164 THE WONDERFUL HOUSE THAT JACK HAS 



chores. All children may develop these important 

 muscles through running, skating, climbing, and the 

 various active games that are so enjoyable. Singing 

 or playing a flute, horn, or other wind instrument is 

 also excellent, if the breath is taken through the nose. 



But even with plenty of such exercises, practice 

 in deep breathing is of great benefit. The following 

 exercises are especially good : Standing erect with 

 hands on the waist, take in long deep breaths through 

 the nose, and let them out slowly through either the 

 mouth or the nose. Take in the breath in the same 

 manner, but let it out gradually in many short succes- 

 sive puffs through the smallest opening in the mouth. 

 While walking, take in long full breaths through the 

 nose, and exhale slowly through the smallest possible 

 opening of the mouth or through one nostril while 

 the other is closed. It is well to avoid the practice 

 of holding the chest long distended, for it makes 

 extra hard work for the heart. Exercises similar to 

 all of the above may also be profitably taken when 

 lying flat on the back or sitting erect in a chair. In 

 any of the positions described, variety may be added 

 and both singing and speaking improved by using the 

 voice with scale syllables or with vowel sounds. 



The following is one of the very best exercises to in- 

 crease lung power. Stand erect, holding arms by the 

 sides. With palms downward, slowly raise hands in 

 front and as high as you can above the head, rising on 

 tiptoe so as to take in just as much air as possible. 



