IS IT TOO LATE FOR WOMEN TO BEGIN?
the newly acquired strength justifies and encourages it. What particular exercises will effect the strengthening and development of any given muscles will be pointed out in the chapter on Special Exercise, at the latter part of this book.
How about the length of time this daily exercising will take? It is all easy enough for the rich, whose time is their own, and who could spare four or five hours a day if necessary; but how is the woman to manage it who must work from seven to six, or even far into the evening as well? She can hardly get time to read about horseback riding and Alpine climbing; much less take part in them. Well, it is a poor system which cannot suit nearly all cases. The woman who works steadily from early morning till well into the night, especially at employment at all sedentary and confining, is undergoing a test and a hardship which will certainly call for a strong constitution, good condition, and a brave spirit as well; or the strain will surely break her down, and bring to her permanent weakness. If so many hours must be spent in labor; then let her secure ten or fifteen minutes, upon rising, for a series of exercises in her room. At the dinner-hour, again at supper-time; shortly before each meal; and once about mid-morning, and again at mid-afternoon, three or five minutes could generally be spared for a few brisk exercises (see page 229) calculated to limber and call into vigorous action the back, and many of the muscles so long held almost motionless until they stiffen from it. If there is a whole hour at dinner-time, and the half of it after dinner could be spent in easy walking; if possible with a cheerful and lively companion, who would make her forget the dull routine of her day—taking care to do one simple thing, namely, to inhale long breaths—through the nose, not through the mouth, and
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