The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-12
How to Grow Graceful.

new 1Ork IimeS.
A woman who has improved a naturally
ursraceful figure says that it has been ac-
complished by remembering every time she
Is required to stand TO lift herself upon her
toes and let herself down gently. leaving
her weight upon the balls of the feet, in
stead OF upon the heels. When this is
done." she says. lit is not necessary to
think of chin or shoulders" She has
learned to walk in this way. and says that
her feet grow less tired than formerly, be-
cause the portion of the foot which was in
tended to bear the weight is in proper use
A glance at the position of the arch of the
inStep will prove that the bodys weight was
never intended to rest upon the heels. and
tho habit of throwing IL there accounts for
weak backs and kindred ills.
Overexertion as well as self-indulgence is
sad to be responsible for the Increasing
ctses are practiced for five or ten minutes
morning and night" says Ethel Young IAN
appreciable Improvement will be noticed in
the worst figure in a few months:
standing erect with shoulders back. chest
out; waist in and the feet firmly planted.
with heelS together and toes out Stretch
the arms out IN front. palms touching: now
swing them back until the backs of the
hands touch behind you. The arms should
be Kept quite straight. and the point at
which they touch behind you as high as pos
sible. "a little practice will soon make this
easier than IL sounds)
RAISE the arms straight above the head:
swing them down and far back as they
VIII go; then. without stopping, back TO the
same position above the head
swing the arms around i'm a circle one at
time, then both together. Place the tips
or the fingers on the cnest, then fling the
arms out and back till a right angles with
the BODY Endeavor with sharp jerk to
make the elbows meet at the back The
foregoing exercises develop the muscles of
the neck and arms. helping greatly also to
expand the chest
Lean forward and then backward as far
as possible. also to the right and left Lock
the thumbs. and. with knees stiff. bend till
the tips OF the fingers touch the floor. Rise
10 an upright position, with the arms above
tne nead; Ihis is an exercise familiar with
cur childhood's days.
Jump on the toes. or, still better skip
with rope. This is an excellent exercise
especially for those who wish to make their
stoop suddenly until almost sitting on the
heels; rise again on tiptOe. keeping the back
straight These simple exercises enable you
10 balance the body with ease and to move
the limbs gracefully.
One thing 10 remember, which should be
done habitually without exercising is to
breathe deeply; not raising the shoulders,
but initiating the lower part of the chest !;
always breathe through the nose, and if you
are cold unaccountably depressed take
twenty breaths after this manner, standing
erect Slowly, evenly and uninterruptedly
take in fresh air until the lungs are fully in
hated; then expel the breath in the same
even manner. No one is too old TO be bene-
fted by these simple rules, IL she has the
are suited to the stout or the thin alike--re-
ducing the adipose tissue and bracing the
habby muscles in one case, filling hollows
and rounding limbs in the other, and the
practice of them will not only improve the
inquire and carriage, but at the same time
the health and spirits wonderfully, that
colds, headaches and the blues" will most
truly become conspicuous by their absence
alone.