DANISH HEALTH EXERCISES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 2093, 3 September 1901, Page 3

DANISH HEALTH EXERCISES.

Two schools for the teaching of Danish health exercises have been established in London, writes the London 'Daily Telegraph.' It is the system to use no appliances whatever, but to train the muscles on a common sense and absolutely practical plan. In a large room, with at least one wide open French window, are assembled a class of pupils. They can be taken privately if that is desired, but as a rule they prefer to practise in company, and emulation has much to do with success. The puils are vastly different in age and build. Here is a tall girl and lean, a little inclined, one would think, to be narrow chested. There is a lady, not tall, but decidedly broad, possessed of the prettiest of feet and neatest of ankles, things which prove that her breadth of body is abnormal, and due to an unnatural condition of existence. Again, a small, dainty, agile lady, who looks as if she could jump over the moon, yet she assures one she never walks, never rides; and until she began her health exercises slept far too little. Another pupil is afflicted with one of the worst burdens of feminine life, too much flesh, or rather fat, to use the more brutal but more correct term; another has had rheumatism very badly, and been sent by a great doctor to work the affected muscles. The teacher, whose good figure, fine poses, and free, graceful walk—she is in ordinary dress, but, she tells us, corsetless —are all creditable to the system, says at once that gymnastic exercises develop muscles not useful, and not always becoming for a woman to have developed, such as those in the arms and shoulders. Her attention is primarily devoted to the trunk of the body, and to the muscles which ought to govern it. First of all the pupils just stand. It sounds so easy, and most of us have imagined that he always stood; some of us have gone so far as to think we stood well. Nothing of the kind; novices hardly ever stand straight, letting the whole weight of the body rest where it should —on the great bones. Some of us find to our surprise, that even in the common attitude of standing we have been putting pressure upon some organ which could ill bear it. Space does not permit of explanation of each exercise as it takes place; suffice it to say that every set of muscles is taken in turn and exercised gently, quietly, and on common-sense principles. Each pv\pil is told what muscles she is working, and why. There is a little appreciative twinkle in some eyes when it comes to the one useful for making the waist smaller. Small waists are said to be Unfashionable now, but no eagerness to possess a large one is yet to be observed. This exercise is followed by one calculated to make the waist round and supple. Another simple matter to which attention is devoted is breathing. Health exercises are devoted to teaching the proper system of inspiration through the nose gently, and respiration through the lips. In this way the natural filter is brought into use, and impurities kept out of the lungs. There are other things about breathing which arc pointed out, all on broad, common-sense lines. For one hour, with intervals of a minute or so for rest, the pupils work their muscles under orders. They are advised to do so for a few minutes each day by themselves, but one or two exercises are best under direction, lest inadvertently they should be taken wrongly alone. All the more important muscles, however, could be kept in n-ood working order at home by a quarter of an hour's practice each day, and pupils should be qualified for this after a. course of tuition. The pupils find it hard work at first, and perspire most freely, but they say that for the rest of the day they are tool, and suffer from no after-fatigue.