Sex efficiency through exercises : special physical culture for women / by Th. H. van de Velde ; [photos, by E. Steinemann].

subject, thus bringing an incalculable force into action. Therefore he advises against following the example of many coloured races, who give explicit instruction in this respect,* set in a traditional ritual framework. He would suggest that direct perineal gymnastics are best postponed till after marriage. But that indirect exercises of the pelvic floor need have no injurious effects in either perplexing, exciting or distressing the most sensitive growing girls. The same is true of most exercises of the abdominal or pelvic zone ; others, again, are best reserved for a later date. And what of clothing during the exercises ? Should it be cast wholly aside or not ? This is largely a matter of personal inclination, i.e. of taste, and de gustibus non est disputandum. And I agree that Mrs. Mensendieck(9) is quite correct in emphasising the impossibility of judging whether a fully clothed body performs certain postures and movements in the right way. Nevertheless, I think we should do well to limit the nude exercises to the minimum absolutely necessary to judge accuracy and adequacy here ; and this minimum is very small indeed in pelvic exercises. Therefore I should not associate myself with Mrs. Mensendieck's recommendation to perform individual gymnastic exercises nude, and between two mirrors, or rather, I should not extend this recommen- dation to the exercises here in question. I do not consider the risk of Narcissistic suggestion either exaggerated or at all unfounded in certain cases, and the possible developments of any such self-centred and self-directed erotic trend should be avoided. Therefore also, pelvic exercises are not appropriate for class use. They are very individual and should be performed under the special attention and supervision of the instruc- tress, and then alone. In the first circumstances tricot combination garments are probably best; and these can be removed, if necessary, in order to permit the instructress to * See Ploss-Bartels' " Woman, in Her Anthropological Aspect " (William Heinemann (Medical Books) Ltd., London), and Havelock Ellis in " Psychology of Sex" (William Heinemann (Medical Books) Ltd., London).