DANCING IN COMFORT

Evening Star, Issue 22004, 13 April 1935, Page 25

DANCING IN COMFORT

With the coming of the dancing season, special care should be given to the feet and ankles. Dancing, a recreation popular with women of all ages, is as healthful as it is delightful. But both the pleasure of dancing and its beneficial effects are entirely dependent on the well-being of the feet, on strong arches, and supple muscles. Many women complain that they look and feel tired after a long night’s dancing,_ but if these same women were to indulge in proper feet and ankle culture during the dance season, they would feel fresher for their hours of dancing rather than more tired. Even those who have no actual pain in their limbs after dancing or tennis would be wise to undertake this foot treatment, as it helps to keep the feet healthy and fit, makes the walk graceful, and prolongs youth and beauty of movement. It has also the effect of beautifying and slimming the ankles and increasing that coveted arch of the instep. Proper foot baths, - massage, and exercises all form a part of this necessary foot care for girls and women who dance, and in all,, it should take only a few minutes a day. Let us begin with the exercise; Sit on the floor with legs stretched straight ahead of yon, heels on the floor. Stretch the toes outwards as far as possible, then, with heels still, on • the floor, press the toes forward, towards the shins as closely as they will- go. Repeat this fifteen or twenty times. This exercise strengthens and keeps supple those important dancing muscles at the back of the ankles. It also slims away any unsightly fat round the ankle bones. Exercise No. 2: Stand erect, with the feet straight, rise slowly on the balls of the feet, and in this tiptoe position, walk slowly and steadily round the room. This tiptoe walking; if practised for only two minutes a day, will raise and arch the instep by strengthening the muscles ajb the base of the toes, on which the whole structure of the foot depends. The third exercise, consists of sitting in a chair, with the right knee crossed over the left. Now rotate the right anklo vigorously for a few minutes, then cross the left knee over the right, and repeat the exercise with tho left ankle in thb same way. These exercises should he done every day, and the following foot baths and massage at least three times a week. Before going to bed at night, rub plenty of cold cream info the feet—any good emollient cream will do. Massage: this thoroughly into the feet and up the anklo. Work always upwards, not neglecting the point of the heel and the toes. Hold the toes of each foot in the hands and work them to and fro without bending the rest of the foot. Now rub each foot briskly, instep and sole between the palms of the hands, and, last of alj, knead the soles from too to heel with the closed fist. _A very Ititlo practice of this massage wijl show von now to do it. It will bring a delightful warmth and sense of well-being to the whole foot and ankle, and keep tiredness at bay as nothing else can. After this massage with cream, have ready a basin of hot and a basin of cold water, and bathe tho feet alternately in tho two, ending with the cold. On those nights when you arc going dancing, do not fail to have this alternate hot and cold foot bath, after which, in order to close the pores and freshen the skin, sponge the feet with cotton wool.

Canada awards the noodle-threading championship to an Ottawa tailor over a New Hampshire (U.S.A.) housewife. Mrs Jeanne Cloutier, of Hancock. N.H.. hearing of the prowess of J. Herclli, a tailor, of Ottawa, sent him a standard darning needle with 221 strands of white cotton thread jamming its c.ve. Mr Serrelli sent the needle back after drawing twenty-six black strands' through what he could see was unoccupied space. Ho the tailor wins the championship.