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Screw your standing desk. How about squatting?

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Re: Screw your standing desk. How about squatting?

#31

Post by eterm »

rwhitman wrote: post #21

If you have a bad back or are interested in posture, there is a wonderful book (ignore the generic title) called "8 Steps to a Pain-Free Back", written by a woman who observed that people in non-Westernized cultures have very little back problems and that they exhibit natural choices in posture that we lost in the West due to various trends and furniture designs. Its a really fascinating read and explores a lot of th…

Do they have less back problems or just less reporting of back problems?

Culture is a complex thing, so is health. The intersection of them I wouldn't trust in the hands of laymen or self-proclaimed experts.

Re: Screw your standing desk. How about squatting?

#32

Post by kolinko »

lazyjones wrote: post #17

Let's think about why we gave up this position for going to the toilet, even though it allowed for better hygiene and simpler toilet designs. Is it because we "lost" this position at some point, or perhaps it wasn't that comfortable after all (for the bowels, for example)?

Actually, from what I heard, squatting is better for the bowels.

Re: Screw your standing desk. How about squatting?

#33

Post by notacoward »

cincinnatus wrote: post #25
notacoward wrote: post #11

Dumbest idea ever. The hyper-fit guy sitting in the gym isn't looking too bad, though having the knees rotated that far out for any length of time isn't going to work out well. (Yes, knees-out squatting and knees-in squatting are very different things.) The woman in the second picture has the same problem, plus hyper-extending her arms and bending her wrists too far back. The third woman . . . oh, I don't even know w…

How about while reading? Or thinking? It's not like "using a computer" is a monolithic activity. Electric desk frames allow you to change position throughout the day. The latest one I got (3 segment legs from geek desk) can go so low I can sit lotus in front of it.

Yes, changing positions is really the key. That's why I have an Ergotron sit/stand mount for my monitor, and I use it in both modes. I also tend to pace a lot when I don't need to be looking at the monitor. (One of the nice things about working at home is that nobody complains about that.) I'm sure squatting is fine and even good exercise once in a while, but this article is presenting it as a primary position for extended periods and that's just crazy.

Re: Screw your standing desk. How about squatting?

#34

Post by rwhitman »

eterm wrote: post #31
rwhitman wrote: post #21

If you have a bad back or are interested in posture, there is a wonderful book (ignore the generic title) called "8 Steps to a Pain-Free Back", written by a woman who observed that people in non-Westernized cultures have very little back problems and that they exhibit natural choices in posture that we lost in the West due to various trends and furniture designs. Its a really fascinating read and explores a lot of th…

Do they have less back problems or just less reporting of back problems? Culture is a complex thing, so is health. The intersection of them I wouldn't trust in the hands of laymen or self-proclaimed experts.

Apparently its almost unheard of in some cultures to have any sort of back problems, even after decades of physical labor etc. The premise of the book is that the reason for this is that these people are using their spines and posture in a more natural fashion, which leverages the structure of the spine better, but we don't do it in the West as the result of a kind of cultural revolt against victorian era posture norms that took place in the 1920's

Re: Screw your standing desk. How about squatting?

#36

Post by Glide »

xutopia wrote: post #8

Except some of us are morphologically incapable of squatting the restful way: http://themovementfix.com/the-best-kept-secret-why-people-ha...

I had thought most of the squatting talk on this was about more weightlifting type squatting and not just being able to rest in a squatting position.

Unless a deep squat = squatting restfully. Which is hard to argue that it's not due to lack of flexibility.

Re: Screw your standing desk. How about squatting?

#38

Post by brianwawok »

CompleteMoron wrote: post #12

I think it's satire-esque. I think sitting like that is for people who dont really "work" - or maybe I am mad because I invested in a 2k stand up desk only to be sent thousands of miles away on a job. Plus I feel like sitting like that would fill the office with farts and stuff.

Squatting doesn't make you fart unless you have other serious problems.

Re: Screw your standing desk. How about squatting?

#39

Post by _nullandnull_ »

I learned this technique when I was backpacking through Vietnam. I noticed that many of the people were squatting rather then sitting. Then while touring the Cu Chi tunnels outside of Ho Chi Minh City our guide explained why the tunnels/holes were so small. It's because the soldiers would sit in this squat position for hours. Once you start doing it often you can do it longer and longer. I usually sit like this while I am in between sets at the gym.

Re: Screw your standing desk. How about squatting?

#40

Post by lazyjones »

kolinko wrote: post #32
lazyjones wrote: post #17

Let's think about why we gave up this position for going to the toilet, even though it allowed for better hygiene and simpler toilet designs. Is it because we "lost" this position at some point, or perhaps it wasn't that comfortable after all (for the bowels, for example)?

Actually, from what I heard, squatting is better for the bowels.

For emptying them, or for keeping them relaxed?
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