PHYSICAL CULTURE.

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17687, 16 April 1929, Page 9

PHYSICAL CULTURE.

AND ENJOYMENT OF LIFE. LECTURE BY MR W. N. KERR, BEFORE HAMILTON ROTARY CLUB. “You get from your body Just what you expect from it —that is, health, strength and vitality, success and prosperity, or, on the other hand, sickness, disease, weakness, failure, poverty; for as a man thinketh in his heart so is he,” said Mr W. Norman Kerr, physical culturist df Auckland, in an interesting address to the Hamilton Rotary Club yesterday. “What are your thoughts about your body,” lie continued. "Have you put any effort forward to regulate it, exercise it, that you may get the best from It and thus enjoy life? A more important point—you enable others to enjoy Ilfo too, thus ensuring your own happiness ' while spreading the sunshine of your cheerful personality. "Physical culture, then, is not devoted to the development of big bulging muscles, l'or the vital organs are not Jn the limbs. The objects of physical culture should be health and perfect functioning of the intestinal organs. You will not be satisfied with anything less than smooth running from your automobile. And your body? May I not lodge a claim for at least rational and reasonable care? To those who are dissatisfied, those who 1 are in indifferent health and are seek- 1 ing a higher plane, my advice is—ex- ■ ercise, for movement is life. 1

Have Time for Health

“Do not advance, the argument of having no time for physical exercise. The man who cannot spare time to look after his health usually holds the averages good in taking time to be sick.

“Physical culture really starts in the mind. You must secure the correct mental attitude towards your body, life and surroundings. It may be necessary to switch right round from negative, destructive thoughts to big thoughts of love, positive constructive thoughts, which will cleanse your blood from the poisons of worry, hate, revenge, avarice. Tabulate all the things which are detrimental to your health—lack of physical exercise, or to much an injurious nature, insufficient sleep,' insufficient time for meals : which are often eaten rapidly and washed down with tea, coffee or spirits. Digestion starts in the mouth. Food must be well chewed, enjoyed and eaten slowly. There are no teeth in the stomach."

After appealing for sports centres in the towns and for more liberal support for athletes going to the Olympic Games, Mr Kerr urged that young people should be encouraged to cultivate perfection of form so that they might be tit models for sculptors.

The Rights of Children

Mr Kerr went on to make a plea for better care of the physical welfare of children. “Eliminate the bugbear of homework lessons from their lives,” lie said, “and let the growing children get out into the extra sunshine and exercise the body in their own unconventional way, thus securing sturdy manhood and womanhood. Those schools which have adopted this plan, I understand, are more than satisfied with the pupils’ ability to assimilate knowledge and make headway. I am continually dealing with boys and girls who possess bulging brains with frames distorted—the result of harmful positions thrust upon ttiem daily, producing curvature of the spine, it is pleasing to note the increased interest with which women are taking up physical culture. The mother in the home has a responsibility in encouraging an athletic atmosphere. Young women have a similar responsibility.

“Time and money spent in training of the body and mind pay a larger interest than any other investment. Manufacturing firms at Home and in the United States recognise the value of .physical efficiency in their staffs.” Mr Kerr quoted the president of a large company with its own health department as stating that the company was well repaid for all that it spent in that service. He mentioned also a New York insurance company which issued an illustrated pamphlet to policy-holders and others dealing with exercise, diet, hygiene and general information on physical fitness. This company also paid for the yearly inspection of its policy-holders, it spent large sums in advertising its health service, and after meeting all this cost was enabled to add large sums to the annual bonuses.

Knowledge Is Power,

“Knowledge is power,” said Mr Kerr in conclusion. “The body may be completely transformed by the renewing of your mind- Suggestion will remove pain. Physical exercise will develop and strengthen the muscles. Breathing is more important than eating. Food may poison the blood, just as much as a tit of temper or rage, (Continued in next column,)

whilst deep breathing, associated with thoughts of harmony, will cleanse and purify it quickly. These arc established facts. Use them to your advantage.” Mr Kerr gave an exhibition of classical and poses and of muscular movements. He was heartily applauded by the gathering and received a warm expression of thanks for his address.