Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-04-16
HOMEMAKERS COLUMN.
Correspondence on topics Of interest to the ldie.
Is solicited. Address: Editor HONEnAKERs'
COLUMN, Oxford Democrat. Paris. Maine.
GOSPEL OF BREATHING.
HOW TO FILL OUT A CAvED- IN CHEST
GIVE YOUR LUNGS AIR BATHS. GOOD
EXERCISE.

A hollow, caved-in chest is beauty
woe for which the afflicted one is herself
responsible. II one Is in Ill health 1t is
different matter. Disease will cause the
lungs to shrink and contract, and de-
preston of the chest Ia then unavoidable,
says the Chicago Times Herald.
Full, perfect development OF the chest
is as natural as red lips or bright eyes.
Breathe properly, carry yourself with .
little vim, and use your backbone instead
of a-harness made Of steels, whalebones
and pink satin. Then you will be real
flesh and blood woman.
The mode now is the rational one OF
natural, soft lines. The slender
woman wears cunning little girdle Of
tapes or ribbons that brings absolute
comfort, and yet holds the abdomen In
place and gives support for petticoats
and gown. She can know the joy of full
lung expansion-a privilege which
civilized women have acquired only In
recent years. The girdle is worn loose
enough so that breathing can be from
the diaphragm.
Let me suggest some exercises for the
beauty patient.
Stand in Doorway narrow door
way preferred. Place the palms Of the
hands fat on the door casing, the tips of
the fingers being placed at the height of
the shoulders. Walk through the door
without removing your hands, until you
are the length of your arms away.
At first you will declare that you can't
do it. But keep on, day after day, and
the first thing you know you will be so
supple that you can float through the
door after the most approved hygienic
fashion described. And it is great fun
asking other girls to try. Itlooks easy
but it isn't.
This exercise draws back the shoulder
blades, bringing into play all the i'm
portant chest muscles. 1t will make
your throat full and pretty, and the
bony girl will find that it will help ill
up the ugly hOllows in her neck and
chest. Night and morning walk through
the doorway so times.
Breathing exercises are invaluable II
one would have high chest, firm, full
bust and waist round and supple.
Nature did not intend US to waddle
about with dropping chests that cause
US to look like consumptives in the last
stages Of the disease.
Expand your lungs to the limit. Raise
your chest and keep it raised. Practise
the exercises as they are given here, but
make it rule to breathe correctly all
the time. While waiting for street car,
while standing in the kitchen door, fill
your lungs to the splitting point, and,
more important still, expel thoroughly,
emptying the lungs completely. 1t is
quite as necessary to get all the air out
as it is to get plenty of fresh air in.
When you arise in the morning, slip
on bathrobe and bedroom slippers.
Open the window. To take breathing
exercises without perfect ventilation in
the room is to waste your time.
Place yourself in an erect and easy po-
sition, with one foot little forward, al
lowing the weight to rest upon it. Put
the arms akimbo, the fingers pressing
on the abdominal muscles in front, and
the thumbs on the dorsal muscles on
either side of the spine. Hold the head
vertical, the hips back, the shoulders
backward and downward, chest high
and full.
Take deep, tranquil breath, but one
that will cause the chest to rise fully and
to fall freely at every effort. Do this ~
| times.
Second exercise: Place the heels TO-
gethe-, right hand on the chest and left
hand Just above the waist line. Take a
deep, long breath, raising the chest to
the limit. Expel the breath from the
diaphragm, allowing the left hand to
press inward. But don't let the chest
fall. Exhalation must be slow and
complete. The air can be forced out of
the lungs with the chest kept erect. IL
is not an easy matter to master this ex-
ercise in the beginning. Do this u
times.
For relaxation try this exercise: Take
deep breath, close the hands, stretch
one arm backward and upward, then the
other, moving the body at the waist line
one way or the other, expelling the
breath slowly. Keep in mind that belts
and corsets restrict the development OF
the abdominal muscles, and it is these
that you wish to stretch and pull and
exercise.
Exercise in expulsive breathing
Draw in full breath, and emit it with a
lively, expulsive force, still sticking to
your Fl sound. Do not prolong it as
you do in the elusive breathing. Let II
be sort of short or moderately whisper.
ed cough. The breath is projected in
the air. In the exercise mentioned jus,
before this one the breath is merely eff.
fused into the surrounding air.
Before going to sleep give your lungs
an air bath.
Lie fiat on the back, with no pillow
under the head.
Place the arms close to the sides, then
inhale and exhale slowly, allowing your
self a rest of five or ten seconds between
breaths. Do this fifteen times. Then
with arms extended straight out across
the bed, breathe slowly and deeply fiji.
teen times more.
You'll sleep like a top, unless you have
been filling up on mince pies or cheese
sandwiches or deviled crab with tartar
sauce.