Science

I read something about this years ago for improving posture. I use it when doing low/floor work that I would have got on my knees or sat down for, previously. I used to use it when I lived in this illegal housing/barn situation where I had to wash my dishes at a low spigot in an animal stall. it worked great and I remember it feeling so much easier on my low back than any alternative.

I'm in my mid 40s now and it's been a game changer... the muscles in the legs/thighs/butt feel like they have infinite stamina compared to the low back. it's like once the flexibility is there, it's much easier and does feel like a resting position. you definitely get looks if you're standing in line for something and switch to it to "rest" lol.

I recommend everybody in the west try some fundamentals with yoga, tai chi, and squatting just to get an idea of conceptualizing your body mechanics outside the westoidian default. not even anything intense... like I took a tai chi class where I was the youngest one in it by far and it was profoundly altering for being more conscious/deliberate in how I stand still and walk, which I am doing all the time so I get a lot of opportunities to "practice".

I have been squatting for years and I'm constantly amazed by how little other Americans can do it. It's such a comfortable rest position for me that I'll actively choose to squat versus sitting on a particularly shitty chair. So much so that I wish I had a squat toilet because they're wildly more comfortable for me.

Working my way up to a full squat was extremely rewarding, now I basically use it to skirt around "no sitting" rules at work. 😏

A nation full of people that skip leg day smh

Years ago there was this natural movement thing, right when I was doing my coaching studies, and I got into the whole rest squat movement. Before that I was doing all sorts of high intensity exercises and always had problems with my lower back (I do have a disorder in my spine that causes that), up to almost ending up in surgery with it.

When I started to relearn the rest squat it was miserable at first, even though it's the most basic position people exist in as kids. The burn in my shins was incredible. But I got to the 30 minutes pretty fast and after that it has never disappeared again. I am well over 40 now, fat and often spoonless, but I can just squat all the way down and get up like it's nothing. Even when I slack on my lifting. Even when I sometimes forget about it for months on end, it never goes away again.

My lower back rarely gives me grief these days and if it does, hanging out in the squat usually helps. I do a lot of on-the-go client work where there often isn't places to sit and I can just hang out in the squat instead.

5/5, would recommend to everyone who is able to do this.

You ever see a little kid who is just old enough to walk pick something up? They do a perfect squat every time. We unlearn proper squatting and posture because of how he sit.

how to flat foot squat without falling backwards?

If anyone is interested in reading more about un-chairing themselves I recommend the book Move Your DNA by Katy Bowman.

Counterpoint: when I poop, I squat on top of my toilet

We making physical shibboleths now? I'm down. The world shall be divided by those who say CPC and squat vs those who say CCP and do not.

Still a rough way to take a crap, plus maintaining balance during post-crap clean up. I'll take a sitter toilet any day.