The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-23
Hump the back up as high as you can
and then let it slump down completely
before humping again.

arch and causing pain and trouble. For
tunately nearly every shop now carries
one r two styles Of fairly reasonable
walking shoes for women which may
often be improved by such simple means
rs adding a lift to the heel or taking one
or two lifts off or by changing the
shape of the heel altogether. 1t is a
good plan to keep N hand several pairs
Of shoes, each with its own good points.
since no one shoe has all of them, and
to wear them in rotation, changing even
several times a day if the feet are
sensitive.
Exercise is not. as is often vaguely
supp sed, "A magic remedy for all ills.
nor can it be taken passvely like a
dose. Results are greatly influenced
by the intelligence and mental attitude
IF the pupil, for the understanding Of
underlying facts and principles not only
affects the form and manner in which
the movements are done but brings
about gradually conscious or uncon-
scous regulation of those faulty con-
ditions which 1t is the purpose of the
more or less artificial exercises to over.
come. To be really effective, the con.
"option of physical education or train
ing must contain something more than
the usually accepted and narrow idea
which makes it synonymous with eXer-
else. 1t must include a training with
respect to everything in the environ.
mcnt which relates To the condition and
the highest efficiency of the human ma
chine. 1t is To be regretted that in
most Of our public schools physical
training has for one reason or another
lost or never taken on the broader idea
but has settled down ComplaCently to
mere system Of specialized muscular
movements, such as dancing here,
games and athletics there, or some sort
of condensed setting up" drill which
all tn" pupils take in common. 1t is
not reasonable to expect that mere eX-
crcise taken for half an hour once or
twice "A week and done by imitation,
with no particular initiative, intelli-
gence or conscious sense on the part
OF III" pupil, can successfully cope with
the various adverse forces which are
constantly at work in the daily environ
ment.
Systematic physical training in its
broadest sense, between the ages Of II
and IS, probably produces deeper and
more lasting results than at any other
period and good muscle habits and mus
cular development acquired within the
first twenty years of life are never,
under any reasonable conditions, wholly
lost This does not mean that system
attic training before this time Is not
important, but IL is commonly the
age when girls begin to be inactive
and when there Is nothing offered to
take the place of the play that most
Of them have had So far.
The aim of mat work is to give the
greatest amount of trunk, and especially
abdominal, development with the least
amount Of strain and fatigue. With the
body in reclining or quadruped posi-
tion-the knee elbow" or knee chest"
position-the muscles which have kept
us constantly in the upright posture
are at rest, the pelvic circulation is IA
Cilitated and congestion relieved, be-
cause the blood now gets away easily
through the great valveless vein; the
abdominal organs are in "A position in
which the drag and downward tendency
are relieved. the arches Of the feet are
freed from weight and pressure. 1t Is
the baby's mat work-his creeping,
stretching sprawling and squirming
that strengthens and prepares him To
assume the erect posture
1t is hardly necessary 20 mention that
exercise to be effective, or in many
cases safe, should be taken in cos
tune which avoids the faults of ordi.
nary dress and gives freedom in every
way, not forgetting that the trunk ac-
tually changes girth in different posi-.
tons. 1t Is interesting to note in this
connection that thcr" is hardly "A gym.
nasium suit in use today which Is not
made with one to three belts Snug
enough to stay in place" or which Is
not worn with one, two or m re bands
on the garments underneath.
The time for exercise Is largely an
individual matter. 1t is unwisc to draw
the bio away from the stomach by
exercising within an hour or more after
eating, and for many people il Is no,
advisable To take any very vigorous eX.
| ercise before breakfast. \ few minutes
of deep breathing, yawniHg, stretching
and squirming before grtt ing II, in the
morning is normal and Wholesome for