EXERCISE 



159 



should also be well poised, being held neither forward 

 nor backward far enough to get the body out of balance. 

 Such is the position natural to people who are reared 

 in an out-of-door life. The American Indian, for in- 

 stance, was noted for his erect body, 

 well-developed chest, and breathing or- 

 gans. It is the unnatural, overheated, 

 indoor life of civilized men that has led 

 to ungraceful and injurious positions and 

 poor breathing habits. 



Some persons get into the habit of 

 bending the spine too far back and carry- 

 ing the abdomen much too far forward. 

 This position they imagine is good, be- 

 cause they are conscious of not stooping. 

 However, such a manner of carrying the 

 body is not graceful, nor is it healthful, 

 because it makes the best diaphragma- 

 tic breathing impossible. Carrying the 

 chest outward and the abdomen inward 

 is the right position, and we must not be 

 satisfied until this is our habit. A pro- 

 truding abdomen and receding chest are 

 usually signs of weak breathing organs. 

 lessness as to how we sit and stand is the first step 

 toward weakening our lungs ; while one of the first 

 steps toward strengthening them is improving our 

 position in this respect. 



Sitting in school or at home in incorrect positions, 



free to expand, 



u 



from one foot 



Often care- 



