EXERCISE FOR ANY GIVEN MUSCLES
liver and all bilious irregularity, when you begin doing plenty of this work.[1]
THE ABDOMINAL MUSCLES
Nor do these include all the muscles which the footwork arouses to action. Take the horizontal bands or layers of muscle across the abdomen, with which our fleshy friend on page 149 became so suddenly acquainted, and which for forty years had been buried and unknown. Every step forward moves them, and the higher and more energetic the step, the more they have to do. A man who is not strong in these muscles will usually have a feeble walk; and very often will double forward a little, until he is in about the position of the two hands of a clock at two minutes past six; giving him the appearance of being weak here. But the strong, high step tilts the body slightly back; and gives these muscles so much to do that they soon grow good at it, and shapely and powerful accordingly.
Another advantage comes from having these muscles strong, and from forming the habit of stepping as he does who has them so. By walking thus erect, the shoulders, instead of pressing over on the chest as the man tires; and so cramping his breathing; are so habitually held moderately back that it is easier to keep them there; and the consequent fuller respiration keeps him longer fresh.
- ↑ Physical Director Ehler, now of Chicago, but formerly of the Detroit Young Men's Christian Association, used to call this exercise the "Liver Squeezer, or the Bilious Pill." But we suggested that, having in mind its place of origin; it might be well to call it "The Detroit Free Press," although the organ best known by the latter name is a confirmed foe of biliousness.
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