mbs 069

M\ BREATHING >Y>IKM

phy.sicai culture, it is no wonder that the death-rate from consumption is so high in Sweden. We must regard the neglect of the organs of the thoracic cavity as the greatest mistake of the Swedish, or Ling's, system, without, at the same time, underrating the othcr mistakes, viz., the >nade-quatc carc of the skin and the neglect of the vital organs of the abdominal cavity. The Swedish system contains no rubbing exercises, no self-massage, no air bath. It is always pcrformed in long trousers, jersey, socks and shoes, and, therefore, it is incorrectly callcd " gymnastics,” the mcaning of this word being “ the art of exercising the naked body.” The exercises, which are performed nudę in Danish “ open air gymnasia ” and in C ontinental “ air-and-sun bathing places ” are really far morę entitled to the name of “ gymnastics.” The same is the case with the performances in the French college of Rheims, founded by the naeal officer Hebert, who, apparently with good results, has studied the French edition of my “ Fresk Air Book.”

The interna! organs of the abdominal cavity are neglected in the Swedish system in that there are too few affective exercises acting upon these vita) parts of the body. Thcrc are some simple and slow bendings and twistings of the waist-line, but thcy are only carried out a few times, which is far too little for keeping these organs in regular working order. The success of “ My System ” in this respect is, in the First place, due to the fact that the bendings and twistings are performed very strongly or ąuickly, and without pauses (as soon as the learner’s stage is passed) ; further, that each of these bending and twisting movements is repeated from ten to forty times; and, finally, that “ My System ” contains several verv effective combinations of bending and twisting, ąuite unknown in the Swedish system. I have met several persons, even teachers of Swedish exercises, who suffered from digestive troubles,

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