Tennis furnishes a vigorous exercise that is especially commendable for
adding to one's vitality. It is a good endurance builder. Tennis can be
made as fast and energetic, or as leisurely and moderate as one wishes,
depending entirely upon the skill, strength and ability of the player.
Tennis is a safe and sane pastime that is growing in popularity, and can
be universally recommended for both sexes and all ages.
Rowing, running, cross-country work, track athletics, lacrosse,
handball, hockey and polo are all splendid and vigorous games, well
calculated to develop the best type of physical stamina. For those
possessing the requisite strength they can all be highly recommended,
though as a rule it is best not to specialize in any one of them but
to secure as much variety as possible. Specializing in athletics may win
championships and may stimulate interest in sports, but for the average
man or woman specialization is not desirable. Even if you are only a
"dub" instead of a champion in each of these games, it is better to
play them all, since you will thereby secure a well-rounded physical
development, and also obtain the maximum of "fun."
For those who are less rugged but who on that very account are all the
more in need of open-air exercise there is a great variety of other
less strenuous pastimes. Cycling and horseback riding can be
particularly recommended as enjoyable forms of outing in combination
with a certain amount of exercise. Skating is an ideal pastime for the
colder weather as it requires no special strength and adds to the vigor
of the heart, lungs and other vital organs; besides this, the brisk,
cold air of the winter months is a tonic of great value. Snowshoeing,
yachting, rope-skipping, canoeing, archery, croquet, coasting and
various similar pastimes are all to be commended.
Swimming is of great value, both as a means of physical development and
as a health builder, but if your vitality is limited do not stay in the
water too long. Swimming may be made mild or very strenuous. If you swim
with the skill of an expert, only a very moderate exertion is required,
though some of the new racing strokes tax the strength and endurance of
the strongest athlete. Swimming combines the pleasures of bathing and
exercise, and under proper conditions is invaluable. Those who are
"fleshy" can stay in the water a long time, but if you are "thin" take
care lest you lose weight by too much bathing. The slender man or woman
may take a daily swim for its tonic effect. It may even cause one to
gain in weight if the exercise is not prolonged, but persons of this
type usually lose weight in the course of a season of too much bathing.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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