GYMNASTIC EXERCISES FOR GIRLS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XII, Issue II, 13 January 1894, Page 45

GYMNASTIC EXERCISES FOR GIRLS.

SECOND PAPER. I said last week that the actual wearing of corsets was not injurious. This will be comforting news to the many who, having become accustomed to them, do not feel at all comfortable without them. At the same time, I would advise all mothers to bring up their little girls to dread boned stays, and to wear only corded corsets, the hygienic health garments. I have been reading what will sound like an attractive corset advertisement to many foolish women, but which to the wiser ones will bear quite a repellant

character. This is the article : — • The shape being permanently retained by a series of narrow whalebones placed diagonally across the front,gradually curving in and contracting the corset at the bottom of the busk, whereby the size of the figure is reduced, the outline improved, a permanent support afforded, and a fashionable and elegant appearance secured.' Does it not sound uncomfortable ? Fancy being secured in a bard cage like that! *lf you have no intention of giving up corsets,’ says a wise writer, * do try and study your figure, and the corsets you are going to put it into. It is not everyone who can afford to go to a specialist like Madame Johnson, of 7, Old Bond-street—those who can I would strongly recommend to do so—to have their corsets cut and fitted for them on anatomical principles; but we can all select our ready-made corsets with a view to their suiting our figures. Every corset be it a * Hull King,’ a * Duchess,’ or one made by a reliable retail dealer, such as Sirs Everett, of Great Portland-street, has its particular character, or characters, in shape—l say characters in the plural because in these days of enlightenment most corset makers lay themselves out for suiting different figures by different makes of corsets.’ So much for the selection of the stays -, now for the wearing of them. What I want to induce my readers to do is to discard what men-doctors call the * woman’s straight waistcoat,’ for a portion of every day, not only while they

are doing gymnastics as I am going to suggest all should do, but during hours of rest. If women must support their figures artificially when walking, riding, driving, paying or receiving formal calls or on other occasions when they are anxious to look their best, this is all the more reason why they should • let themselves go ’ for two or three hours a day, while reading at home, or when dining in a tea gown ; this will give the muscles and internal economy a chance. Make it a rule to get up an hour and a half before breakfast so as to do half an hour’s gentle gymnastics, after a tepid bath, with light dumb-bells, or on the horizontal bar, or without any appliances, for there are many excellent exercises that can be done in this way in one’s bedroom, and in an easier and lighter costume than that worn in the gymnasium. The illustration should be carried out as follows : —A rotation of the body at the waist ; this is a specific for keeping the waist slim and mobile. The hands are placed on the hips, the heels are together; the body above and below the waist is kept perfectly immovable, and the rota tion is confined entirely to the waist. The pupil will feel the muscles alternately stretching and relaxing under her hands as she describes the motion. This exercise may be modified by sitting instead of standing.