The Cult of Beauty

Southland Times, Issue 21428, 24 June 1931, Page 5

The Cult of Beauty

THE DAILY EXERCISES. This short series o£ articles is addressed principally to those girls and women who are definitely anxious to improve their appearance, yet have little time or money to spare. The suggestions, formulae and exercises are given at random. They are the successful results of many years’ experience. The recipe for Mrs Lily Langtry’s own particular face cream; the exercise to which Miss Marilyn Millar attributes her lovely stlm figure; the eye lotions and exercises of many other famous beauties, are all included.

The modern busy woman has little time to follow an elaborate ritual, however effective it. may be, but a few minutes each day must of necessity be devoted to exercise if glowing vitality and a joyous youthfulness of movement are to be achieved. We are always hearing of America’s glorified women. The girls are unbelievably slim, yet delightfully rounded. Now here is the fundamental exercise which is recognized as being the simplest to follow, and one which nearly all American girls practise for their figure’s sake.

Stand with feet together and head erect. Swing the right arm in a circle so that the back of the right hand touches the back of the right knee, bending the body and head in the same direction as the arm. Repeat with left arm. Do this ten times the first day; increase by five every day to fifty, then by ten each day until 100 movements are made. After a little time the hundred rotations will cause no strain whatever and a few minutes will be all that are necessary. Out of the hundreds of exercises sponsored by well-known and expensive beauty culturists this swing-arm-to-knee movement is best.

If the waist line is thickening—a common happening to those in the middle thirties, stand erect with feet slightly apart, raise the arms slowly above the head, then bend the body slowly till the hands touch the toes. The knees must not bend and the upward movement should be done with a slow intake of breath and with the cheeks puffed out when exhaling. Whenever there is an opportunity during the day practise standing on tiptoes and stretching the body till the muscles are taut. Stretching is always beneficial, and when you awake in the morning give your body a stretch, holding the arms above the head and yawning at the same time. This is such a simple exercise that few people believe how really beneficial it is. / If this series were not intended primarily for very busy women —lazy ones, too, perhaps—l would suggest that a pair of skipping ropes should be kept at hand, at there is nothing better than skipping for keeping down weight, and making the figure lithe and slim.

For those with digestive troubles, and who can be good-looking with indigestion, cut, out the early morning cup of tea and substitute two ghisses of hot. water. Then get up, and lying on the floor, go through the motions of cycling. Twenty times every morning this is necessary. The benefits to health from this exercise cannot be over estimated. It is the best thing in the world for a sluggish liver and pasty complexion.

Of course, it is practically useless suggesting exercises to anyone who suffers from foot troubles, and so it might be advisable to give a little attention to them before doing anything further. Fortunately most foot troubles are easily cured, and a visit to the chiropodist is always a halfcrown well spent when there are corns or other afflictions.

When the feet feel puffy and burning, have a foot bath of very hot water into which, have, ben thrown two large tablespoonfuls of Epsom bath salts. Let the feet soak for half an hour; you will feel the pain departing and a heavenly sensation of relief spreading through vour being. Afterwards dry gently—particularly between the toes; then massage with olive oil. Rub the soles with lemon juice or methylated spirits and finally dust over with boracic powder. If you have much walking, or if you dance frequently, make a daily habit of bathing the feet—a sponging will do—in cold water, and rub over with olive oil. Enlarged toe joints and bunions may be greatly reduced by painting them over with iodine and continuing to do so until a distinct improvement is noticeable. Use common salt in the foot bath if there is no Epsom bath salts at hand, and add a large spoonful of powdered alum. Do not use washing soda; it makes the feet soft and flabby. As olive oil and lemon juice figure largely in this seven clays treatment, please have some on hand. Before retiring at night, put two tablespoonfuls of raisins in a cup and pour hot water over them. Allow to soak all night and in the morning, before breakfast, drink the liquid. MAKE THIS A DAILY HABIT.