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Why Can't Everyone Do the 'Asian Squat'?

theatlantic.com

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Re: Why Can't Everyone Do the 'Asian Squat'?

#51

Post by pja »

wink wrote: post #46
mercer wrote: post #40

I think a big part of this is very much a psychological issue. Because squatting isn't 'common' for many people, it is experienced as more uncomfortable than it really is (even when it's done right - where there's no permanent tension from balance on your toes, for example). Another example would be sitting cross-legged (or whatever that one leg over the other thing is called) as a man. I find that I and many guys I…

Interesting, I've never heard anyone tell anyone else that sitting cross-legged is somehow unmanly. (I'm German). More like "don't sit like that in a professional setting" but that's also not something I remember anyone saying, it's more tribal knowledge. Yes, it's pretty uncommon seeing people in public do it (sometimes on the floor or on ledges), but there are not many opportunities. As a relatively big guy, I abso…

Years ago I read a book which suggested that this was specific to the U.S.: sitting cross-legged doesn't carry any particular gender / sexuality coding elsewhere.

Re: Why Can't Everyone Do the 'Asian Squat'?

#53

Post by codedinosaur »

adrianN wrote: post #24
codedinosaur wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

About 3-4 months of doing this[1] has gotten me to a point where I can sit in the squat position without any effort. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Opw9G1qKCcM

"How to squat" minute three: As you exhale, you squat straight down with perfect form. Done.

In the beginning, your will be leaning forward a lot. By the time you have perfected this movement, which too me 15-16 weeks, you are able to squat effortlessly. Until then, you can use a modification[1]

[1] https://youtu.be/Opw9G1qKCcM?t=332

Re: Why Can't Everyone Do the 'Asian Squat'?

#57

Post by n4r9 »

pnathan wrote: post #16

After reading the prior discussion & spending some time at the gym doing deadlifty things with a trainer, I experimented with doing the squat. What I found was that while I can do a squat in, e.g., gym shorts, I simply can not do them with my jeans: the jeans constrain my movement substantially. And, the other thing I found, is that a bit of fat on the belly inhibits it as well. I can't speak for everyone, but jeans…

Most trousers (especially men's) are poorly suited to a flexible range of motion. I have pretty flexible hips and large thighs from squatting, and have split my trousers at the groin on more than one occasion doing something silly like a martial arts kick or demonstrating an olympic lift movement. I stick to corduroys now.

Apparently you used to get people wearing cut-off jeans shorts while squatting in the gym, because the tension provides an extra impetus out of the bottom of the movement. A bit like a weightlifting singlet I guess. I've never seen it in person though.

Re: Why Can't Everyone Do the 'Asian Squat'?

#58

Post by chiph »

amriksohata wrote: post #49

Indian origin here, from a young age my parents would with me sit on the floor even though we had chairs, cross legged. I found a lot of my English mates struggle to cross their legs, even as an adult I can do it but goto classes where I see them struggle. We used to squat to eat as most Ayurvedic principles say this is the best way to both eat and poo, it keeps your colon straight whilst sitting on a seat forces you…

I just tried it (middle aged white dude) and my lack of ankle flexibility just won't let me keep my heels on the ground. Maybe I'll add it to my workout warmup to see if things improve over time.

Re: Why Can't Everyone Do the 'Asian Squat'?

#59

Post by social_quotient »

amriksohata wrote: post #49

Indian origin here, from a young age my parents would with me sit on the floor even though we had chairs, cross legged. I found a lot of my English mates struggle to cross their legs, even as an adult I can do it but goto classes where I see them struggle. We used to squat to eat as most Ayurvedic principles say this is the best way to both eat and poo, it keeps your colon straight whilst sitting on a seat forces you…

I just found some scientific proof for what you were saying about the angle of descent

https://youtu.be/YbYWhdLO43Q

Re: Why Can't Everyone Do the 'Asian Squat'?

#60

Post by LeifCarrotson »

pnathan wrote: post #16

After reading the prior discussion & spending some time at the gym doing deadlifty things with a trainer, I experimented with doing the squat. What I found was that while I can do a squat in, e.g., gym shorts, I simply can not do them with my jeans: the jeans constrain my movement substantially. And, the other thing I found, is that a bit of fat on the belly inhibits it as well. I can't speak for everyone, but jeans…

Ugh, jeans. I hate the constricting feel of straight slim solid denim.

But I recently discovered that they now make stretch denim, with spandex in the knit.

It sounds like an energy drink, but Lee Extreme Motion jeans look normal but feel like running tights. And they look great, perhaps better than normal jeans because they fit better. Levi 541 and stretch 514 are good too, but have half the spandex content of the Lee jeans.

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