Fig. 41.—Shoulder and back exercises. Second position.
Fig. 42.—Leg exercises. First position.
Fig. 43.—Leg exercises. Second position.
Fig. 44.—Squatting exercises for muscles of spine and abdomen.
Second Position.—By a circular movement, the position of the left arm is assumed by the right, and vice versa. During the entire movement the feet must be kept firmly planted on the floor, pivoting at the hips only, while making the continuous circular movement of the arms.
These movements consist in a torsion of the body around the axis of the spinal column, and to these can be added deep inspirations from left to right, with expirations from right to left. In addition to the effect on the circulation, the respiratory movements keep up the nutrition and efficiency of the lungs, which in old age undergo a kind of atrophy, and also maintain the elasticity of the chest-walls, which are apt to become stiff through disuse, and so interfere with the movements of the lungs and pleura.
Leg Exercises (Figs. 42, 43).—First Position.—Stand erect, with the hands resting on the hips and the legs crossed at the knees, with the right foot in front, as shown in the figure.