Sentences that start with the phrase “A guru once told me…” are, more often than not, eye-roll-inducing. But recently, while resting in malasana, or a deep squat, in an East London yoga class, I was struck by the second half of the instructor’s sentence: “A guru once told me that the problem with the West is they don’t squat.”
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 can get down pretty easily but can’t stay down. Still a lot of active effort balancing