The daily monitor. (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1940-1942, 1942-03-27


to pull your tummy in and stand
tall and straight. Every time you
pass q mirror or plate glass VIM
dow. get the habit Of checking up
on yourself. See II your shoulders
are slumped, chest caved In or.
rear protruding.
Dozens of you write, giving me
your measurements and weights,
and ask what you can do to have
ideal proportions. I wish could
impress upon you that measure
ments cannot be trusted to give
a picture Of you. A chunky little
girl whose proportions and pos
ture are good may be most attrac-
tive, while one who meets all the
Hollywood requirements may be
Just the opposite.
For q Simmer Waist
What is more. a girl who ap-
pears too heavy and lumpy can
actually take an inch or two of
her waistline by pulling in her
tummy and lifting her chest. And
she can increase her height from
a quarter to three quarters OF an
inch by holding her head high
and stretching and strengthening
the muscles that hold the verta-
brae Of the upper spine and neck
in place. So figures, you see. are
tricky things and there is no yard
stick by which you all may be
measured!
Simple exercises that strengthen
the muscles Of the back, thighs
and abdomen will help you hold
good posture with a minimum OF
effort. Practice will help you to
walk gracefully. to sit down and
get up easily. how to sit at your
desk to avoid WEAKNESS and figure
faults. Incidentally. the proper
way to sit before your desk, Is to
have feet nat on the floor, hips
we'll against the back Of the chair.
back straight. and bent forward
from waist, shoulders and head
up. This way Is better looking as
we'll as less firing. Slumping over
your work causes round shoulders
and hollow chest.
Here Is back exercise that
aids posture and relaxes you when
you're tired. Stand tall. feet about
18 inches apart. Raise arms as
far overhead as you can reach,
then relax and drop arms and
head slightly forward. bending
both knees slightly and curving
back. Straighten to the first posi-
ton and bend forward again with
knees straight. trying to touch the
floor with flngertips. Straighten
up and repeat from beginning.
When you get the rhythm, you
can do this as continuous mo-
ton to a 1. 2, and 4 count.
Helps Reduce Hips
For hips and abdomen, the
simple leg -swing practiced by pro-
fessional dancers Is good. In the
beginning hold onto the back OF a
heavy chair for support. starting
with right hand. Swing left leg
loosely forward and back like a
pendulum. Keep the body erect,
the right leg straight. Repeat 10
times with one leg, turn and with
left hand on chair, swing the right
leg 10 times. Kick far enough
forward and back to really stretch
the long muscles Of the legs. hips
and abdomen.
For streamlining the waistline,
initiate the stance OF good golfer.
feet about 10 inches apart. Swing
both arms to the right and up.
shifting weight onto the right foot
as you swing. leaving left foot
loose. Reverse by swinging arms
to left. and shifting weight onto
left foot. Repeat I'VE times In
each direction at first. but increase
to 10 as muscles become stronger.
Here's another back exercise.
Sit on floor with knees bent
Grasp knees with hands. arms
bent, head back. Then drop head
on chest and lean backward until
arms are straight. pulling from
the spine. Sit UP straight and re-
peat 10 times.