The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-23

or in cases where there Is general IAN
guidness or lack Of vitality. or where
the heart is not very strong. this mild
exercise increases the heart beat grad
ually after the nights quiet instead OF
starting it up suddenly. as happens
when one springs energetically out of
bed on waking.
The bath Is an important adjunct OF
exercise, for the skin must be cleansed
Of the waste matter that 1t has exuded.
and the pores must be closed to pre-
vent chill To accomplish this II is by
no means necessary to jump into tub
or to take a shower, and the cold tub
and cold shower are not to be recon-
mended in most cases, as the sudden
driving of the blood from the surface
when one is very warm is apt to be
too great a shock. Besides. warm water
Is more cleansing than cold. SO that i
is better to use warm water first and
then the quick rinse with cold water
afterward TO close the pores.
But there ae more ways than
one Of caring for the skin. \ rub off
with a towel. wet and then well wrung
and shaken out. makes a good substi-
tute for the tub or shower on cold days
or when the vitality is not quite so
high as usual. AS a daily bath, also,
the damp towelling may he used with
tonic effect by those who find that they
d. not react we'll after "A more generous
application of cold water. and 1t may be
found desirable to use a dry towel after
the wet one. a dash of cold water
about the neck and chest after one
grows accustomed to it makes a pleas
ant finish for the towel bath.
1t is not an uncommon thing to wash
h. a have
| the feeling that ii has been smeared
] over with "A thin coat of varnish. es-
| pecially if one has been so misguided
as to use little soap. \ little almond
meal Iunscented). boraX, or ordinary
baking soda used with hard water.
/ though somewhat sparingly in order not
to dry the skin, will act as a solvent
and make the bath more cleansing.
Briefly. the matter stands thus-that
ordinary bathing is not bathing under
| all circumstances, and in all climates:
| that the main purpose of the bath is
| to cleanse the skin and to keep the
| pores free; that water alone will not
always accomplish this for all people
! alike, and that there are other ways
of keeping the skin in order besides
getting into a tub. This does not mean
that the tub bath is to be given up al
together The tonic effect Of the cold
bath or of the rapid hot bath. for GER
tain people under certain conditions,
has been proved and accepted: and the
necessity for most people of warm
bath every few days, in addition to some
kind of daily grooming, is equally well
established
Some women find it firing to lie at
full length on the back, especially those
al t,, ~. 1ar h.. Il ~.
strain is relieved by drawing the knees
up IA little and, where the exercise calls
for a straight. leg position. by keeping
one knee bent while the other leg is
taking the movement.
Before beginning the exercise the pu-
pill should lie for a few minutes in
state of relaxation or should spend
little time in trying to acquire the abil-
lty TO relax, for that ability not only
saves us daily much good energy and
nervous force. but also comes to our aid
in times Of seeplessness, pain or i'll
ness. To be able to relax perfectly also
means TO be able to rest thoroughly
to get the greatest amount of rest i'm
the shortest time.
The pupil should notice frequently
whether or not she is breathing freely
and rhythmically. for there is a ten
dency to hold the breath both when an
exercise Is too heavy and also when
the pupil Is naturally inclined to he
rigid Thus the breathing may Indicate
to the pupil whether she is properly re-
Taxed or not and also whether she Is
taking work that is somewhat beyond
her strength.
To relax drop down on a bed or mat
in any comfortable position with the
Al
for hours and that nothing can make
you get up. Then slowly turn over on
the back and lie with the legs straight
down COR one knee benD and the arms
flung out Drop the eyellds sleeply.
drop the tongue and jaw frebly: feel
heavy. limp all over; hear nothing;
namely. do not let the mind hear what
comes in at the ears. Think nothing:
or II you must think, put your mind on
your breathing. breathe slowly and
rhythmically, sinking away more and
more INTO state of sleepy indiff, renee
each time the breath goes out and wait
Ing lazy moment before taking the
breath in again. Now and then test the
hand or foot to see whether Il is linn
and heavy, too heavy to lift from the
floor. Loosen the curled fingers and
smile little to relax the muscles of the
race, which are tense more often than
We realize.
Daily deep brea hing is one of the hes;
exercises that a woman can take; it
should be taken at frequent intervals
during the day, not always in the formal
way nor In the position given here;
but wherever ana whenever it is pos
s.ble to ger good fresh air. Try 1t while
walking in the street, a breath to so
many steps; stop To take a few inhala-
tlonS when passing an open window in
the house; make it rule before going
to sleep at night, for it is helpful where
there Is "A tendency to slceplessness.
Practise 1t regularly on waking in the
morning; IN short, form the habit of
slower, deeper breathing at all times,
for it has "A quoting effect on heart and
nerves and helps the circulation. More
over the oxygen which We breathe in
with the air Is "A food Although We
do not ordinarily think or speak Of It
as food il IL as important to the upkeep
and mt rit ion pf Dllr bplips "A tho fpnl