Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1909-11-12

The ungracefui way many womtn
sit Is frequently the cause Of ungain.
ly figures, for unless the weight is
properly poised the lower organs are
thrown out OF gear and shapelinest
is impossible.
To avoid running the figure every
woman should regard her spine as sn
upright post, the shoulders being a
cross piece. And this structure shs
must guard so Il will not bend. an
as soon as a bend is permitted the
balance Is destroyed.
Sitting IN a chair seems a simple
matter. yet rarely is It done properly.
I do not now mean crossed feet and
other ungraceful positions. but the
fact that the spine is usually be It.
Let the woman who IA reading this
see. at the moment. II she cannot push
further back into the seat--not with
her shoulders, but SO the end OF her
spine is nearer the chair back. II
che can accomplish this she win find
herself involuntarily sitting straight
er. because a kink has been removed
from her yertebrae.
In my opinion no one position does
more to make or present a good fg-
ure than to practice correct sitting
for at least FIVE minutes three times
a day. For this would use a chair
with a straight back and get on to It,
leaning forward a little and pushing
back until the spine, about three
inches from the tip, feels the chair
back. Then, with the shoulders
thrown back. a position is attained
which is best for all proportions and
will soon be held unconsciously. When
this is accomplished the danger OF
protruding abdomen and large hips Is
greatly lessened.
Besides this straight spine move
ment chest expansion should be cul-
tivated. This is difficult for an older
woman. yet worth any effort One
such exercise is to try repeatedly to
make the elbows touch each other
behind the back
The longer one tries and the more
strength put into the muscular exer-
tiou the better will the figure be-
come. incidentally, one must take
care to stand straight while exercis-
ing in this way, or she will simply In
crease any stopped shoulders"
Another good and by no means diff
cult movement is to straighten the
arms out at the sides and. without
bending the elbows, put them. back
As far as they can be made to go.
Deep breathing has much to do with
having a good figure. II the chest is
FAT and contracted, as mus, be II the
lungs are not filled. q woman eanno;
make a good appearance.
II is astonishing that, with wearing
very tight stays, the diaphram may be
expanded when the lungs are filled to
the lowest depth. That is. In spite OF
lacing, there is still room for the
lungs to be inflated. To breathe deep
ly does not mean a large waist line.
and such practice may reduce the hip
measure. The lower lungs cannot be
inflated unless. one is standing cor.
rectly.
think that each night before go
ing to bed a woman should try to
touch the floor with her finger tips
without bending the knees. II she
can accomplish this the exercise will
keep her supple and II she cannot do
It she certainly needs practice. For
this movement the hands are held
high above the head and brought down
with sweeping motion while the
knees are kept EtiR. Should they
bend there is no benefit to be derived.
BY their remaining rigid pull is made
from the waist and hips and long and
constant practice will reduce the
measurement there. The work must
never be done while wearing tight
bands Margaret Mixter.