SHAPELY SHOULDERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 July 1938, Page 8

SHAPELY SHOULDERS

AS IMPORTANT AS FACE. It is rather surprising to notice that many women, who pay a great deal of attention to face, hair, hands and arms neglect their shoulders badly. For many reasons the shoulders 'are important. During the winter they are displayed, frequently, at dances; in the summer, at swimming and other sports. So appearance matters. But fairly broad shoulders, with firm yet rounded contours, also indicate health and vitality, and show that the owner has sound lungs and chest. Further, they make the hips appear smaller by comparison, so that the silhouette is more pleasing. Clothes hang better —and your dressmaker will bless you. If so, try some exercises. The first one is especially good for stiff shoulders, and the suppleness induced will improve your carriage -considerably. Stand with feet comfortably apart, arms hanging loosely by the sides. Swing the arms forward to shoulder height, then'part them sideways, and make every effort to swing them as far backward as you can without letting them drop below shoulder level. It’s a good plan to stand in front of a mirror to see that you get the correct action. Make sure, also, that your head doesn’t poke forward as your arms go backward, for this will make you think your arms are moving very much further than they actually are! The movement is a rhythmical swinging one, with a final stretching effort at the end. Then the arms return forward and drop to the sides again. Another good exercise is to raise the arms slowly forward and upward, breathing in deeply. Then lower them sideways and down, keeping them as far back as you can, exhaling meanwhile. For a third movement, this is effective. Stand with feet astride. Raise the arms sideways to shoulder height, then bend the elbows to that the hands almost meet in front of the chest. From this position swing the left arm vigorously round to the left, turning the head and trunk as you do so. Return and swing round to the right in one movement, the left arm bent again and the right one flung round to the right. Repeat rhythmically.