Bess M. M.D. Mensendieck

Here's how, in ten mnutes a day, to achieve a youthful body and increased vitality-without tiring exercises. Ingrid Bergman, Fredric March, Gloria Swanson and many other notables have benefited from and enthusiastically endorse the Mensendieck System of Movement Schemes. Now, for the first time, this world-renowned system is available in simple, popular form. The Movement Schemes, which are the basis of the Mesendieck System, are quite different from conventional exercises. The exertion required in 'execising' is totally absent. Even those afflicted with heart ailments can safely benefit. The 43 easy-to-do movements are scientifically designed to revitalize specific muscles and joints. They help you end backaches...flatten the abdomen...take inches of hips and waist...correct aching feet...banish double chin...sculpture the chest and correct other body faults. Easy-to-follow drawings lead you, step by step, through the simple Movement Schemes. Nontechnical explanations tell which muscles and joints are involved in each movement, and the condition each is designed to improve. Almost before you know it, you find you feel better, look better, and-just as important-understand better how your body works and how to care for it. Prominent medical autorities hail Dr. Mensendieck's contributions to body health and beauty. Thousands, from European royalty to American house-wives, have benefited from the System at one of the more than 60 Mensendieck Institutes. With this book, you can bring new grace, beauty and health to your body though this world-renowned System formerly available only through private consultation with Dr. Mensendieck or one of her trained instructors. Dr. Bess M. Mesendieck, an American by birth, has become almost a household name throughout Europe. There are more than 60 Mensendiek Institutes, throughout Germany, Austria, Denmark, Norway, Belgium and the Netherlands, where her famous system is used. Dr. Mensendieck's lifelong concern with body health and beauty can be traced to her early training as a sculptor. Some models, she noted, had well-shaped bodies, while others, for no apparent reason, did not. Why, she wondered? To learn the answer she studied medicine in Switzerland-the only place admitting women to the professn at that time-and became a physician. Years of study, research and experimentation in body mechnics follwed. The result is the Mensendieck System, now endorsed by medical authorities and used by queens and housewives, Hollywood stars andmen f business. A number of books by Dr. Mensendieck have been published in German, Czechoslovakian and English. Look Better, Feel Better is, however, the first nontechnical presentation of the Mensendieck System designed for lay readers. 'The Mensendieck exercises are not intended to create great strength or large muscles, but rather to creat a rhythmic and beautiful body in motion. They are by no means designed exclusively for patients with heart disease, but because the Mensendieck functional exercises are mild and graduated they are well adapted to this end.'-Logan Clendening, M.D., World-Telegram 'In the field of physical education the author's theories have been universally acclaimed as being basic and profound , and her system of exercises accepted as being constructed accurately on scientific principles. Scientists in the United States and in Europe, members of royalty, distinguished artists, writers, musicians and leaders in the field of physical education in many countries have enthusiastically endorsed the Mensendieck System.'-Nature's Path 'The Mensendieck System, widely accepted in Europe and in this country, has the aim of rescuing the body from the laxness which modern civilization imposes on it. The system therefore is based on minute study of the anatomy and on exercises designed to strengthen muscles and correct bodiliy defects.'-The Dance 'It is, for example, in the world of bess Mensendieck that the romantic-or, if you will, the omovern-dance theory finds its completion....The dance was not her interest, but through her develoment of a new and radical method of physical education the dance has profited incalculably. It is no secret that most of the modern German physical culture dancing is a direct outgrowth of her pioneering.'-John Martin, New York Times Contents Part I The key to shaping your body 1 Become the sculptor of your body-In search of a method; Examine your movements; Functional movement; For women; For men; For children ; For older people; For convalescents; The future of your body 2 The shape of your body-Take inventory of your body; The feet and legs; The middle area; Shoulders and upper back; Neckline and arms; Seven basic points about muscles and your figure; The seven basic points applied 3 Guarding the body at work, at play and at rest-How to ist in balance; Nine steps in assuming the balanced sitting positon; How to stand in balance; Eight steps in asuing the balanced standing pisition; Furniture to guard your body's health and looks; Nervous tension and fatigue, rest and relaxation; Diet and muscle developoment; Athletics and exercise Part II The movement schemes (A note on how to use the movement schemes) 4 Comfort for the feet Movement scheme 1: Toe-raising Movement scheme 2: Heel-raising 5 Reduce the buttock area Movement scheme 3: Buttock control Movement scheme 4: Buttock and thigh muscle control 6 Flatten the abdomen Movement scheme 5: Abdominal control, seated Movement scheme 6: Abdominal control, standing 7 Strengthen the back Movement scheme 7: The back stretch Movement scheme 8: The back stretch, completed 8 Square the shoulders Movement scheme 9: Arm-raising, forward to shoulder height, seated Movement scheme 10: Arm-raising, forward to the vertical Movement scheme 11: The rhomboideus movement Movement scheme 12: Arm-raising, backward 9 Increase your breathing capacity Movement scheme 13: Breaathing and chest expansion, seated Movement scheme 14: Berathing and movement 10 Slenderize the waistline Movement scheme 15: Trunjk side stetch, seated Movement scheme 16: Trunk side stetch, standing 11 End backache Movement scheme 17: Raising the leg into the lumbar region Movement scheme 18: Raising the leg into the lumbar region, with weigt transfer Movement scheme 19: Leg pendulum, backward 12 Reduce the thighs and abdomen Movement scheme 20: Leg pendulum, forward Movement scheme 21: Leg pendulum, forward and backward 13 Sculpture the chest Movement scheme 22: Beast muscle control, at shoulder level, seated Movement scheme 23: Breast muscle control, in the diagonal 14 Abolish double chin Movement scheme 24: Neck forward bend Movement scheme 25: Neck sidewaard bend 15 Slenderize the hips Movement scheme 26: Leg pendulum, sideways Movement scheme 27: Leg quarter circle, back combination Movement scheme 28: Leg quarter circle, front combination 16 Sculpture the upper back Movement scheme 29: Shoulder blade shove, at shoulder level Movement scheme 30: Shoulder blade shove, diagonal 17 Strengthen the ankles and feet Movement scheme 31: Arch-building steps, forward Movement scheme 32: Arch-building steps, backward 18 Mold the arms Movement scheme 33: arm-bending and stretching Movement scheme 34: Arm rotation, outward and inward 19 Limber the knee joints Movement scheme 35: Knee-bending and stetching Movement scheme 36: The 'squat' 20 Shape the legs Movement scheme 37: The 'squat' in step position Movement scheme 38: 'Knee-saw' 21 Strengthen the feet Movement scheme 39: Jumping 22 Combined movement schemes Movement scheme 40: Arm-rainsing and breathing in rhythm Movement scheme 41: Round forward trunk bend combined with breathing Movement scheme 42: Leg pendulum forward and backward, combined with breathing Movement scheme 43: Trunk side stetch combined with breathing… (meer)