GOOD HEALTH

Hutt News, Volume 16, Issue 37, 10 March 1943, Page 2

GOOD HEALTH

Sit up straight, take a deep breath and promise yourself three things—better health, better appearance and a greater capacity for success. The chances are that you | have more brains than brawn and, j like many others, lack'the physical tone needed for your work whatever it may be. • Perhaps you will say, "I get enough exercise arfd I haven't the slightest desire to have big bulgy muscles." Bulgy muscles are not essential to good health. Occasional week-end games will not develop Uie physical tone that comes from regulated exercise the year round. The muscles you use each day are not the ones which need exercise. Those you do not use need it. If you will begin stretching them this autumn you will soon enjoy a sense of mental and physical wellbeing and be better fit to meet the changing seasons. Why not try a few experiments in order to find out how many of your muscles are very much in need of exercise? Give yourself iiftean minutes of intelligent muscle stretch-1 ing in your own room. Within twenty-four hours you will know which important muscles have been neglected. Where vacuum cleaners and electric washing machines have replaced brooms and wash-boards, and motor cars hstve made long walks unusual, many a good muscle has gone "soft." Muscles intended to be used in chopping wood, pumping water, digging, planting, rowing and swimming are likely to be forgotten by those who burn gas, turn faucets, have no gardens, and seat themselves comfortably in power-boats or motor cars. Wake up the little-used muscles which need exercise. Your heart is a muscle and the walls of your blood vessels, stomach and intestines are largely muscle. If your diaphragm—a muscle—is not exercised, your lungs can do only part of 'their work and the abdominal organs will become sluggish because they lack the stimulating massage which an active diaphragm gives. Misdirected or too violent evercise may be harmful. Proper and intelligently directed exercise promotes health for young and old and enables them to get more joy out of life.