Backs Reveal Charm

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 774, 21 September 1929, Page 26

Backs Reveal Charm

Beauty from Grace and Poise

WOMEN who aim at making the best of their beauty have become “back-conscious,” for, with the lower cut, dresses are drawing more attention to this essential part of their structure.

Famous dressmakers are keenly alive to this new importance of the beautiful back. Not only are the new frocks designed with their prettiest effects at the back, where they can be seen, but backs themselves are revealed more and more. When women are buying their new clothes they should not forget that the fitting of a dress is as important at the back as the front. This is particularly so for evening dresses, for while they are dancing it is mainly their backs that show. The eyes of other dancers and onlookers are concentrated on the backs constantly revolving around them. Also, there is actually more extent to the back itself than formerly. A few years ago, when “waists” were worn high—nearly up to the arm-pits —women practically had no backs. The present fashion is for backs which extend from the nape of the neck to the end of the lower back. For their whole graceful length, if they are to meet the present high standard of beauty, backs must be straight, svelte and flat. Three Times a Day This first exercise is an excellent one for beginning the task of achieving the flat, long-line back. It may be found difficult at first, but if practised three times a day without fail, it will unquestionably result in a straight, supple back. Exercise I. Kneel on the floor with the knees touching each other and the feet together. Sit back on the heels. Set the hands, palms down, on the floor, beside the knees. Let the head drop right ’down. Now*, keeping the head dropped and the arms straight slide the hands forward until the forehead touches the floor. Draw* in the abdomen and arch the back upward. Stretch the arms and hands well forward. Then gradually draw the body and the hands back, always arching the middle of the back upward and keeping the arms straight and the head down, until the lower back again touches the heels. Next, still keeping the head down, draw the hands back to the sides of the knees and gradually begin to straighten up the low*er »part of the back. The hands will leave the floor of their own accord as the body is slow’ly brought upright. Then, when the whole spine is straightened, raise the head. Repeat this exercise at least six times, resting a moment after each time. The second exercise will stretch the spine and also the tightened structures in front of the hips. EXERCISE 11. Lie on the right side, with the right arm stretched straight up under the head, and the left leg lying on the right. See that the whole body is in

one straight line from the tips of pointed toes to fingers of right hand. Place the left hand, palm down, on the floor in front of the waistline. Stretch the body well. Contract the muscles over the abdomen, and at the same time try to push the middle of the spine back. Now, without relaxing the abdominal muscles, and without letting the back hollow at the waist, very slowly stretch the left leg back from the hip as far as it will go. Keep both knees quite straight, point the toes, and be careful not to raise the left leg up away from the floor too far. Then slowly replace the left leg on the right, and relax the whole body. Repeat the whole exercise six times, relaxing between each, turn over on the left side, and practise six times with the right leg. In doing this, great care must be taken not to stiffen the whole body. The neck muscles should be watched especially, and the breathing should be quite normal throughout. Later, when it is possible to stretch the legs back a fair distance separately without hollowing the back, both legs should be stretched back together. In order to do this, both legs must first be raised a short distance from the floor. This more difficult form of the exercise should also be practised first lying on the right side, and then on the left. EXERCISE 111. Stand against a jutting-out corner of the wall. Set the feet apart, and about a foot away from the wall. Lean the lower foot away from the wall, and let the trunk bend forward slackly from the hips. Keep the knees straight, and be sure that the lower part is against the wall, but relax all other parts of the body. Let the head and arms hang loosely toward the floor. Now, keeping the lower back firmly pressed against the w*all, very gradually begin straightening the back. Make each part of the spine touch the wall, and then keep it there until at last the head, too, is in contact with the wall. Now the whole spine is touching the wall. Hold this position while slowly counting ten, relax the whole body, rest, and then start again. Many will find that when they straighten the trunk right up there is a space between the middle of the back and the wall. This is a sure sign of sway-back—a sign also that these exercises are much needed!