Dance Your Way To Beauty—It Makes The Body Active And Supple

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 207, 29 May 1936, Page 4

Dance Your Way To Beauty— It Makes The Body Active And Supple

(By

Lorelei.)

The dancing season is here with all (he fun of pretty evening frocks gay dance rooms, music and laughter. But dancing is not onlv 1 delightful pastime, it is the most healthful and beautiful exercise* that anyone cau take. It makes the body active and supple, keeps the arteries young, and by improving (he circulation, flushes the brain with blood and toues the nerves.

Let us all dance as often as we can in the coming winter, and by this means keep young and beautiful. To dance mid feel fresh the whole even ilia' <inu the next morning—is naturally what every girl wishes to do, but, alas, how many of us can do that I One is always hearing complaints afterward of aching feet and tired limbs. All that can be prevented by. a little proper care beforehand. How can one hope suddenly to spend a whole evening dancing on the tips of ones toes, when for months previously the muscles of the feet have not been accustomed to that position? Foot exercises and foot care are well worthwhile, for, by strengthening and beautifying the feet they make dancing the unmixed pleasure it should be. And after all, five minutes a day and a verylittle effort are not much to give to your feet, which carry you so faithfully for all your waking hours. First, then, get yourself a good massage cream. The following one, which your chemist or beauty specialist will make up for you, containing alum, is fine for the purpose, for it. checks any tendency to over-perspiration: Lanoline, 4 ounces; olive oil, J ounce; powdered alum, i teaspoonful; orangeflower water, i ounce; borax, 1 pinch. It should be used before you go dancing. Bathe the feet with warm water, dry them, and then massage the cream into them for two or three minutes. In frlctioning the feet, remember to stimulate the muscles and joints thoroughly. Work the toes round and round with the hands, and knead the flesh on the soles and balls of the feet with the closed fists. You cau have no . idea what a sensation of health and vigour this deep friction gives to the feet.

Rub off all the cream, and again bathe the feet, and brush them gently with a flesh brush and a castille soap la tiler.

Before putting on your stockings, give your feet a quick rub over with eau de cologne, and lastly a dusting of

talc. Your reward will be cool, tireless feet, for the whole evening, no matter how much you dance or stand about on them.

If your foot arches have any tendency to weakness, choose your dancing' shoes carefully, and see that there is plenty of support under the instep. Also,' let the heels be no higher than they need be. Fortunately, smart American women this season have taken to quite low-heeled sandals for dancing, and many New Zealand girls will do well to follow this example. The smallest symptom of arch ache should instantly be dealt with. There is no complaint, more painful and ageing, awl once the arches have fallen, there is little that can be done, but regular exercises can keep the muscles strong.

Here is one, the most valuable one of all, which can prevent flat foot and build up the necessary muscles: For three nflnutes every day, sit on the floor with your legs straight out in front of you. Stretch the toes backward, the heels still on the floor, then press them forward as far as possible. Another exercise almost equally valuable is to walk on the sides of the feet with the soles toward each other. It is not easy to do, but it is worth practising; for women who perform it regularly will always have a light footstep and youthful, happy feet. Remember that on foot health and beauty the health of the whole body depends.

Here are a few tips worth knowing: A spoonful of alum in a footbath is toning before any kind of exercise. Another treatment which is both healthful and delightful is a hot oil friction, with a small rubber brush. It keeps the bed.s of the nails in wonderful condition and prevents corns or callous skin.

If you have long hours to stand, teach your legs and knee muscles to take .some of the weight, and stand always on the balls of the feet, not on the heels.