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

the smaller pelvic circle, for instance. And it may be an additional incentive that our exercises will certainly favour various and harmonious grace of movement in the dance. But, first and foremost, we must aim at entire control of pelvic movements. This implies no specially violent effort, nor any special concentration on muscular power, as distinct from muscular elasticity and tone. All reliable authorities on gymnastics for women are in agreement on this : that women should possess useful and efficient muscular power, both for general human activities and for the special require- ments of birth, but that excessive muscular development, and, above all, excessive solidity of muscle, in women should be avoided. All obstetricians would probably concur with Sellheim, who based his pronouncement on the experience of generations of medical observation, when he said that we need women whose muscles are not hard but elastic. This is indisputable. But elasticity does not mean flabbiness or lack of tone. We would say that the muscular system in women, especially the muscles of abdomen and perineum (or pelvic zone and floor) should be so trained and controlled that they are strong enough both to support and to expel the prospective child without becoming so hard and thick as to constrict and hinder the act of birth. For the technique of pelvic physical culture for women consists just as much in relaxation as in contraction : women should be able to draw their pelvic and perineal muscles tense or to relax them at will. And the complete mastery of this technique will enable its adepts to move, contract or relax sets of muscles which usually act together, quite independently, and, if necessary, to relax some while contracting others. We have chosen no movements which imply violent efforts or exertions. And we may add that there are certain exercises in general gymnastic use, as well as in games and sports, which imply vigorous pelvic motion. These have, doubtless, a favourable effect in counteracting the prevalent pelvic inactivity and immobility. They may be used with good effect, as introductory or accessory support to our special exercises ; they help to " loosen the joints." But— there is a very important but here—the womb is a firm and