Put your hands on your waist. When you bend here, it’s dangerous, it wears out your spinal discs and makes your back tense. Where you want to bend is not at your waist, it’s at your hip.

“Measure around the smallest part of your waist. When in doubt, bend to the side like a teapot,” says Gaskins. “Where it creases is the right spot.” You’ll use your natural waist ...