Time to limber up with some gentle exercise
And swing those arms for a grand crescendo. And now........relax.
This is a set of stamps called "Gymnastics by Radio" issued in 1952. Radio gymnastics had been introduced in China the previous year to develop mass physical fitness so I suppose the stamps were issued to reinforced the message.
Students and faculty at a middle school in Shanghai do radio exercises in this photo of Dec 1, 1951.
The radio program was not kept up in later years due to social change in China, however times changed again as Beijing resumed the daily broadcasts in August 2010 in a fitness campaign for all. Tune in at 10 am or 2pm and throw some shapes. This middle school started to use the exercises in 2002:
I suppose we would call this aerobics today rather than gymnastics
An entry to Sunday Stamps hosted by Viridian Postcards here
6 comments:
I love the stamps and video. They must have to memorize the exercises unless they are following a leader.
I love these stamps. I feel like getting up from my chair and doing the exercise myself! :p
I could do with following a fitness campaign myself. Wonderful stamps!
the stamps make a great series!
How interesting! I wonder how this would go over in the West!? ; )
We have a similar program like this when I was in grade school (in the 80s!). We called it the morning calisthenics - it was done right after the flag ceremony in the school quadrangle/grounds, before the first period. I didn't know China did it, too :)
Postcards Crossing
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