Sex efficiency through exercises : special physical culture for women / by Th. H. van de Velde ; [photos, by E. Steinemann].
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as may be proved by individual experiment, they do not in the least necessarily imply a contraction of the levator. Take, for instance, the opening and closing of the legs when in the seated position. The pelvic floor only shares in these movements if and when there is conscious effort at its contraction. But, I gladly admit that there are several gymnastic exercises in which the pelvic floor may share and benefit under the same* conditions, i.e., deliberate special attention and effort. Appropriate examples may be found in " Be Healthy And Handsome! " by a medical woman, Dr. Hildegard Yunkers-KutnevskyS1® Direct gymnastics of the pelvic floor include two groups of exercise : the general, and the special, or vaginal. The typical exercise of the first group, which is primary and often the only one mentioned or perhaps imagined, is the " Retraction (or Drawing-in) of the Anus." This exercise should be performed lying recumbent and with the trunk completely relaxed. Von Liebenstein{17) gives two photo- graphs showing what happens to and in the region of the pelvic floor during this exercise. As these photographs are not reproduced in the present book, I may quote the description in their accompanying text. In the first photo- graph, depicting the quiescent state : " The tissues of the pelvic floor are relaxed. The anus is almost circular and may easily be recognised with its concentric radiating folds. The perineum * is broad and relaxed ; the labia minora (inner lips) slightly apart and the buttocks slack and slightly rounded." The second photograph shows these regions at their maximum degree of tension : " Anus, perineum and exterior genitalia are drawn inwards and together by the contraction of the muscular strata and appear decreased in size. The anus is a narrow oval slit hardly visible. The perineum appears higher set, as it is narrower (than in the first photograph) and the genital cleft is closed. The tense, rounded buttocks are pressed tightly together with a sharply indented dividing line." * Term specially used for the region between the introitus, or outer opening of the vagina, and the anus. Laymen often use this term, in a general sense, to include the whole pelvic floor, but it is better to avoid that so as not to make confusion.