Physical Culture in the Daily Occupations
By Augusta C. Bainbridge
As we are studying the foundation principles of physical culture, we will look at the first pair to find our positions. We read in the Word, “God hath made man upright.” While the word “upright” is used in the Scripture with reference to character, yet it is also true that this is only a secondary meaning12derived from the original, which is defined in Webster’s unabridged and Century dictionaries as “straight up and down.” We know it is true that God did make man physically upright in the primary sense of the word; for we read in Gen. 1:27 that he was made in the image of God. He also made him morally upright; but in this article we are taking a view of man’s physical being; hence we will look at these scriptures as stating the truth that God, in the beginning, made man physically upright. Let us study this truth to the glorifying of God in our bodies, as well as our spirits, which are his. In harmony with this, we view the same word made visible in man’s creation; for we find that he gave them (man and woman) just the necessary muscles to keep them upright. He fastened them to the right bones in just the proper way to accomplish this result. All the internal organs are so arranged that an upright position of the body keeps them in their places, ready to work for man’s physical salvation. The Creator so arranged nerves and nerve centers that warning might be given when this upright position was not being maintained. So we see that the same power that created men and women, upholds them, and will continue its work until interrupted by the creature. Going up and down stairs is often a part of our daily work. It is a very healthful exercise. Lungs, heart, liver, bowels, as well as leg muscles, are greatly benefited by it. It will be found on examination that the injury is due to a wrong position in walking, by which muscles not calculated to do the work, bear the burden. An upright position of the trunk, with the head up, lays the task of lifting the body, one step at a time, upon the legs. They are well able to do this, and if the breath is drawn slowly through the nostrils, there will be no panting when the top step is reached. Plant each foot, in its turn, squarely on the step, and the advanced leg will lift the weight of the body as easily as the hand will lift an apple. Neither men nor women need be injured by this exercise when properly performed. Many whose work requires them to stand a greater part of the time, fall into careless habits of slouching, leaning, or stooping. Women over the dishpan, or table, men over the counter or desk, are tempted to think they can not help it. Let them but straighten up, and they will find that they can stay straight. Repeated acts become habits, and habits form character. Then why not repeat again and again the act of standing straight until it becomes a habit? This habit keeps the muscles that hold the body upright, at their best continually, and thus an upright physical character is formed. If you have not the will and determination to go at it and stick to it, you may need a teacher to prompt and correct you. Others, whose work requires them to sit during a large part of their time, may easily ruin their health by sitting in bad positions; but they might, with little trouble, form the habit of sitting correctly, and thus regain and keep their health. A stooping posture, a forward drooping of the shoulders, or sitting so that the weight of the body rests on the spine, will surely cause trouble. A straight, low chair for sewing is to be preferred to a rocker, as the latter encourages improper postures. The bones and muscles which were created to hold the weight of the body when sitting in an upright position, are well able to sustain it without injury to themselves or to the delicate organs in its interior. No others are. To put these burdens on other parts is to give them a task they can never accomplish, and to inflict painful diseases on vital organs. These workers should make it a point to rise, stand erect, breathe deeply, and walk a few steps as often as possible. A dressmaker of my acquaintance keeps her sewing-machine in an adjoining room, that she may have the exercise of walking to it from her cutting and sewing table. By this means she saves time and prevents disease; for she retains her health in spite of her unhealthful employment. She takes her physical culture in her work. Sweeping is another employment often condemned; but much, yes, all of the harm resulting from it may be entirely avoided by using the proper muscles. Sisters, sweep with your arms. Using the arm muscles and not those of the back, will make sweeping a pastime. Broom-makers, unfortunately, have failed to discover that women differ in height, and consequent length of limbs, so they hand out brooms all of one pattern. The tall woman and the short woman both suffer by their ignorance. But we are looking for a better day. To every worker, no matter in what occupation, there come changes of position. They may be slight, perhaps only reaching for a spool or passing a book, but by making the most of these, one may get quite a variety in a day. Let every part of the body move at the time of the change, and by breathing in harmony with the motion, the whole body will be helped. Another part of the true physical culture is rest. There come waiting times, often very short, but long enough to relax and breathe. Take them as resting-places, not as seasons for impatience. “There’s many a rest in the road of life, If we’d only stop to take it.”
Well, take it then, and let the strained, wearied body and mind find the refreshment these little jogs in the machinery were meant to give. Our Father is watching over us all for good, and let us note these resting-places, and thankfully, trustingly enjoy them. It may be waiting for some one to copy an address, or to sharpen a pencil, or bring a missing article, or even waiting for a car. The car that we almost caught, but missed, was not for us. We needed a rest, time to collect our scattered thoughts, and so the dear Father called us to his side for a few short moments, while he brings our car speeding down the track to us. Resting is one of God’s beautiful ways of recreating our wasting bodies. Even the heart rests between beats, and that brings, in its turn, its quota of rest to the entire circulation. So these little resting-places come; they surely come to us in our work. Let us watch for them, and use them as the dear Sender designed, and so be blessed.—Augusta C. Bainbridge, in Southern Watchman.