BATHS AND BREATHING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22400, 22 April 1936, Page 7

BATHS AND BREATHING

RELAXATION FOR WOMEN FACING THE DAILY TASK Before coming to the subject of relaxation, which is one of prime importance to women, and most of all to the woman whoso clay is filled with effort, it may be as well to deal shortly with baths and deep breathing, states a writer in the Manchester Guardian. Many women acquire the habit of lying each night for a long time in water as hot as cau bo borne. They come home tired and cramped after the day's work, and this almost boiling bath becomes to thom a luxurious habit as difficult to break as that of cigarette-smoking. It is, sad as this decision may seem, not a good habit. In certain cases it definitely encourages nervousness and induces insomnia. It tends to dry the natural oil of the skin unduly and has a softening effect, which, if persisted in, militates against the longer preservation of youth, which is one of the modern woman's legitimate assets. Once a week is enough for the hot bath that is thoroughly indulged in and unfollowed by a cold douche. And two baths a day are, in general, one too many for energy and health. Before going out to a party it is refreshing and allowable to have a hot bath, but in such an event there should always be a quick sponge-down with cold before coming out, and, if possible, a rest of at least ten minutes ought to be taken after it. The Morning Bath The best time for most people's daily bath is, however, most certainly in the morning. Women who do their own housework will find it a good plan to omit the bath until all the "dirty work" of the home is finished. Upon rising they should strip, preferably before an open window, and vigorously rub the whole surface of the skin with the bare hands or a loofah glove, drawing at the same time deep breaths of fresh air. This may sound spartan to those who have not triod it. But, once started, the results are so good that few will wish to forgo it. If the open window is too trying during the winter the stripping and rubbing can be done before a fire in a well-aired room. Either way the habit will do more to banish colds and to brace a woman for her tasks than many bottles of tonic. Three minutes is enough for a rapid and complete rubbing, with a few simple bending and strotching exercises thrown in. The bath can follow either at once or later in the morning, when the homo worker will want to change and dress for the day. The morning bath need not be a cold one. Few women benefit by perfectly cold baths, and the cold liatli should be particularly avoided by those who fail to respond quickly and permanently after the shock to the system. The best morning bath for nervous women is undoubtedly a fairly quick one in warm or tepid water, which stimulates while it cleanses. But for the rheumatic subject the queen of baths each morning is a very hot one followed by a quick cold sponge or douche. The water can bo as hot as can be borne, but it should not be lain in for longer than three minutes at the outside —i.e., until one is warm through and through —after which the short shock of cold water is wholly pleasurable as well as beneficial to the skin, the muscles, and the nerves. The entire bath, including the soaping, which should be finished before immersion, should not occupy more than five minutes at the most. This hot-and-cold bath is known as the Japanese bath, because it is the regimen of the Japanese athlete and jiu-jitsu expert. So much for legitimate stimulation. But many women are apt to become over-stimulated and over-tired. How is this to be remedied? Mental Attitude To begin with, the mental attitude toward the demands of the day upon one's strength is all important. _ If a woman has the unfortunate habit of feeling habitually resentful and overwhelmed (a besetting temptation alike to mothers and to women who are obliged to go out to work for wages daily), the sooner she takes stock of her resentment the better for all concerned- No amount of care and expense in the matter of superficial beauty aids will make beautiful the face of the woman with a grudge against her day. To go on being or even feeling oneself a victim is a mistake from every point of view. Often by the exercise of courage and ingenuity she can rearrange her hours, at least in part. For example, I have seen cases in which a woman's whole aspect and outlook wero transformed by the simple manipulation of postponing her housework until she had permitted herself a couple of hours for work upon painting, music, or writing. Such changes and accommodations can he made far oftener than some women think. But where there are young children to be reared, and when the mother is not naturally fond of being with young children (a common enougty state of matters), facts have to be squarely faced and assessed. Time alone will euro and honest, intelligent work redeem the situation. Once this is swallowed and. digested things will become easier. If it be asked what place this divagation has in an article on hatha and breathing, the reply is that the worried, grudging woman almost always ceases to breathe deeply. She does not get enough oxygen, and her worry increases till it forms deep and unpleasant lines on her face. Let her, every time her worries threaten to swamp her, draw herself up into an erect yet easy posture and take several deep and steady breaths Things will look different at once. And the more she makes of upright postures and deep breathing a regular habit the more charming she will look and feel. If you doubt this have a good look at any photograph of Miss Mario Tempest. See how she holds herself. Imagine how she breathes. And do likewise. GRAPE JAM A recipe for grape jam sent in by Miss T.Y.W. is a3 follows: —Choose fruit that is not quite ripe. Remove stems, then pinch pulp out with finger and thumb, putting skins in separate dish. Add a small quantity of water to pulp and boil about 20 minutes, strain through a colander, add to skins, and boil about 20 minutes together. Mea,sure cup for cup of sugar and boil again till set. You thus have the full value of grapes with no waste. It is a good winter tonic, especially for those who need building up and whose throat and chest may not bo robust. A little peeled apple could bo boiled with pulp if liked before sugar is added. "I have made it many ways and like this best, adds this correspondent.