KITCHEN GYMNASTICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 146, 17 July 1909, Page 3

KITCHEN GYMNASTICS.

(By a Woman Doctor.) I often think that if the girls wlia spend so much, time, money, and energy oii physical culture would turn their attention to housework as a meany ol physical exercise, they would derive a great deal of profit at a very small cost. lhe process is quite simple. The muscles of Lhe spine, the shoulderblades, the arms, and the body generally are all brought into play in sweeping and dusting and 'bed-making. BEIXMAKLN'G EXERCISES MUSCLES OF THE BACK. Have you ever observed low closely lhe muscle movements necessitated bv sweeping, dusting, and, above all, ,bed'making, resemble the physical culture exercises which arc so much practised just now* Turning the mattress entails a muscular effort which exercises' the muscles of the back and shoulders. Brisk dusting and sweeping provide .healthful p\»rtise at the minimum of cost to every woman who will give housework : 'J. All women must liavc a a-.-.ahi amount of physical exercise to keep them in Health. But they cannot all i afford an expensive course of lessons in j physical culture. So why not givcj housework a trial;

It is often, difficult for lousiness girls I to find the necessary time, hut 'evo-n I half an hour's brisk housework, <'Om- | bined with a walk to and from business, j wilt do a great deal to Iceep yOur | muscles in a healthy condition, i 'Miss' Sit-by-the-Firo would iind After j 071 c month's housework that she was a I happier, healthier, and' better-looking j /rir?. Even if you can aff°rd the domestic service necessary to do the house*. I work, yon should pntlervvov to take a . part of it upon yourself ;for your health's sake. KEEP ALL YOUR \VT]\7)OWS OPEV., The girl who has lo -sweep and dust l anil cook for several .hours' daily is, • other tiling being equali, a far happier | individual than the young wife who can . "afford" to he lazy, wlia need not do • ten minutes' good, honest, hard work h f the twenty-four hours. ! irony a. peevish, discontented. sallow young -woman would. bo transformed by a good liberal dose of housework. If you are a sensible woman and intend to go in for househoM gymnastics, remember first that housework done with open windows' and plenty of fresh air about i* ten, timer; nrrore valuable than the »ame work done in badly-ven-tilated rooms. So open (lie window- before you begin, and la-1. but. decidedly not least, be careful to varv the type of kitchen gymmastics as much ns possible-.