THE ART OF GRACEFUL WALKING
Is the natural sequence of correct attitude in standing and may be
readily acquired by attention. Stand against the wall, with the heels,
limbs, hips, shoulders and head all touching and draw the chin inward
to the chest. When in this position you will find it uncomfortable,
mainly because it is incorrect. Gently free yourself from the wall by
swaying the body forward, from the ankles only, keeping the heels
touching. You will then be in the correct position, and should walk
off, carefully maintaining it. This exercise, if constantly practiced,
will give you an easy and graceful carriage that will be the envy of
your less fortunate acquaintances.
In the foregoing list of exercises we have carefully omitted all those
requiring apparatus of any kind, selecting only such as can be
practiced in the privacy of your own room, without assistance from an
instructor or paraphernalia of any kind. Dumb bells, Indian clubs,
etc., are valuable after a certain degree of muscular improvement has
been attained, but when that point is reached we should advise the
individual to join a gymnasium and practice further development under
a competent instructor.
All the exercises given have been proved of great value in building up
the system, and are designed as aids to the preservation of health and
the upbuilding of weakly people--not to develop trained athletes. These
exercises bring into play a number of muscles that are not called into
general use, and thus promote harmonious development of the whole
body.
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