TO PRESERVE THE FIGURE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15900, 24 April 1915, Page 6 (Supplement)

TO PRESERVE THE FIGURE.

There aro a number of disadvantages which befall her who losesjn middle life the lithe, agile, symmetrical figure of early womanhood One of them is very patent to the eye of the observer, who sees a curve in the wrong place as, the eye follows what should be a straight line from the bust to the floor. But greater than the consciousness of visible loss in symmetry is the growing sense of clumsiness and helplessness that creeps over ono us the accumulation of adipose, instead of being uniformly distributed over the body, piles up in the abdomen. Tho cei'tro of gravity Is thrown from its normal position. . Lightness on the feet becomes ft thing of the past, •increases constantly, and makes the trouble grow bv what it feeds upon. The remedy for this state of things is within the reach of everyone who has time and resolution to spend ten or fifteen minutes every day in certain exercises which will bo given in detail, and which require absolutely nothing else but time and persistence. The best time for taking these exercises is in the morning, immediately after leaving one's bed, and before any garments that compress the figure in any way are put on The air of the room should be pure and sweet, so that the lungs may be benefited no less than the abdominal muscles, and the .blood be purified. -^ 1. Draw in tho abdomen as far as possible, fill the lungs with air, and then raise the arms above the- head till the hands meet, without moving or bending tho knees, bend the body as far back as possible, and then, allowing tho air to escape from the lungs gradually, bend the body as fart forward as possible, until the hands approach tho floor. Repeat this ten times, following exactly the directions for breathing. 2. Place the hands upon the hips, akimbo, dr&w air into the lungs, as before, and bend forward, first to tKo right as far as possible, allowing the air to escape from the lungs, and then, after filling the lungs again, to the left. Repeat this exercise ten times. 3. Place the hands lightly on the breast, draw in tho abdomen, fill the lungs, and turn the head and body without moving the knees or feet, as far, first to the right, and, after filling the lungs, to the left, as far as possible. Repeat this ten times. 4. With the arms at the side, draw in the abdomen, fill tho lungs with air, and raise the arms to their height above the head, keeping the lungs fully expanded ; then, breathing out, allow tho arms to fall slowly to tho sido again. Repeat this ten times. These exercises strengthen all the muscles of the abdomen and cause in them a gradual contraction, which, as it increases" restores symmetry of restores the centre of gravity to its proper position, and gives the exerciser a command of herself in movement that is very delightful.