WHY I HAVE A PERFECT FIGURE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXIV, Issue 17734, 6 December 1919, Page 2

WHY I HAVE A PERFECT FIGURE.

ANNETTE KELLERMAN'S COMMONSKNSE HEALTH RULES.

The purett way for a woman to retain the love of her sweetheart or husband —that is, if he is an average man—is for her to remain beautiful.

That is the gospel preached by Miss Annette Kellerman, the woman with the most beautiful figure in the world, and whose measurements approach most closely to those of the Venus de Milo, the ideal feminine form of every artist.

For years Annette Kellerman has studied beauty culture. She has discovered the secrets of the ideal figure and the way to perfect health. In her recently-published book, "Physical Beauty—How to Keep It" (Heinernann), she shows that the woman with the ugliest figure need not despair. Commonsense health rules, simple and convenient exercises, will soon show the way to a perfect figure. An -original exercise, which Miss Kellerman calls the "windmill exerjcise," is designed to improve the car- ! riage and waist-line, develop the shoulders, and stimulate the circulation without violence. It is quite simple. Stand with your toes and outstretched right hand pointing in one direction, your left hand outstretched behind you. Begin a circling movement with your right hand, going down towards your toes, while your left hand goes back and up high over your head. Continuing, your body will turn the other way so that your left hand points in the direction that your toes are pointing, 'while your right hand points as did your left hand when starting. Continue this circling motion very slowly until you get used to it, then you can increase the action. Practise this about ten revolutions at a time.

A second exercise is to place the hands on the hips. Bend backward and forward, first to one side and then the other. Afterwards try these exercises while standing on one foot, letting the free foot swings forward as the body swings backwards, and backward as the body swings forward. In like manner, let the free foot swing to the side as yo'i bend sideways, changing the foot on which the weight rests from time to time to give both legs the dc-jred training in balancing the body. An exeicise that makes for poise and grace, and at the same time benefits the muscles of the waist, the hack, and the legs, is the following: Stand up right, hnndrf rt-stiug on the hips, feet a couple of inches apart. Now stretch the right foot forward as far as possible ,the toes slightly raised from the ground/ balancing yourself on the left foot. With the outstretched toes touching lightly on the floor describe a full semi-circle as far out as you can reach. Reverse and use the other fqut to describe the to? circle. I*racfci\se this till you can do it with swell f/c-rfeeh balance that the free foot wi!i grace the floor with a light, even touch. The shoulders and chest can be strengthened and beautified by various exeiv.ses, one of the host of which is the following: Place the hands on the hips, from which position you ma / try these two exercises. First, you may sway v.he body from side to side to develop the niUNclt»s on the back of -the shoulJe<s. In the second place, by bending the elbows and lowering the body, and Ihen raising it again, you will have ; a splendid exercise not only f6r the shoulder muscles but for tin; back of the upper arms as well.

Proper breathing and diet are essentials to lioauty, and in regard to tlovelopme.'ii' of the loner limbs, M'.'-s Kellei'inan sti-'ongly recommends nat.iral .sports. "Walking, running, swimming, and dancing are all excellent." slie says. If the opportunity for these is lacking, try one or two of the following indoor exercises: Place the feet about sis: inches apart, the toes pointing nearly forward. Now vigorously raise the right knee so that the tliig'i forms a right-angle with the trunk j»nd at the same time point the toes downwards so that you can feel th it you are flexing the muscles of the calif and ank'e.

Brintf thp leg back to the . ground with a snappy motion, and immediately raise the left leg. Make an effort, after tin? first few movements, to raise tlio knee higher than in the .first instance., so that the thigh and tha trunk m.ny describe an acute angle. This is ■: capita] exercise for tbo muscles of the hips, legs, abdominal muscles, sciatic nerve, and for the circulation, which implies that-it is goad for the interior organs in general. Also it is excellent for. those who Wye a tendency to obesity.

Anothar excellent exercise consists of placing jour hands on the back of 'your neck, then raising one leg as far as possible in a backward direction, being careful not to bend the trunk or knees while so doing. Point the toes of this leg backwards and dowiiwai'ds, putting a strain upon them in order to do so. Now swing the leg forward with vigour and then backward.