It’s best to hang on to your curves – especially the one in your lumbar, the area at the small of the low back. This area of the back is naturally curved forward and that curve balances the spine and the weight of your upper torso and head.

When this curve flattens out or gets too curvy, your natural balance is disturbed. The muscles in the low back will go into spasm trying to fix the problem. The result is low back pain, pain in the butt and hips, even down the leg and into the neck.

All good reasons to keep your curves!

How do you do that? Well, we sit in chairs staring at computer screens, shop warehouse stores’ cement floors in flip-flops, and drive too much, all things that mess with our curves. Curve revival moves are in order!

My personal favorite curve restoration move is the slow circle, a bit I picked up in my Tai Chi Ch’uan class. I’m sure the Tai Chi folks would want me to share it. Using your hips, move your middle around slowly in a circle, taking care not to move your shoulders or feet as you complete the circle. Standing in front of a mirror helps. The slow circles are done eight times in one direction, then stopped in the middle. Then eight times slowly in the opposite direction.

After this move your back will be more balanced, and most importantly, be able to do the impossible, such as hitting a drive at the golf course or picking a sock off the floor after a hard day at the office.

I’ll be happy to show you this move when you come in for a massage. It reminds me to do my curvy circles!