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The benefits of exercise are timeless. Ancient Greeks knew about them, as did the Romans and 19th century health pros.
"Health by Exercise" is an 1880 essay on strength and fitness published by Dr. George Taylor. This thread presents 4 exercises from the book still useful today.
"Health by Exercise" is an 1880 essay on strength and fitness published by Dr. George Taylor. This thread presents 4 exercises from the book still useful today.
1/ Take care of your feet
Taylor understood the body's relation with the ground.
" The strength of the muscles and tendons of your feet is necessarily subjected to much more constant and severe trials than almost any other portion of your body"
Taylor understood the body's relation with the ground.
" The strength of the muscles and tendons of your feet is necessarily subjected to much more constant and severe trials than almost any other portion of your body"
Most muscles acting upon the feet are in the lower leg. Your calves play a critical role in every step you take.
What did Dr. Taylor recommend in 1880? Calf-Raises, or Standing Feet-Extending as he called them. He even mentions doing them on one foot.
What did Dr. Taylor recommend in 1880? Calf-Raises, or Standing Feet-Extending as he called them. He even mentions doing them on one foot.
" By this process, they are strengthened, that is, their nutrition is increased, owing to the blood attracted to the parts that have acted away from the heart. "
This picture shows a machine for Standing Calf-Raises found in most gyms nowadays.
This picture shows a machine for Standing Calf-Raises found in most gyms nowadays.
2/ Train Your Legs
" The legs are endowed with very large masses of muscle, and it is necessary to employ them freely in movement, in order to secure the objects contemplated in our prescription for diseases. They are used as means of modifying the circulation of the blood "
" The legs are endowed with very large masses of muscle, and it is necessary to employ them freely in movement, in order to secure the objects contemplated in our prescription for diseases. They are used as means of modifying the circulation of the blood "
He recommends Squats, or Wing-Span-Standing Curtseying.
" The action is felt at the bottoms of the feet, in the calves of the legs, and, after the knees bend, strongly in the muscles of the legs. The effect increases in proportion as the knees deviate from perpendicular by bending of the knee joints. '
Squat deep circa 1880
Squat deep circa 1880
And Glute Ham-Raises, or Wing-Kneeling, Knee Stretching!
" This movement powerfully affects the muscles and fascia of the thighs, its influence extending to the hips and back, also to the calves of the leg. "
" This movement powerfully affects the muscles and fascia of the thighs, its influence extending to the hips and back, also to the calves of the leg. "
" It is derivative (pumps blood away from organs), and counteracts the ill effects of too much exercise of the muscles of the anterior portion of the thigh. "
Front/Back leg imbalance is one of the most common strength imbalances I encounter in my practice.
Front/Back leg imbalance is one of the most common strength imbalances I encounter in my practice.
3/ Train all angles of the shoulders
Here are 3 external rotation variations:
vimeo.com/320991075
vimeo.com/317804979
vimeo.com/306002795
vimeo.com/320991075
vimeo.com/317804979
vimeo.com/306002795
4/ Hang
Strengthen your grip and stretch your spine with this primal human function.
Strengthen your grip and stretch your spine with this primal human function.
" it is evident that in this movement most of the indications for the treatment of various grades pulmonary affections are fulfilled. "
Referring to the expansion of the ribs from the pull of the arms.
Referring to the expansion of the ribs from the pull of the arms.
