POSES. AND POSTURES

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 75, 20 June 1927, Page 5

POSES. AND POSTURES

(By JOAN ROSSITER.) It is an extraordinary fact that children who otherwise have had a very thorough and careful education are often lacking in one essential—a good deportment. Enlightened systems of education, and the development of games for girls,' still leave much to be desired in the way young people walk and sit. There abound many schools of dancing, whose sole aim is beauty of movement, yet the children who attend such schools have often almost as many imperfections in their walk and posture when away from the school as those without such specialised training. The Victorian insistence on a good carriage, which undoubtedly made for health, is needed as much now as then. Those Wedding Groups Photograps of groups of weddings and dances, and family gatherings, invariably show some appalling examples of adults who know not how to sit at ease, or even to stand gracefully. Obviously, difficulty is experienced in placing arms and legs. In the pictures, the men’s dark clothes, fortunately conceal their awkward postures somewhat but having regard to the fact that millions of men have had military training their bearing is generally better than it was. Among women in the ballroom arms are stretched out unnaturally over one knee, and the back is rounded in the effort to ease this ungainly position. Again, arms are crossed and shoulders hunched by girls who tug at short necklaces. At Work v. So often, too, the spine, which, correctly trained, can impart a fine, erect carriage, is forced out of its true position by continual stooping when at work, causing mischief to nerves and lungs. Some young girls imagine it is comfortable to sit with one leg tucked up under the body. A direct result of this practice is excessive nervousness. Another “comfortable” pose, which is also extremely ugly is to have the knees presses tightly together, with the feet just . out, to twist themselves round chair legs, stretching the ankles out of their correct alignment. Elbows Like Fins A straight spine, shoulders set back, head up. chin slightly pressed back —these are the essentials of every correct posture, but there should be no straining, no obvious effort. A poker-like rigidity is as ungainly as the “sloppiness” which is so common. Arms should be lightly disposed, and kept close to the body. Elbows should never project like fins. In walking, the arms should swing easily from the shoulder, and should not be bent at the elbow. It is worth while to a thought for deportment, for not only is the effect of a good figure and pretty clothes spoiled by bad carriage and awkward postures, but slovenly habits, continued for years, lead to the wrong levelopment of muscles and organs, with consequent ill-effects upon health.