoyed the revue at the St. J times Theatie. The strenuous work of the Sun-Kissed ballet, reminds one of a case of many years ago. A girl was threatened with curvature of the spine; doctors proposed putting her in plaster, but a friend strongly advised her mother to call on a lady who trained girls for the ballet, to see if she could not do anything to help. The family being wealthy, her natural reluctance to undertake such a case was overcome, resulting in a cure which was astonishing, and almost incredible. As some of the perliminary exercises might be of use to some of your readers, it may be worth while; to record one or two. Having used them with splendid results, the writer can thoroughly recommend them. Of course in the case mentioned, they were commenced very gently, and only increased slowly, This is where an instructor comes in. For those not used to hard exercise, some care is always necessary; but so long as there is no organic detect, one's feelings, plus a little caution, should be suliicient.

For a start a hand-hold is usually needed, to help keep the balance. No. 1: Raise feet alternately as high as possible, first in front und then behind, in' the latter case lowering head and shoulders, so as to keep them in line with the raised leg, then raising them as high as possible without lowering that leg. No. 2: Swing i'eet sideways, as high as possible both ways. No. 3: Describe with alternate i'eet, as large a circle as possible, steamboat paddle fashion, i.e., on one side; lirst with toe ancl then with heel leading. No. 4: Sit ou heels and rise, straightening knees with a snap. No. 5: Rise on toes as high, apparently, as possible, then rise a little higher. The last two exercises should be done at lirst with both legs together, and afterwards with one at a time; in the case of the knee bend, the other leg being held out straight in front.

There are plenty more exercises, and some very good ones, especially that long backward swing with a motion like rowing a boat, might be iearnt by watching the ballet; but by increasing snappiness and number of repetitions, the above live would provide most people with enough for some time to come. Something of the kind is very necessary for those who make much use of trams and motor-cars, not to mention easy chairs. Later on, those who are young enough and keen enough, may emulate the cart wheels, somersaults, etc., of the beautiful sunkissed young ladies.—Yours, etc.. MIGRATORY BIRP. January 2G, 1935.