The House Boy is assigned a personalized exercise schedule based on his age, health, and abilities, taking into account the mutual goals that he and the Master have set for physical fitness. One of the assigned exercises is usually Leg Lifts.

The protocol calls for the boy to lie on his back with both legs fully extended and lift one leg into the air as far as he can towards a point perpendicular to the ground, then return the leg fully to the down position. The boy is permitted to bend the other leg at the knee if this makes it easier to complete the exercise, but he is not permitted to use his arms or hands to assist the leg into the upward position. If the boy is unable to reach at least 45 degrees angle with the upward leg, he may stop at the point where the exercise becomes physically stressful and count the movement as ‘One-Half Lift’, proceeding at half-counts until the assigned number of Full Leg Lifts is completed and can be logged into his journal.

Leg Lift Exercises are a scheduled task that the House Boy must carry out at home at the assigned day and time, regardless of who may present and could observe. The boy is not permitted clothing or covering during this exercise, except socks (optional). The Master reserves the right to manually assist or allow a volunteer to manually assist as a spotter to help the boy achieve his Leg Lift goals and determine the proper count of Leg Lifts. The boy is not permitted to resist or refuse assistance unless he has another more important duty or chore that is pending.

In the example photo, a limber House Boy demonstrates the proper way to complete a Leg Lift to a full 90-degree upright position. Very few boys are limber enough to be able to do this, and the Master only expects compliance to the 45-degree angle or halfway to straight up. Because this exercise may cause rubbing or chafing on the boy’s backside, the House Boy is subject to a Back, Buttocks, or Elbow Inspection following completion of any Leg Lift Exercises.