4. Wear no tight clothing of any kind. Tight bands about the limbs
interfere with the circulation, change the natural curves of the part
into ugly ones, and restrain the muscles unnaturally. About the waist,
as a corset, they interfere with the lungs, with the stomach, and with
other abdominal organs, and when all these are unnaturally cramped
health and grace are impossible. The most graceful of actresses wear no
stays, for they know that perfect ease and grace are impossible in tight
clothing.
Also, if you would walk gracefully, never wear tight shoes, French
heels, or pointed toes. The graceful Greek girl wore a broad sandal, and
had the use of her toes, which our modern girls cannot have in the
fashionable shoe, but which is essential for a dignified and graceful
step.
5. Spend at least one hour out-of-doors every day in some form of
exercise, and two or three whenever possible.
6. Use your mind actively in study for a few hours daily, for an idle
mind is not a healthy one, but finish your studies at a definite hour,
and then rest--_i.e._, play or exercise your body.
[Illustration: GOLF.]
Some of the girls who may read this doubtless have the good fortune to
be absolutely healthy, and perhaps their circumstances offer them all
the exercise they need, although in city life this is improbable, and
the healthiest will be benefited, kept in trim, physically, by following
the rule for daily morning exercises.
But the girl who wishes to be strong and symmetrical often finds that in
one way or another she needs a little help to straighten her shoulders,
or to bring out her chest, or to give her an erect carriage; yet it is
difficult for her to train herself, as she cannot see her own defects.
One device to aid self-instruction is the following: Take any old long
mirror, and mark it with horizontal lines, about ten inches apart, in
white chalk. The lines should be exactly straight. Then stand in front
of this in your natural position, and notice whether the line of your
shoulders agrees with the straight line across the mirror at their
level. Probably you will see the reflection of a girl with one shoulder
a little higher than the other, or perhaps standing unevenly, so that
one hip is higher than the other. More than likely you will see that her
chest is not full enough to make a fine figure. Perhaps the shoulders
stoop a little, or possibly, while none of these defects are noticeable,
the mirror shows a figure that needs only a little setting up, a more
erect carriage, and the expression of a little more muscular energy, to
make it satisfactory. A few special exercises that we shall add here
will be excellent for all of these slight deviations from the normal;
but it will be well to begin exercising every morning with two or three
simple movements that will warm and limber the muscles and joints.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account