Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1902-05-01
HOW TO BREATHE.
To be Beautiful Use Properly the Air
That Is Bounteously Supplied.

To be Beautiful Use Properly the Air
That Is Bounteously Supplied.
Of all the gifts of life pure air is the
one which nature has placed most
bounteously at our disposal, though it
would seem that it is a boon of which
we with a natural perversity are least
appreCiative. We do much by i'm
proper breathing to impair both health
and beauty. For the creation and
preservation of beauty full deep
breathing, nose breathing, is a highly
important aid. Only by a full supply
of oxygen can the blood be purified,
and only by pure blood may we be
healthy and beautiful.
When one has learned the laws Of
correct breathing and has adopted
them it becomes second nature to par
take abundantly and regularly of the
breath Of life. He lives most life who
breatheS most air" Deep breathing
cannot be practiced too often in the
open air. 1t will seem a hard task at
first, but one will soon find it pleasant
and the result will be apparent in
straighter shoulders, better developed
chests and busts, clearer skin and
sweeter breath. This method of deep
breathing is the true elixir of life"
The habit of breathing through the
mouth not only leads to unattractive-
ness, but i'll health will result from it.
Three-fouTths of the narrow chested,
nervous and anaemic persons never
have learned how to breathe correctly,
and consequently they carry them
selves so as to aggraVate their condi-
ton. The mouth must always be
kept closed in breathing, especially
when in the open air and cold. Too
much care cannot be given in infancy
to proper breathing If the habit of
mouth breathing has been formed a
bandage of linen should be placed I'M
der the chin and tied securely up over
the head while sleeping. If this meth
Cd be persisted in the habit will soon
be overcome and the proper form of
breathing through the nose established.
Sleeping with the mouth open forms
very ugly lines at its corners.
The habit of deep breathing is
formed quickly, and in normal condi-
ton is maintained through life. The
weak, who have cramped their lungs
and relaxed all the breathing muscles,
will find that the formation of the new
habit requires persistent daily prac-
tice, but when it is established they
will have health and yigor thereafter.
The daily tepid bath must not be
neglected. Ten minutes rest daily
with all the muscles relaxed will be
OF benefit to the nervous person who is
undertaking the exercises of deep
breathing. Following are a few in
structiOns in the way of exercises to
establish deep and correct breathing:
On arising, and the last thing be-
fore going to bed, stand with your
back against the door and fill your
lungs, breathing through the nose,
with the mouth closed. until your lungs
can hold no more. Retain the breath
while counting 4. Expel it through
the nose while counting Z Practice
ten times. Next. stand upright and
turn out the toes so that the heels
on the diaphragm, the thumbs back in
the soft part of the back on either side
of the spinal column. Draw the breath
in deeply: force the air down so that
you feel the thumbs pressed out
through the expansion of the lower
back part of the lungs. Hold the
breath while counting 1. then expel
slowly while counting 7. Practice six
times.
For the third exercise, stand upright,
with head up, shoulders thrown back
| and arms hanging by the sides. Grad.
! ually raise the arms until they are
high above the head. While perform
ing this movement take in through the
| nose a deep breath until the lungs can
hold no more. Retain the breath
while counting 4; gradually lower the
| arms, at the same time expelling the
breath slowly through the nose while
counting Z slowly. Repeat six times.
Practice deep breathing constantly
Take deep inspirations with the mouth
| closed, retain the breath a few sec
| onds and eXpel through the nose al
ways. In a short time you will be
breathing correctly awake or asleep
1t is to be remembered that deep and
| correct breathing expands the ches,
and shoulders, develops the bust, fills