FEET AND LEGS IN THE NEWS

Hutt News, Volume 12, Issue 9, 27 July 1938, Page 2

FEET AND LEGS IN THE NEWS

, By CAROLINE P. WARD. " The4wo feefc;.posisessed by each member . ,bf; humanity- aiTe surely the most untfifirifced of affi our valuable possessions. Most, people unconsciously condemn their feet to a life-time of "hard labour," sometimes they submit to theiT misfortune, but invariably protest in the form of corns, bunions and flat arches. Are you also an offender inthis direction? \ ' Painful feet gi ye rise to a painful facial expression and nothing could be more marring to one's beauty. It is only when the ,feet are, comfortable and arc not constantly reminding, ,one of their existence that a joyful and fresh expression ican lighten up one's face. These exercises are, as usual, from the Bagot Stack exercise system and this week are designed to make the feet supple and to promote a. good circulation of blood into the tips of the toes. Also, they are invaluable for easing and curing flat feet both in adults and in children. Beautify your feet! If your toes are crooked and ugly this is the way to straighten them. Practise these exercises now, during the winteT, and when summer comes onjee more you will be proud to display lovely feet on the beaches and elsewhere. (See exercise one at" end of article). The health'and beauty of the legs are closely linked up with that of the feet. This exercise (No. 2) will work wonders towards making your lovely and shapely, just as members of the Health and Beauty movement have proved over and over again. Also, supple leg muscles add to the grace of all movements, especially that of walking.-' This exercise is also",for strengthening thfe abdominal muscles. ' ExenMse-l:"Taken to a'quickstep: Stand, hands on hips, elbows pulled back, right foot on 'the ground. On the first beat of the musie curl the toes in as far as you can, then stretch them towards the ceiling,' with the ball onthe ground. ..(.1 bar of music). Repeat seven times and on the eighth ' change the feet,' bringing the' left foot forward. Repeat seven times, completing : eight bars of . music. Place the feet' together. On the first beat of the music- curl the toes -of both feet towards one. another, so that the toes and heels,/ire touching and there is an oval space between the arches. Return to the flat feet again. (1 bar of music). Repeat by.curling the toes in and relaxing them clown again. . Take this "eight times, completing eight bars':Of-music. .Each time aim at curling the',tics in further and niiiking a larger oval space ■between-the'arches. Exercise 2. Taken at a quickstep. .Lie .on the back on the floor with hands on the hips. Pull in '.he abdominal muscles and the chin. The heels are stretched up so that the toes are pointing towards the ceiling. Keeping both heels stretched and 'both legs straight; raise- the right leg for two bars of music. On the last beat of the music the legs are at right-angles and the knees are straight. Lower the right .leg gently for another two bars of music. Do exactly- the same thing on the left leg and again on the right and repeat on. the left, completing sixteen bars of the quickstep. Then,' to. practise greater, "control raise the right leg slowly for four bars (heels still stretched!) and lower slowly for four bars. See that the leg does not return to the floor until the last 'beat of the music. Repeat once on the left leg, completing anotheT sixteen bars of music. Each time you raise the leg throughout this exercise consentrate on pulling in the V- abdominal 'muscles. Get the 'raised leg at, right-angles, to the floor! . Are . you practising thfe exercises I gave you in my two"previous articles? Then .when' you have practised those for a :few minutes each day add these feet and leg exercises to them. If you would like any exercises for other pa .5 of the body or i.f you would like he v ) with your own health and figure .problems write to: —Miss C, P. Ward, Care, of the "Hutt News."