Gym Apparatus in your Home

You Have a 'Gym Apparatus' in Your Home

Kitchen Chair Is Beauty Aid

"'I can't afford a sport,' 'I don't have time to take long walks' and 'I can't squeeze gymna.

sium equipment out of the budget' are pretty flimsy excuses for not keeping your figure in excellent shape through the years."

This statement comes from Catharine Van Rensselaer, figure expert of the American Women's association. Miss Van Rensselaer speclallzes in exercise and massage courses at rates business women can afford. For those who can't go to her for personal supervision and guidance for correcting figure faults, she recommends a series of "kitchen chair" exercises at home.

"The chair, that lofly piece of furniture which has been the chief cause of business wo- man's figure faults for years, can be used to correct them," Miss Van Rensselaer continues. "The following routines designed around a straight backed kitchen chair, will improve posture and flexibility as well as remove lumps and bumps and rolls."

Begin with five minutes of complete relaxation. Turn the chair upside down with seat and top touching the floor. Place a pillow over the back of it. Stretch out flat with hips touching the overturned seat of the chair and legs out over the back, Close your eyes and relax completely. Try to think of nothing except yards and yards of coal black velvet.

Now set the chair upright. Stand behind it with hands resting lightly on the back, heels together, back straight and head up. Do a deep knee bend-all the way down until you are sit- ting on your heels, meanwhile keeping back straight. Hold the squatting position for a count of five, then return slowly to standing position.

Sit forward on the edge of the chair, with back straight, chest up, stomach and chin in, head high. Bend arms at shoulder level as for the breast stroke in swimming. Holding arms this way, make small circles with upper arms and shoulders. Feel the "pull" through shoulders and neck. This develops the muscles which support the breasts and reduces excess. flesh on the back of the neck.

Stand again, facing the chair. Place your right foot on the seat of the chair. Keeping knees straight, bend forward and grasp right foot with both hands. Hold for count of five, then raise, body slowly. Repeat five times. Reverse, placing left foot on chair and bending to grasp it. If at first you cannot lift the foot to chair seat, turn the chair sideways and use the rung until you have become flexible enough to raise foot higher.

Holding the back of the chair with one hand, raise opposite arm and leg straight out to side, keeping leg rigid, arms at shoulder level, back straight Hold for count of three and repeat 10 or 12 times. Reverse, placing other hand on back of chair, raising opposite arm and leg. The higher you can raise your foot, the better for hips, thighs and back.

Here's an important step in a series of exercises that make use of an ordinary straight backed kitchen chair. Simply face the chair. Place one foot on the edge of it and, keeping knee straight, bend forward and clasp foot with hands, as shown. Hold position and count five, then reverse, placing opposite foot on chair. This re- duces both hips and waistline and keeps knees youthfully supple.

Relax for ten minutes in this position whenever you have time and you'll have fewer lines in your face at thirty-five than the woman who keeps constantly on the go. Furthermore, it's a good idea to relax completely before doing a series of reducing and limbering and stretching exercises. (Salt Lake Telegram 1941 July 24 )