I’ve been doing a squat challenge. I don’t know why I’m calling it that because I randomly started on a Tuesday and I’m only squatting solo, but there you have it. My competition is me? Hi 👋 longer and stronger baybee!
Popping a squat is an ancestral thing, many cultures still practice this as a routine part of meals, using the restroom and working. There are bountiful benefits. Strength is one, mobility another, improved mental focus, stimulates digestion, enhances balance and stability, stress reduction, benefits vascular tone - the list goes on and more in depth, and y’all know me, so if you want to know, I’ll hook you up with more info than you could ever process.
As I’ve been working on holding my squat longer, pushing my knees out wider, coming up on my tip toes, alternately rotating the knees internally for that hip love, I’ve been checking out other squatters form - when I’m in yoga - and it all varies. Some people’s booty touches the ground, some people aren’t able to squat flat footed, some folks are only able to do an assisted squat.
For years I’ve been in this yoga game. It’s something I dedicate a lot of time too - sometimes more strength focused, sometimes more mental, sometimes a sound bath. My squat though has been consistent. After over 20 years of yoga, and there have been a few stretches where I’ve missed for months at a time (postpartum, other responsibilities), even outside of a yoga class though, I do yoga postures every day. Every damn day.
My booty doesn’t touch the ground. I struggle to hold malasana for longer than a minute. I’ve held it for 3 minutes, but that’s not a ‘meal’ - it’s a counter pose actually to sitting in chairs and what not in the modern day that jacks our posture.
THAT’S OK!!!!!!!! I did a random google search and these are the reasons squats may vary -
5 Reasons Why You Can't Squat With Depth
1 - You Have Low Ankle Mobility
2 - You Have Low Hip Mobility
3 - You're A Quad Dominant Squatter
4 - You Have Poor Thoracic Spine Mobility
5 - You're Not Built To Squat Deep
Look there at number 5. You’re not meant to squat deep. Our bodies are all different and have adapted to our landscape and the now. Do you have shallower hip sockets? Longer femurs? A congenital fusion in your spine? All these variables play a roll.
Your squat is just fine. Your squat is your squat. This is applicable in every walk of like. Number 5, should be number 1. That’s how we should set it up, teach it, and then we all learn together about variations and our squats are strong together.
This context is in the usual Jen mental pathways, so you dig. Seriously though, fucking squat.
Squat xx
