ardly
necessary to mention the necessity for breathing pure air, and
especially when taking deep-breathing exercises, if you wish the very
greatest results. Take these deep breaths when in the open air, or
else before an open window. It is a good plan, for instance, when rising
in the morning to stand before an open window and inhale perhaps a dozen
full, complete breaths. This will help greatly to brush the cobwebs from
your brain and brighten you up for the day's duties and
responsibilities.

All of these suggestions apply with equal force to both sexes. Because
of the fashions of dress usually in vogue the breathing of women is
much more restricted than that of men. Furthermore, they are generally
less inclined to athletic pursuits involving exercise which compels
deep breathing.

The method of breathing recommended for women is absolutely identical
with that suggested for men. It is a curious fact that until recent
years the world generally, the medical profession included, held the
opinion that there is a fundamental difference between men and
women in breathing. Observation of the natural breathing of boys and
girls would soon prove the absurdity of this opinion. Owing to the
universal use of the corset, thoracic breathing, or chest breathing,
the result of the artificial constriction of the body at and below the
waist line, appeared to be the natural method of breathing for women,
whereas diaphragmatic breathing was recognized as proper and natural for
men. Only in recent years have medical authorities recognized that
this difference was really due only to artificial methods of dress and
that natural breathing in women and men is absolutely the same. Recent
fashions have permitted the enlargement of the waist line in women,
but unfortunately there is still too much constriction of this
important part of the body. When the world becomes more truly civilized
and our methods of dress are based upon common sense and an
intelligent understanding of the physical requirements of the body, we
may hope that the dress of women will be such as to permit entire
freedom in the matter of breathing, and the easy expansion of the body
at the waist line. Some day women will learn the value of suspending
skirts, stockings, etc., from the shoulders instead of relying upon the
restriction at the waist as a means of support.

If you wish to ascertain more exactly whether or not your breathing i