CHEATING AGE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 862, 4 January 1930, Page 14

CHEATING AGE

EXERCISE TO KEEP YOUTHFUL HOW TO REMAIN FIT Exercise is the natural way of keeping the body clean inside, says an Australian physical culture expert. Every bit of work that is done causes a breaking down of some of the cells of the body, and this brings about a renewal of those cells with new material. In this way, and in this way only, can we keep fit and well. If we do not exercise enough, our cells become old, and we lose tone. Why is it that some young men get out of form? They accumulate fat and get flabby. When called on to exert themselves they puff and feel weak, and are incapable of any vigorous exertion. Other men, much older, can do a hard day’s physical work without distress. It Isn't age, then, that causes this state, but the internal condition of the two men. One has allowed his cells to become old, and, although younger in years, is actually older than his senior who has kept his cells regularly renewed. The older man can exert himself without distress, and is certainly in a better state of health. His vitality and his resistance to disease are much greater. This is the state that the average man and woman who is organically sound —and most people are sound enough when young—can consistently maintain over a long period of years if the rules of health that are dictated by science and commonsense are followed. No one can keep fit and healthy without exercise. Many people think that because they walk a mile or two every day they have exercised sufficiently, but there are no vital organs in the legs, and if we wish to be healthy we must stimulate onr internal organs by exercises which bend the trunk forward and backward and sideways and twist it about. Race walking does this to a great extent, but few people could bring themselveß to tear along the street in this way, so we need to go through a set of scientific exercises daily if we wis to maintain a good state of fitness and health. Correct Exercises

Trunk exercises may be done in the standing and lying position and make one feel very fit. In the standing position the trank may be bent forward and backward, starting with the hands on the hips and progress by clasping the hands on the back of the neck and further by stretching the arms straight overhead as the bending is done.

The same progression can be used for the side bending of the trunk, while for the twisting the arms can be extended to the sides in line with the shoulders.

It is of great stimulating value to the digestive organs that the muscles on the front of the abdomen be exercised in such a way as will keep them shortened, as in this way they support the organs in their right place. With practice splendid control of the muscles can be gained, and they become very strong—perhaps the strongest we have and the quickest to respond to treatment. I have had thousands of pupils of both sexes of all ages who can lie on the floor and allow me to stand with my 15st upon their abdomen. This is quite harmless if prepared for properly and gradually. One lady of 52 years of age was able to do this after three months’ training, and is infinitely better in health for it.

Abdominal exercises tone up the organs of digestion. They stimulate the flow of digestve juices and hasten the assimilation of food, mix those juices with the food, and help its progress through the body, and help to rid the system of the poisonous waste matter, the retention of which ages us more than any other cause.