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MY BRKATHING SYSTEM

in the tuition of all tcchiiical points of a gamę, but they very, verv seldom teach their pupils how to breathe during exercise. A few yoting athletes will do it correctly by sheer instinct or subconsciously, and it is from these that the lasting championa are recruited. The rest may win some successes before they succumb to heart or lung di-seases.

The most common fault is that only part of the lung is used and thus wora out too soon, while the remainder is atrophied. Simultaneously the rcsulting short and quick breath causes a too quick and irregular heart beat. Or the bad habit of holding the breath during eftorts will cause the heart to be dilated. Or the too restricted inovement of the ribs will cause the chest to grow stiff, so that the lungs, heart, and arteries will losc their elasticity, while the liver₍ stornach, and bowels will miss the intcrnal massage and grow slack. Even several of the strong veteran oarsmen and athletes who die at the age of seventy would certainly have enjoyed life and games until ninety if they had understood how to keep themselves elastic and young inside.

Let me emphasize that the worst error of an athlctc is to believe that Swedish gymnastics or mili tary drill is healthy. The permanently “ chest out, stornach in ” superstition has ruincd millions of vital organs. Two rnain rules for an athlete who wants to kcep fit and elastic for a long life are : Slack down the carriage, make yourself as narrow-chested as possible, and let the abdomen prolrude relaxed each time you exhale the air during exercise. You then get rid ot morę foul air and make room for morę fresh air, and the intestines will get internal massage and morę room for working.

The other rule is : Always relax the muscles not used for the moment in the performance of a mmemenł. They will then follow the command of the nerves much quicker and they will keep their strength much longer. There are hundreds of

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