The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-11-25
HOUSEWORK AS A MEANS
OF PHYSICAL CULTURE

~ He woman who does her own work has no time
for physical culture exercises; she il tired al
strength necessary-perhaps more necessary-to
the housewife than to any other member Of the
munity.
Now, 1t is the same with Homework a. with every.
thing else in the world-there is a right and wrong
way to accomplish it. The proper use OF the muscles
to relieve the strain the back is as valuable when
walking about the house in playing golf or tramp
ing miles thru the country, and the correct way Of
breathing may be employed In the kitchen exactly as
we'll as anywhere else.
Sweeping, washing dishes, ironing or cooking can
be easier if whenever It Is to atoon 10
reach the work care is taken to bend from the hips
with the chest up, and not from the waist line with
the chest sunken, is usually done.
Always keep the weight the balls Of the feet
the chest hgh bend at the hips and not at the waist
use the arms and not the back, and even violent ex
ertion like washing clothes will not be injurious or
nearly so hard as when It is done in the old WV With
depressed chest the weight thrown upon tho heels and
a strain the back.
to rest, take full, deep breath, throw the weight
forward on the balls Of the feet and keep It there
with the chest, hips and balls Of feet in line When
picking up anything from the door why not do it
IN the easiest by bending at the knees and keep
ing the upper part Of the body erect instead of bend
ing with the back and STOPPING over?
BY all means rest whenever there few
ments to spare Lie down sit in an easv chair
and relax the tension Of the muscles Drop the hands
into the lap, close the eyes and let the head sink slow
y on the chest # sitting in chair let the feet fall
dismiss all worry and make the mind as nearly
blank possible
One bright little lady who has preserved her
youth to remarkable degree says that whenever she
sits down and relaxes in this way she Says over and
over oyer to herself II am resting resting restng and
sleep, and In ten minutes she jumps up feeling like
woman. : .E1~ -
Climbing stairs has always been thought to be verv
injurious to woman yet in many if it is right
~ done 1t may be Of real benefit and gradually
strengthen the heart and shoulders instead Of doing
actually the reverse Mount the stair slowly with the
body erect, the head and chest high and allow the
leg muscles to do the work. Try this for week in
stead Of the old way Of bending the back and depress
ing the chest and see how it improves the general car
riage. 49, -,
physical culture exercise that is unriyaled for
giving one an erect and graceful carriage straighten
ing the shoulder and making them as level as those
Of West Point cadet, is done by this same stair.
climbing, only in this with the arms hanging at
full length The hands should be clasped behind the
back with the fingers nterlaced and the hands turned
as nearly back to back as possible. Then, standing
very erect mount the stairs slowly, and before half
the ascent is made every cell in the lungs will have
been expanded many times. These exercises are ex-
celen for any whose heart is in good condition
but when this organ is in diseased state it is well
to avoid stairclimbng whenever possible