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Screw your standing desk. How about squatting?

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Re: Screw your standing desk. How about squatting?

#81

Post by kaybe »

cincinnatus wrote: post #23
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)?

I think it was an accident of history in Europe. Something to do with the architecture of castles and ships perhaps. It is a shame that much of Asia is losing the squat toilet over time. I've found it to be very helpful on occasion. It dramatically reduces apparent constipation.

Quite a few people seem to squat on the western style toilets though.. at least that's what the signs forbidding it and the occasional footprints on the seat suggest.

Re: Screw your standing desk. How about squatting?

#82

Post by Tomis02 »

nostromo wrote: post #67

Don't most of our fellow primates spend most of their time squatting? Maybe they're on to something? http://i.imgur.com/leDTqgl.jpg http://i.imgur.com/3f8c0PK.jpg http://i.imgur.com/DBXxFvo.jpg

If I stay in a squat position within a couple of minutes my legs become really tensed up and it feels as if my I'm cutting my blood flow; squatting for even 5 minutes is not feasible for me, let alone 8 hours, and I don't believe it to be a matter of training. I think we are a long way from our fellow primates.

Re: Screw your standing desk. How about squatting?

#83

Post by axefrog »

nostromo wrote: post #67

Don't most of our fellow primates spend most of their time squatting? Maybe they're on to something? http://i.imgur.com/leDTqgl.jpg http://i.imgur.com/3f8c0PK.jpg http://i.imgur.com/DBXxFvo.jpg

You will note of course that their legs are significantly different to ours. They're much shorter, they're less optimally-shaped for full upright standing (when do you ever see monkeys, apes, gorillas, etc standing tall like a human?), and their feet are differently-shaped. I think the comparison is flawed.

Re: Screw your standing desk. How about squatting?

#84

Post by pieterhg »

nostromo wrote: post #67

Don't most of our fellow primates spend most of their time squatting? Maybe they're on to something? http://i.imgur.com/leDTqgl.jpg http://i.imgur.com/3f8c0PK.jpg http://i.imgur.com/DBXxFvo.jpg

Many cultures like the Chinese and Korean still squat a lot instead of sitting, it's funny for us to see but they seem to be enjoying it.

Re: Screw your standing desk. How about squatting?

#86

Post by opinali »

quarterto wrote: post #4

After wading through the article's obnoxious style, we see it provides no tangible arguments against standing, nor for squatting. In fact, the only argument against standing is that it's uncomfortable, and then the rest of the article is spent explaining how to make squatting less uncomfortable. Squatting for more than 5 minutes would probably make my knees explode.

It's easy to stand comfortably for hours: just use the Captain Morgan pose. (get a small box to rest one feet on; alternate feet every few minutes) This is recommended for example by Kelly Starrett. Works for me awesomely.

Re: Screw your standing desk. How about squatting?

#87

Post by dredmorbius »

nailer wrote: post #62
vidarh wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I do power lifting, and had significant problems with my squats until I spent a few weeks practicing asian squats and generally improving my hip mobility. I still can't stay in a squat position nearly as long as my four year old son, but it's been steadily improving. When I started squatting, my knees were so weak I couldn't walk up a flight of stairs without pain. I finally started exercising because my doctor gave…

> until I spent a few weeks practicing asian squats Is that a specific type of squat, or just a normal squatting position without any weight?

It's a form of natural unweighted squat that's commonly practiced in Asia as a rest position.

A crucial difference from how many westerners squat is that the weight is carried back on the heels. Westerners tend to squat with weight forward on the toes, which is highly fatiguing.

There's a vintage video on the topic:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y76UbfBr5vo

(This was linked in the article, but it's since gone walkabout).

Re: Screw your standing desk. How about squatting?

#88

Post by kissickas »

Alterlife wrote: post #24

Arguably not a polite way to sit in an Indian office considering this: http://www.wikihow.com/Use-an-Indian-Bathroom

Is that a fact? Arabs often have the same kind of toilet but I've never heard someone say that squatting in general is rude.

Re: Screw your standing desk. How about squatting?

#89

Post by kyllo »

nailer wrote: post #62
vidarh wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I do power lifting, and had significant problems with my squats until I spent a few weeks practicing asian squats and generally improving my hip mobility. I still can't stay in a squat position nearly as long as my four year old son, but it's been steadily improving. When I started squatting, my knees were so weak I couldn't walk up a flight of stairs without pain. I finally started exercising because my doctor gave…

> until I spent a few weeks practicing asian squats Is that a specific type of squat, or just a normal squatting position without any weight?

It's a squat where the heels are flat on the ground and you're sitting back more.

In contrast to the western "catcher's squat" (from baseball) where the heels are off the ground and the weight is on the balls of your feet.

Re: Screw your standing desk. How about squatting?

#90

Post by kyllo »

iopq wrote: post #57

my proportions don't let me do this, I have very long legs, I'm 6'4" and have a medium length torso and my extra height is in legs with such extreme proportions it's not possible to do it comfortably since I need to squat inside my knees so I need to turn the knees outside to squat between them this is probably not very healthy

Sure it is.

In powerlifting, when performing a barbell squat, you are supposed to spread your knees apart and squat down in between your legs. This is proper technique and reduces the stress on the knee joint, transferring the load to the glutes and hamstrings.

I don't see why it would be unhealthy for you to do it without weight on your back.

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