Daily Exercise

1905

Clerks, bookkeepers and thousands of other indoor workers suffer from the lack of pure air and muscular exercise. If an attempt is made to begin systematic exercise, or an hour or so is spent in digging or chopping wood, undue soreness and fatigue are produced. This disagreeable result often stops the experiment. Instead of discouraging the trial, the very soreness should point out the great need of the body.

If the work were persisted in and gradually increased the stiffness would soon disappear, and leave in its place a general feeling of increased vigor. The nerves are strengthened and the bodily activities quickened. The effect is not alone on the muscles used, but upon each organ. The blood is purified and the digestion strengthened.

The effects of a prolonged sedentary life are overcome only by working off the accumulated poisons and creating an appetite for new pure food. This is built up in the body, and thus the whole man is renewed.

Exercise must be carefully increased and adapted to the individual muscular strength. The weakest muscles must be brought up to the standard of the others.

For feeble persons who are not able to do the desired work, massage, Swedish movements and mechanical exercises should be employed. For more robust persons, walking, horseback riding, rowing, bicycle riding and especially swimming are to be recommended.