Sex efficiency through exercises : special physical culture for women / by Th. H. van de Velde ; [photos, by E. Steinemann].
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held sideways, level with the shoulder, palms forwards, thumbs uppermost. The elbow joint should be not fully stretched, but very slightly bent, the arm muscles not slack but taut. Both arms should then quickly be brought together, moving from the shoulder blades as though about to clap the hands together, avoiding this, however, by jerking the arms backwards as rapidly and suddenly as possible, to their initial attitude, just before the palms have touched. (b) First position. Hold both arms level with the shoulders and sideways, palms downwards, thumbs touching the edge of the palms. The elbow joint should be very slightly flexed as in preceding modification (a). Then strike downwards from the shoulders with both arms as though to slap the thighs, but jerk suddenly upwards and back- wards again before this can happen. (c) Bodily attitude and arm posture as in (a) and (6), but palms upward and thumbs in a line with palms. Strike upwards over the head with both arms but, just before the palms touch, jerk them suddenly back to the initial position. (d) Body and arms as in (b), but let the arms cross over in front and stop the movement, when the hands are close together. Then move the arms sideways again at shoulder level, and repeat. The fatigue which follows correct performance of these exercises is a signal when to stop. Do relaxing and loosening movements immediately following 32 and its modifications. (33) Swimming without Water [or on Dry Land). A firm table is necessary for this exercise. The patient lies on her abdomen, but her trunk from the ribs upwards is over the edge and has no support. In order to prevent accidents, the instructress presses down both legs of the patient very firmly and steadily. Head and arms drop down limply over the table edge, as the exercise begins. Then the patient brings both palms together, thrusts her arms forward as though swimming, and as she executes the sideways semicircle with both arms, she lifts her trunk up as far as possible and inhales. Keep in this posture for a few moments, then breathe out and lower the arms, as the trunk relaxes