THE OPOTIKI NEWS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1939. FITNESS WEEK

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 147, 17 February 1939, Page 4

THE OPOTIKI NEWS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1939.

FITNESS WEEK

GOLF AS AN AID TO PHYSICAL FITNESS (Contributed). While" go It is a gajne that can be played! by persons of all ages, as an aid to physical fitness it is of most value to those women who, while still active,-find tennis too strenuous, and to men who have got beyond the football tige. For the business man it is ideal—there is little or no, danger of overtaxing one’s stre)|gtjji and the fascination of the game diverts the mind from the worries of business. The main source of the healthiness of thfei game lies in walking, the most natural and best of all exercises. “Nine holes a day keeps the doctor away” (and for the , s) . To the uninitiated golf is just a matter of hitting a ball and walking after it. If that were call there is in tlio game, would! tens of thousands of men and women spend their lei.sure hours playing it? Those who have never experienced the joy of a long effortless drive, the thrill of a lofted approach over a bunker stopping two feet from the' flag, or the delight of watching ta thirty foot putt trickle slowTy “into, the.-holo;. havo-missed one of the best pleasures . in fife. Golf is a game of thrills and ImmI

iliatio'ns, and therefore a builder of character. To use the' words of Kipling, the golfer must be prepared '‘to meet with triumph and disaster, and treat those “two ijnposters just the same”. Athletes training for other and more strenuous games find golf a very useful adjunct. It can be played in weather when other games are stopped, and either alone or in company; the social aspect of tho game, ''however; is- one of its chief attractions. In golf one relies almost" entirely olio one’s own efforts, anu,- for that reason, it is better for selfoblboys-and youths -just, leaving school to take up games like football and cricket which will develop the “team spirit” so useful in after life/'

The residents of Opotiki are very fortunate in having an eighteen hole course so- close to the town, the actual distance being'a mile and a-half from the Post Office. In the cities golfors often have to travel eight to ten miles? for their game, and even in the small towns the'links are usually three to five miles-’ away. . Members of the Opotiki Club are always ready to welcome new members, assist with transport, and initiate novices into the mysteries and tribulations of the game.

i “SWIMMING” -(Contributed). Swimmfn"g : ’isf~an. art superior -to jail others in the promotion and preser-

vation of health, ©very muscle of tho body is exercised', with no direct physical strain upon any one section. For this reason swimming can be indulged in as freely by those who are physically weak as by those who are strong. Because it imposes no severe muscular strain it is an ideal form of exercise for women and girls. As a body builder, nothing can compare with swimming. All muscles are developed, and gain a suppleness, a tone and® strength that 'permit of prolonged strain without' fatigue. Swimming produces most, beneficial results onAthe respiratory organs. It is absolutely necessaVy to breathe deeply, aip.l the body is in a perfect position for deep breathing.' In many forms ; of ‘physical exercise on land, one is apt, often unconsciously, to slack a little on the essential of deep breathing. But in swimming deep breatcliing must bo maintained, and the very nature of the exercise compels it. This is one reason why swimming is the finest exercise for children.

Beep breathing facilitates the circulation and purification of the blood, •with many attendant benefits. Swimming is good fun, and in this respect it is a sport which acts as a splendid mental tonic. You become refreshed not only, physically but mentally. It is necessary for everyone to learn to swim. • thousands .of lives are lost annually by drowning,"anti a great proportion of this loss would bo prevented were the art of swimming more ' generally known. I have heard people in Opotiki say, “I am too old to learn.” This i.s absurd. Provided the correct methods are adopted—and these are carefully and clearly laid down in a pamphlet issued to all school children last week—anyone can learn, to swim. The fault in tho past i.s that breaststroke methods have been adopted in teaching swimming. This is wrong. The natural and quickest way to learn to swim is by the “dog-paddle” method. Once this is mastered—and I have seen young children master it in ten minutes—confidence is obtained, and other strokes can be learnt.

Do not neglect to learn breaststroke and backstroke. These are two most valuable strokes if ever you should get into difficulties. Finally, all people who can swim should learn the various methods of life-saving. You never know when you may lie called: upon to .save a life, or to save yourself from the clutches of a drowning person. Dow many people know what to do when attacked by cramp?

The Opotiki Surf Life-Saving Club lias performed meritorious service in the past, but now is languishing through lack of support on the part of both youth and parents. Club membership has fallen to such a degree that it is impossible to carry on. Let us hope it will not require a beach tragedy to awaken the people of Opotiki to the seriousness of this state of affairs.

.Itoil up, young people, and join the Surf Club.