New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1928-08-09

forward 1t the beginning OF the ST
EDITORS NOTE: This is the
first of two articles written for The
Herald and NEA Service by Harriet
Hector, featured dancer of a famous
Broadway production. She describes
exercises she has invented, based on
the motions of certain outdoor
sports
By HARRIET HOCTOR
New York, Aug. 9-lmaglnatlon
is the one quality that seems to
have been left out of consideration
in most off the exercises that are
recommended for health and Tor
s,enderness-an important mission
to me.
Perhaps it is my theatrical
training, but ] have to dramatize
everything. even my daily dozen.
to make it more than mere dun
routine.
make it a point to have plenty
of exercise every day. Much OF
this get of course, through my
dancing, for besides my regular
performances in THE Three MUS
keteers," ] take lesson every DAY.
All my dance steps l have taken
anart and analysed so that l can
practice them in routine, nut
still keep before me the movement
and feeling of the whole set OF
steps. also have made up exer-
cises based on certain outdoor
sports, so that as l practice them
| actually have the illusion OF 90
ing the real thing, and find 1t
makes them infinitely more inter-
csting. r'
Rows At Home
For instance, l love the water
and enjoy rowing, but ! haven't
been in a row boat for years. ex-
cept in my own house. Rowing is
one Of the best exercises there Is
for the muscles OF the abdomen
and for preventing round shoui-
ders.
scat myself ON the floor. or
on very low stool, close my eyes,
and imagine a lovely blue stream.
thanked on either side by green
bushes and tall grass, with a
graceful swan or two ducking In
and out for good measure.
When have visualized my sur
roundings completely. start my
rowing down stream. l thrust both
legs forward as far as possible
with just a very slight bend at
the knees, and throw both arms
forward, my hands taut as If they
were actually holding the oars
and I bend my body forward az
far as possible, with the chin
thrust upward.
Then l pull backwards as far al
possible, with arms and body re-
Taxed until the legs are horizonta
with the floor. This leaves my
hands at my chest, and my chin Il
still high.
This full-oar swing I repeat 1:
times perhaps six would b
enough for a beginner. since 1t II
StTeHuOus, anu oHouiu VIC eonN'
easily at first. AS row, thu
scenery changes along the bank
and possibly one green shutteret
window of the estate long to owl
shows at the end Of a winding
path.
When l get tired. put in t.
the shore and rest.
Another exercise that is mos
helpful in keeping trim waist
line and hipline that isn't an
tagonistic to the new swathed hip
lines is one based on bicyclin,
except that the bicycle does no
appear.
lie on my back. close my eyes
and imagine l am taking part Il
a six-day bicycle race. When
have visualized the crowds. tn
cheering and the general excite
ment. then raise my legs one a
time. and start in rotary move
ment, but in larger circles. as II
were operating the pedals of a bi
cycle. In this. 1t Is important tina
you bring each leg as close to tn
chest as possible and swing Il
large circles, to gain the creates
benefit.
Pedals for Dear Life
I pedal as ii / were one of tw
surviving contestants and tn
other is gaining on me. peda
for dear life. Sometimes-usual
ly-I win. but occasionally I ex
perience the ignomy of defeat.
Floor swimming can be done 4
several ways My favorite system
Is to lie on one side with one arr
extended. and feel myslf SHOW
off from an imaginary bank. The
do the scissors stroke that goe
with the side stroke. with my leg
and instead of just kicking on
way with one leg. and the othe
with another. I'm actually beatin
Gertrude Ederle across the chan
mel. .-.
In another article. I'll tell 20
some other exercises that may
done to the accompaniment Of
vivid imagination. that are yer
painless and very effective j