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Show Posture and Abdominal Muscles FOR a number of years I lectured to high school teachers (all university uni-versity graduates) on health and fitness, fit-ness, which information was handed on to the students whom they would teach. I tried to point out that if a boy and girl were taught to sit and stand correctly attain proper posture pos-ture they would likely keep this in mind for themselves throughout life and would likely watch the posture of their children. An upright carriage car-riage means more room for heart, lungs, stomach and intestine, thus providing for those vital needs of the body a strong heart and lungs, good mixing and absorption of food, and the prevention of constipation. It is interesting therefore to read in Hygeia, the health magazine, of the training of the West Point cadets, ca-dets, as recorded by William J. Bau-mer Bau-mer Jr. Urge for Lifetime Fitness. "The purpose of the academy's athletic life is three-fold. Besides developing the cadet physically, it must implant within him the urge or lifetime fitness and it must teach him through Instruction and practice prac-tice how to teach others to take care of themselves physically and hygienically. Through all his activities activi-ties he is being constantly reminded by his superiors, the upper classmen, class-men, to double time (very rapid marching, twice as fast as the ordinary ordi-nary 'quick' march), or trot everywhere, every-where, sit up straight in the mess .hall, eat slowly, pull in his chin, raise his chest, and 'drag in' his stomach." It is this "holding" in or "dragging" "drag-ging" in of the stomach, that most physical directors emphasize in teaching correct posture. The cadet learns this his first day and never forgets it during his lifetime. It would be worth while for all of us to stand sideways to a mirror in our "natural" manner. Then do just one thing: draw in the stomach and abdomen. This one simple act drawing in the stomach or standing "tall" will give us the correct posture. pos-ture. (Released by Western Newspaper Union.) |