Your ATM (Always Think Muscle) video was a life saver. I'm 65 and was depressed thinking that I had arthritis in my hip. It turns out that I had muscle weakness in my left leg. After working diligently for over 2 years (strength is possible over 60 but slow) I'm getting better and am thankful that it's NOT arthritis. May God Bless you. Scott Webster
Are you saying you’re sure you don’t have arthritis? I know I have arthritis from imaging, but my doctor says that the condition has not changed in the past couple of years, yet my pain has grown a lot and it worries me. I have a meeting with him in about a week to discuss what my options are. I’m pretty sure he’ll offer physical therapy and I will definitely take it and try to be more consistent. I problem is that the results take so long that my incentive decreases because I start wondering if I’m actually doing effective moves. I don’t want to be reinforcing a bad pattern. But I’m I’m sitting in a modified human squat right now! The full one involves pain nearly from the first second, but I have to start making a deal with myself too do something towards the human squat or sitting on the floor for some of the time that I watched these videos every day!
I was diagnosed with “arthritis” - because of all the inflammation from eating a SAD diet…I switched to eating only Whole Foods, low carb and no sugar and the pain in my joints is gone! And I eat lots of eggs and meat, fats - yummy
Last Christmas I started working on getting into a deep squat. It took a couple months before I could do it comfortably. What helped a lot was I changed to a standing desk at work. However, I put the laptop on a small box under it. Now whenever I get the bing of you got mail, I go into a deep squat to read and answer it... A couple months later, I can stay down as long as I want without thinking about it. Now I'm known as the groundhog!
I'm new here and age 63 with arthritis and painful knees- I started walking over a year ago and I am up to 1.5 miles a day, 6 days weekly. I have a hard time getting down to the floor and back but I'm going to train myself to be able to do the Asian squat a little bit each day! Thanks, I'm a new subscriber!
@@donnaisa6100 hi 👋 it's going great, thank you. I'm up to 2.5 miles 6 days a week and I'm still trying to squat but my knees are too painful/arthritic. I'm doing keto and omad and I'm down almost 100 lbs (in 12 months) and honing in on my goal weight! I never felt so alive! Hope you are doing well.
I’m 60 and I’ve done the Asian squat ever since I was a little kid. Lots of people do it in my country (Brazil). It’s second nature to us. I was doing the squat while watching your video.
Thanks for the personal answer, Matt. I really appreciate all you are doing. I am slowly but noticeably improving - - lost over 10 pounds, able to squat comfortably, focusing on moving vs sitting.
I've been sitting like this for decades and only after watching your channel did I realise not everyone could. Regularly sit like this for 5 - 10 minutes at a time... normally when on a tea-break, at work, and the sun is out. :)
I haven't tested my limits but I have gardened in a squat for 15 minutes at a time...don't know if I could go longer. I'm more interested in being functional and comfortable in a range of motion so it was awesome to garden like that. Also I had a complete hip replacement in November 2021 and I'm 65...so I'm pretty pleased that I can do the things I enjoy! Thanks for all you great videos ...and the laughs!
You're right about tick tock. I read Boy Scouts book when I was a teenager written by Baden Powell and in that book there was a recommendation to be able to squat along with reasons for doing so and it made total sense to me, so I've been doing it since. I'm now 63. I can probably sit in the squat for about 20 mins, but like you suggested I then change it up and sit in a different position, I probably don't sit like it enough to sit for hours without feeling the need to move. What I have always thought though is if you do construction DIY work where you need to be low to the ground working a lot, the squat seems like a massively beneficial ability.
I watched one of these videos randomly on a recommended pop-up thanks to the algorithm maybe a year and a half ago. I tried it then, fell on my my butt immediately. One of my coworkers then snapped her Achilles and I decided I wanted to get my ankles more limber. So I started training to squat deeply. I did what you recommend naturally - I held onto my desk and held myself in a stretching sensation. First it burned my hips then my ankles. I’ve been through it all. And it took ages, a year even but I can now drop into a squat from standing instantly and I can hold the squat for ages, walk around in the position, and spring right back up. I never would have expected it. I’ve also transitioned to stretching my hamstrings and adductors as well as part of my ankles routine. My entire lower body these days now feels loose and comfortable. Indirectly I owe you a lot of credit because I felt so ashamed I couldn’t I couldn’t squat a while back when I saw your video. I appreciate the new mobility in my life very much and the benefits continue to surprise me. It helps me on my hikes and in my sports with getting power from the floor. I work as an engineer at a desk as my dat job so it’s a great benefit to be loose. I literally do FEEL a bit better so in a way I owe you some thanks. Thank you!
Matt thank you for posting your knowledge...this is very helpful! Hope you enjoyed your trip to Japan. I'm about 12 weeks into primitive squatting. I still need to elevate my heels and I still need to keep a light weight/object in front of me to keep my body stabilized. My current longest span is 7 minutes at one time but I've also learned that progress for me is going to be very slow...so I usually max out at about 3-4 minutes per sitting, at about 15-20 minutes per workout, 2-3 times per week. My next goal is to do 10 mins at one time, but my ultimate goal is to do 30 minutes at one time, heels completely flat on the floor, with no support in front of me, and able to comfortably raise my body back to the standing position. I have a lot of work to do but I can already see the benefits that make this worthwhile: increased strength and size in my quads and calves...better foot health...solid bodyweight squat form and depth...mental toughness...
I stumbled upon your deep squat video a little under a year ago, and I've been training ever since. I'm not there yet, but I'm getting close. I still need to stretch out my arms in front of me to keep balance and not topple backwards. But in addition I'm able to do 20 very comfortable exercise squats and my leg muscles have improved immensly. Thank you for teaching me something I thought impossible!
Pain sucks (so does Tik Tok); life should not. Thanks for this, Matt. I know people who can use this info.I was talking to someone over the weekend who is a cyclist and he was telling me that he's been working on and where he was feeling the most challenge in his body. It's definitely worth the effort and taking it slow. Tuning in to where our tight spots are and what we do on a regular basis activity-wise or habits definitely helps.
Just joined up. So much appreciate you Matt. I can only do a few seconds on the squat and I'm in not bad shape. 😢Every day I practice. I'll get there😊.
Terrific advice, Matt. Love your training. The deep squat is such a functional move, I can't understand how anyone can get through a day without it. If you're a plumber, electrician, mechanic, gardener, or lots of other occupations, you'll need that ability. For some reason (don't ask me why), I've always strongly preferred sitting on the floor to sitting in a chair; and I do this whenever possible. One result is that I'm 75 yet have never lost the ability to deep squat -- along with sitting cross-legged, or in seiza or lotus postures, or lots of others. These moves feel so natural that I only recently noticed I'm unusual -- that none of my friends (of whatever age) can still do them. They consider me eccentric for having persisted in these "childish" behaviors. But at least I can still do them! For that, I consider myself fantastically blessed, and fantastically lucky. And no, I have no idea how long I could maintain a deep squat. Probably could go to sleep in that position, or play a long game of chess. In reality, though, I'm too restless and fidgety and would want to cycle through various alternative postures like the ones you demonstrate above. My point (and yours) is that the deep squat is a normal and beneficial practice. Anyone who can still do it, or who can relearn it, should do so -- then practice it forever.
♥️ Thank you! I was just thinking about that the other day considering my circulation in my knees. I have progressed to full squat on toes for about 30 - 60 sec., so I'm almost there.
I recently discovered your channel, and love it. I used to breed pedigree cats as a hobby and I found my back was getting really painful kneeling over the litter boxes to clean them. I started squatting instead. One thing led to another and I set up both of my toilets for full squat (not a squatty potty … a full squat device that goes around the toilet). I’m 74 and now, after 15 years, I’m able to do pretty good deeps squats, sometimes even with the heels on the floor. I’m working on them!! I still have plenty of litter boxes to practice on 😂. I just discovered that squatting is in! Who would have thought?! A gazillion UA-cam videos on squatting … but yours are the best!
I’m a 76 yr old woman and have been working on my squat since losing enough weight for my legs to fold 😂. Yesterday while gardening in a squat I felt myself sink so deep my ample butt touched the ground! I expected a couple of hours of gardening this way would leave me stiff today, but no; and to top it off, no back pain either!
I quit my office chair and sit cross legged most of the day and my back feels better. Glad you gave me these squats to work on so I can keep changing up the position❤
hello, i've Ehler-Danlos and I can do a deep squat for at least 20-30 min before starting feeling some pain : it's a natural position for me and even a "position de repos" (i used it sometimes when i'm to tired)
Hey Matt being in my sixties I continue doing your 3 part excercise program to accomplish an Asian squat. Now like at least 5 months now. Getting lower in squatting but hamstrings still tighf but progressing. I figured its been many many years muscles not being lengthen. I have to be patient. I am trying not to force it. Thanks
Every human on this planet should be able to do this squat for a prolonged time. Its the most natural resting position for human beings. We have been doing this squat sense the days of hunters and gatherers. We didn't loose this ability until recent times, my assumption is around the time we started to drive everywhere but I can't back that portion up.
Love the advice have been practicing daily so thanks for that ! I have to say though just for me personally I don’t understand when people love UA-cam but hate TikTok as if TikTok is somehow worse than UA-cam or instagram or Facebook or any other addictive social media. TikTok actually has a lot of people who have so much talent and so much interesting things to say!
I find at 72 my best results are when the Asian Squat is useful in a task; I have no trouble, nor thinking about it, when filling our bird feeders outside. With my mind on the activity I don't notice discomfort, but I do notice that discomfort when watching myself practice squatting.
Exactly! I’m 66, have no problem squatting; but find it boring, to western perhaps. Since I want to keep strong or get stronger, I clean . I haven’t measured how long I can stay though. It’s working! Many blessings.
In regards to making gradual progression, Dan John has an excellent drill that really builds comfort and ability in the bottom position. It's a goblet squat, 6 total reps. Pick up the kettlebell, drop into the bottom position, and stay there for 30 seconds. Stand up all the way, immediately go back down into the bottom, repeat. Total time is slightly over 3 minutes. It sounds much easier than it really is, especially once you progress to a decent weight. A 106lb kettlebell makes it *real* fun.
Not for very long for me - I've been Adult-ing for too long, sitting in a chair, but with my naturally flexible hips I can still get into the squat position. While watching this video I've been sitting in something like an asian squat and moving around into different positions just naturally. It actually feels really good! I think it's time for me to stop using my desk so much
Almost 70. Never really stopped doing this from the time I was a kid until now, so it's not difficult at all, thankfully. I don't typically stay in this position for more than a minute or two, but I always feel like it takes some strain off my lower back. Standing up is sometimes a little 'painful' right at the fronts of my hip joints, but that only lasts a moment. Surprised my knees don't complain, but thankful they don't. Older folks: you can do this if you take it slow.
I went to a Zen center for several years and did many 3 to 5 day meditation retreats. We were not required to sit in Lotus or even in kneeling position, though many people did. I was older when I started, and I sat in a chair, but eventually was able to assume different positions. But it never got easy. But I could sit at my computer and play free cell for several hours and barely move. So there is something about how these addictive activities can shut down the other kind of feedback that’s there. There’s no way that my body was OK, even though I was not aware of discomfort or agitation. Now I’m 70 and having to confront joint pain sure doesn’t make this any easier. But I did get down into a squat for a little bit of time listening to this. Believe me I have to prop up my heels or I can’t do it for two seconds without pain so I guess I have my work cut out for me.
I love this deep squat. I’m 75 and squating 5 minutes is easy. 6 minutes does test my endurance. As a tennis player I deep squat during brief pauses on the court. My opponents often react when they see me in the deep squat. 🙂
You squat until the bus comes. 2 minutes, 20 minutes, whatever. The other guys at the bus stop will laugh at you when you have to stand up and stretch. That’s motivating. 😉
when did I start watching your videos? a year ago about? your tips have made a huge difference in my squatting capabilities.. and I notice small improvements every month.. to where now.. i'm almost a squatting pro.. ok i exagerate.. but it's a LOT better then when l started..
I can hold a deep squat for any length of time. I'm also a senior person. Certain positions are soooo comfortable to me I could just slumber in them, one being the squat, two doing the squat whilst holding onto a pole or tree and rounding out the back. Third, downward dog, lovely and last the most incredibly relaxing posture ploughman's pose. Yep as embarrassing that one is I just find it sooo relaxing
After 5 months of Pilates and Bodyart, I can fibally sit as a Japanese and deep squat, at least for a few minutes. I am very pleased and developping this lost skill. I am 62
Get with the Programme all you over 70’s - practice makes perfect !!!! Just keep doing your daily stretches - that is the sweet Spot from which all else is revealed !!!!!!
I can’t get my ankles all the way down yet. I have started using the position to pick up my daughters toys every night though which is not uncomfortable for me and it’s a natural way to incorporate it into my daily life.
Im up to maybe a couple of minutes of squatting at a time. But I definitely like moving around and changing positions, or as you say, fidgeting, often!
I have very bad arthritis in my knees and can’t get into a full squat because of lack of mobility (and a lot of pain), but strength is not an issue. The arthritis became severe just a couple of months ago. I’d love more information about how to approach these squats if you have bad knee arthritis.
Paused the video and timed myself Barefoot: 56s In Squishy House Sandals : 1:22 seconds I have been dealing with achilles tendonitis and my heels kept coming up. Time to work on that ankle flexibility. That felt like the limiting factor.
I wish I had seen this before I attempted to squat for the first time a couple of years ago. My new gf said she could only do it for a couple of minutes, and stupid 56-year-old me tried to impress her by squatting for the entire 12 minute video we were watching. It hurt like hell at the time and continued to hurt for months after. I never got a diagnosis, but I'm pretty sure I really messed up my piriformis for a while. Sitting, driving and sleeping were excruciating. I haven't tried this squat since, and don't think I will anytime soon.
I can to a tip toe deep squat for quite some time, but im progressing towards the flat foot Asian squat, as my legs eventually complain about being squished together in the toe squat. The Asian one looks more comfortable
i used to know a man who would sit this way for literaly hours. he would keep beers in the bushes so at a party he would just say want a beer...and he would just reach in and grab one. He was an old cowboy. last time I saw him do this was before he died at 82 years old. ..like you say ..he would just hang out like that. RIP uncle Bud
I was practicing this squat for several weeks just for minutes at a time and my right knee got really painful and still is. Was I in the wrong position? Thanks
I never knew that this is what I am doing. I am sitting in the garden, taking care of weeds in "the asian squat". I am an old women and find it quite comfortable. Sometimes (after an hour or so) I can get pain in the lower back. But that might not be the squat in itself, but that I reach out to far instead of movig the whole body.
I'm up to 30 seconds, but I had a double knee replacement last year. I can sit seiza, sit crosslegged, and hold a child's pose for long periods, though.
@@Uprighthealth I'm still falling back and my squat. My whole body is tight. And my heels are very close together when I go into the squat like a 2-inch Gap.
Question, I've been able to squat all the way down and hold it, but I have trouble getting and keeping my heels on the ground. Am I missing something? or doing it wrong? Thanks
So is sitting on the floor in varying positions for much of the day actually...okay? Conventional wisdom is that sitting is bad for the body, which I've assumed includes sitting on the floor as well. Trading the couch for the floor would be _way_ more doable for me than spending most of the day on my feet.
Committed doing the Asian squat while I brush my teeth🦷😬🪥 I definitely have noticed improvement in simply holding the squat and the tightness/stiffness in my lower back has eased up tremendously!
I can asian swat in the swimming pool in the shallow end on the steps but really struggling to get past 90% at home. I am benefiting from doing them in the swimming pool and why is it so much easier?
I always feel like if I'm squatting for more than 30 seconds or so, it's more comfortable to roll back to get out of it if I'm not on a hard surface. Should I work on standing straight out of it instead?
I can sit cross-legged (criss-cross applesauce as my kids call it) but... after a few minutes I get a lot o pain in my right foot (just the right one, never the left)... What's happening there?
I can get down there but I have trouble staying upright as my bum wants to fall backwards so I end up leaning forward to compensate resulting in a curved back. So I like to hold on to a small weight or a door. Is that ok?
so, i can do a deep squat no problem, no pain, and with great ease. (hypermobile here 🙋) it's the several minutes after returning to standing position, and from then out, that i experience pain deep in my right glute around the ball joint. like a burning cramp radiating dull ache. any idea what that could be about?
So I’ve been good getting there for small task but after testing the 5-10 I nothing my top for foot (left mostly) was sore w/ strain towards big toe I was also skating more that week. Laces may have been tight in that day. To b clear, nothing hurt or sore while doing the sip. Of anything, just got tired baking while watching video on iPad
I previously had a meniscus tear and ACL reconstruction on my left knee. The meniscus tear was at the very back, the horn and I was told to avoid exercises like the child pose where you sit on the back of your knees. To me this deep squat seems exactly the same so although I would really like to go into this position I believe I risk further injury in doing it. Any thoughts on this?
How to you increase your mobility in your ankle as i sort of do a calf strech but not necessarily concertrate on strenching my calf but my ankle as you stand up pushing against a wall that type of typical calf strnching exercise but i bend at the knee and try and get my kneee to go over my toes and i feel it nice in my achilies tendon but when i try on my right side my ankle feels like its hurting at the front of my foot say just below that arch where your shin and foot meet it hurts or feels not right. Have you any advice how to increase mobility in your ankles, please? When i attempt the asian squat i feel like if i do it properly, i feel like im going to fall back. I can do it against my sofa. And its fine but my knees start hurting. Even from when i was a kid when you uae to sit on the floor at school i could never cross my legs fully like budda or how some kids youse to sit say with their knees folded like how japanese women sit but your ass is on the floor and feet are back either side of you. I could never do that for long at it was uncomfortable and i was always active as a kid climbing up tress and buildings jumping of high stuff etc.
Will sitting in the deep squat help with sitting cross legged? I can sit in a deep squat for several minutes but cross legged is still hard for me no matter what I do (and yes I’ve seen your other video on it!) Thanks 😊
@@Penske30 Super frustrating isn’t it?! For me I think it’s an anatomy issue, the shape of the acetabulum and my pelvis is narrow. I’m flexible everywhere else! 😤
My heels always pop up which (I believe) means my hips are tight. I’m 50 and started practicing squats once a day for short periods of time 30!seconds). Now my hip flexors are super sore. Any suggestions?
I believe he has some videos for diagnosing which joint might be the major issue and sometimes it’s more than one. There’s also a channel called knees over toes that has some similar diagnostic videos. Best of luck to all of us on this.
Your ATM (Always Think Muscle) video was a life saver. I'm 65 and was depressed thinking that I had arthritis in my hip. It turns out that I had muscle weakness in my left leg.
After working diligently for over 2 years (strength is possible over 60 but slow) I'm getting better and am thankful that it's NOT arthritis.
May God Bless you.
Scott Webster
I am glad you did this. Real, good, free range, organic food and exercises are real. Pharmacy is bad and it is sorcery.
@@adnanbosnian5051 Ketchup is more sorcery!
I had to check to see if I hadn't posted this, haha. Exactly the same situation!
Are you saying you’re sure you don’t have arthritis? I know I have arthritis from imaging, but my doctor says that the condition has not changed in the past couple of years, yet my pain has grown a lot and it worries me. I have a meeting with him in about a week to discuss what my options are. I’m pretty sure he’ll offer physical therapy and I will definitely take it and try to be more consistent. I problem is that the results take so long that my incentive decreases because I start wondering if I’m actually doing effective moves. I don’t want to be reinforcing a bad pattern. But I’m I’m sitting in a modified human squat right now! The full one involves pain nearly from the first second, but I have to start making a deal with myself too do something towards the human squat or sitting on the floor for some of the time that I watched these videos every day!
I was diagnosed with “arthritis” - because of all the inflammation from eating a SAD diet…I switched to eating only Whole Foods, low carb and no sugar and the pain in my joints is gone! And I eat lots of eggs and meat, fats - yummy
I like to practice this at my factory job. They tell us we can't sit but I technically remain on my feet this way so they can't say anything 😂
sounds like a depressing job, sorry bro
@@Acenis It works out. I listen to audiobooks to keep my mind free and fed. It helps a LOT.
Last Christmas I started working on getting into a deep squat. It took a couple months before I could do it comfortably. What helped a lot was I changed to a standing desk at work. However, I put the laptop on a small box under it. Now whenever I get the bing of you got mail, I go into a deep squat to read and answer it... A couple months later, I can stay down as long as I want without thinking about it. Now I'm known as the groundhog!
This year, to save me from tears… 🎶
@@therealcaldiniWell, at least one person appreciated your humour. Well played.😂
I just started my deep squat 3 weeks ago and I was able to hold it for a full minute.
🎉
I'm new here and age 63 with arthritis and painful knees- I started walking over a year ago and I am up to 1.5 miles a day, 6 days weekly.
I have a hard time getting down to the floor and back but I'm going to train myself to be able to do the Asian squat a little bit each day!
Thanks, I'm a new subscriber!
Try adding walking backward for 10-15 mins. a day. It does wonders for knee pain.
I'm 63 with similar knee issues. I would love to master squatting as it has so many benefits.
How is you progress?
@@donnaisa6100 hi 👋 it's going great, thank you. I'm up to 2.5 miles 6 days a week and I'm still trying to squat but my knees are too painful/arthritic.
I'm doing keto and omad and I'm down almost 100 lbs
(in 12 months) and honing in on my goal weight! I never felt so alive! Hope you are doing well.
I’m 60 and I’ve done the Asian squat ever since I was a little kid. Lots of people do it in my country (Brazil). It’s second nature to us. I was doing the squat while watching your video.
Squatting keeps you young. Thanks and love from South Afrika
Thanks for the personal answer, Matt. I really appreciate all you are doing. I am slowly but noticeably improving - - lost over 10 pounds, able to squat comfortably, focusing on moving vs sitting.
I've been sitting like this for decades and only after watching your channel did I realise not everyone could. Regularly sit like this for 5 - 10 minutes at a time... normally when on a tea-break, at work, and the sun is out. :)
I haven't tested my limits but I have gardened in a squat for 15 minutes at a time...don't know if I could go longer. I'm more interested in being functional and comfortable in a range of motion so it was awesome to garden like that. Also I had a complete hip replacement in November 2021 and I'm 65...so I'm pretty pleased that I can do the things I enjoy! Thanks for all you great videos ...and the laughs!
best stance for weeding a garden by hand for whatever minutes at a time.
I watched every one of your videos sitting in a chair, and I feel so much healthier.
I learned from you to gradually be able to 's quat, which saves my lower back while gardening. You rock. ❤🇨🇦
Me too! I LOVE this position while pulling weeds and planting in my garden. It is very relaxing 😎
You're right about tick tock. I read Boy Scouts book when I was a teenager written by Baden Powell and in that book there was a recommendation to be able to squat along with reasons for doing so and it made total sense to me, so I've been doing it since. I'm now 63. I can probably sit in the squat for about 20 mins, but like you suggested I then change it up and sit in a different position, I probably don't sit like it enough to sit for hours without feeling the need to move. What I have always thought though is if you do construction DIY work where you need to be low to the ground working a lot, the squat seems like a massively beneficial ability.
I watched one of these videos randomly on a recommended pop-up thanks to the algorithm maybe a year and a half ago. I tried it then, fell on my my butt immediately. One of my coworkers then snapped her Achilles and I decided I wanted to get my ankles more limber.
So I started training to squat deeply. I did what you recommend naturally - I held onto my desk and held myself in a stretching sensation. First it burned my hips then my ankles. I’ve been through it all. And it took ages, a year even but I can now drop into a squat from standing instantly and I can hold the squat for ages, walk around in the position, and spring right back up. I never would have expected it. I’ve also transitioned to stretching my hamstrings and adductors as well as part of my ankles routine. My entire lower body these days now feels loose and comfortable.
Indirectly I owe you a lot of credit because I felt so ashamed I couldn’t I couldn’t squat a while back when I saw your video.
I appreciate the new mobility in my life very much and the benefits continue to surprise me. It helps me on my hikes and in my sports with getting power from the floor. I work as an engineer at a desk as my dat job so it’s a great benefit to be loose.
I literally do FEEL a bit better so in a way I owe you some thanks. Thank you!
Matt thank you for posting your knowledge...this is very helpful! Hope you enjoyed your trip to Japan. I'm about 12 weeks into primitive squatting. I still need to elevate my heels and I still need to keep a light weight/object in front of me to keep my body stabilized. My current longest span is 7 minutes at one time but I've also learned that progress for me is going to be very slow...so I usually max out at about 3-4 minutes per sitting, at about 15-20 minutes per workout, 2-3 times per week. My next goal is to do 10 mins at one time, but my ultimate goal is to do 30 minutes at one time, heels completely flat on the floor, with no support in front of me, and able to comfortably raise my body back to the standing position. I have a lot of work to do but I can already see the benefits that make this worthwhile: increased strength and size in my quads and calves...better foot health...solid bodyweight squat form and depth...mental toughness...
I stumbled upon your deep squat video a little under a year ago, and I've been training ever since. I'm not there yet, but I'm getting close. I still need to stretch out my arms in front of me to keep balance and not topple backwards.
But in addition I'm able to do 20 very comfortable exercise squats and my leg muscles have improved immensly.
Thank you for teaching me something I thought impossible!
Great to hear!
Pain sucks (so does Tik Tok); life should not. Thanks for this, Matt. I know people who can use this info.I was talking to someone over the weekend who is a cyclist and he was telling me that he's been working on and where he was feeling the most challenge in his body. It's definitely worth the effort and taking it slow. Tuning in to where our tight spots are and what we do on a regular basis activity-wise or habits definitely helps.
Just joined up. So much appreciate you Matt. I can only do a few seconds on the squat and I'm in not bad shape. 😢Every day I practice. I'll get there😊.
Terrific advice, Matt. Love your training. The deep squat is such a functional move, I can't understand how anyone can get through a day without it. If you're a plumber, electrician, mechanic, gardener, or lots of other occupations, you'll need that ability.
For some reason (don't ask me why), I've always strongly preferred sitting on the floor to sitting in a chair; and I do this whenever possible. One result is that I'm 75 yet have never lost the ability to deep squat -- along with sitting cross-legged, or in seiza or lotus postures, or lots of others. These moves feel so natural that I only recently noticed I'm unusual -- that none of my friends (of whatever age) can still do them. They consider me eccentric for having persisted in these "childish" behaviors. But at least I can still do them! For that, I consider myself fantastically blessed, and fantastically lucky.
And no, I have no idea how long I could maintain a deep squat. Probably could go to sleep in that position, or play a long game of chess. In reality, though, I'm too restless and fidgety and would want to cycle through various alternative postures like the ones you demonstrate above. My point (and yours) is that the deep squat is a normal and beneficial practice. Anyone who can still do it, or who can relearn it, should do so -- then practice it forever.
One of the best and funniest videos EVER! I love this!
♥️ Thank you! I was just thinking about that the other day considering my circulation in my knees. I have progressed to full squat on toes for about 30 - 60 sec., so I'm almost there.
I recently discovered your channel, and love it. I used to breed pedigree cats as a hobby and I found my back was getting really painful kneeling over the litter boxes to clean them. I started squatting instead. One thing led to another and I set up both of my toilets for full squat (not a squatty potty … a full squat device that goes around the toilet). I’m 74 and now, after 15 years, I’m able to do pretty good deeps squats, sometimes even with the heels on the floor. I’m working on them!! I still have plenty of litter boxes to practice on 😂. I just discovered that squatting is in! Who would have thought?! A gazillion UA-cam videos on squatting … but yours are the best!
I’m a 76 yr old woman and have been working on my squat since losing enough weight for my legs to fold 😂. Yesterday while gardening in a squat I felt myself sink so deep my ample butt touched the ground! I expected a couple of hours of gardening this way would leave me stiff today, but no; and to top it off, no back pain either!
Thank you for your encouragement. I'm very tight in my hips so this is quite the challenge
Ohhhh!
Stretch until you CAN squat. Not hold the level you’re at thinking it is the stretch.
My right ankle thanks you for clearing that up.
Omg I am so happy I found your channel, you your the best channel for showing how todo Asian squats
I quit my office chair and sit cross legged most of the day and my back feels better. Glad you gave me these squats to work on so I can keep changing up the position❤
hello, i've Ehler-Danlos and I can do a deep squat for at least 20-30 min before starting feeling some pain : it's a natural position for me and even a "position de repos" (i used it sometimes when i'm to tired)
Hey Matt being in my sixties I continue doing your 3 part excercise program to accomplish an Asian squat. Now like at least 5 months now. Getting lower in squatting but hamstrings still tighf but progressing. I figured its been many many years muscles not being lengthen. I have to be patient. I am trying not to force it. Thanks
Every human on this planet should be able to do this squat for a prolonged time. Its the most natural resting position for human beings. We have been doing this squat sense the days of hunters and gatherers. We didn't loose this ability until recent times, my assumption is around the time we started to drive everywhere but I can't back that portion up.
This is why I follow you...THIS!
Love the advice have been practicing daily so thanks for that ! I have to say though just for me personally I don’t understand when people love UA-cam but hate TikTok as if TikTok is somehow worse than UA-cam or instagram or Facebook or any other addictive social media. TikTok actually has a lot of people who have so much talent and so much interesting things to say!
Thank you for all you do Matt! You have been helping me for many years and I am grateful.
You are very welcome
I find at 72 my best results are when the Asian Squat is useful in a task; I have no trouble, nor thinking about it, when filling our bird feeders outside.
With my mind on the activity I don't notice discomfort, but I do notice that discomfort when watching myself practice squatting.
Exactly! I’m 66, have no problem squatting; but find it boring, to western perhaps. Since I want to keep strong or get stronger, I clean . I haven’t measured how long I can stay though. It’s working! Many blessings.
In regards to making gradual progression, Dan John has an excellent drill that really builds comfort and ability in the bottom position. It's a goblet squat, 6 total reps. Pick up the kettlebell, drop into the bottom position, and stay there for 30 seconds. Stand up all the way, immediately go back down into the bottom, repeat. Total time is slightly over 3 minutes. It sounds much easier than it really is, especially once you progress to a decent weight. A 106lb kettlebell makes it *real* fun.
Not for very long for me - I've been Adult-ing for too long, sitting in a chair, but with my naturally flexible hips I can still get into the squat position. While watching this video I've been sitting in something like an asian squat and moving around into different positions just naturally. It actually feels really good! I think it's time for me to stop using my desk so much
Almost 70. Never really stopped doing this from the time I was a kid until now, so it's not difficult at all, thankfully. I don't typically stay in this position for more than a minute or two, but I always feel like it takes some strain off my lower back. Standing up is sometimes a little 'painful' right at the fronts of my hip joints, but that only lasts a moment. Surprised my knees don't complain, but thankful they don't. Older folks: you can do this if you take it slow.
I can barely do a minute right now, my inner thighs just feel so strained… working on it, but I’ve never been super flexible!
I use the squat as i naturally need it now. I'm 60 years old. It's great for bottom shelf at supermarkets, etc!
I went to a Zen center for several years and did many 3 to 5 day meditation retreats. We were not required to sit in Lotus or even in kneeling position, though many people did. I was older when I started, and I sat in a chair, but eventually was able to assume different positions. But it never got easy. But I could sit at my computer and play free cell for several hours and barely move. So there is something about how these addictive activities can shut down the other kind of feedback that’s there. There’s no way that my body was OK, even though I was not aware of discomfort or agitation. Now I’m 70 and having to confront joint pain sure doesn’t make this any easier. But I did get down into a squat for a little bit of time listening to this. Believe me I have to prop up my heels or I can’t do it for two seconds without pain so I guess I have my work cut out for me.
I love this deep squat. I’m 75 and squating 5 minutes is easy. 6 minutes does test my endurance. As a tennis player I deep squat during brief pauses on the court. My opponents often react when they see me in the deep squat. 🙂
You squat until the bus comes. 2 minutes, 20 minutes, whatever. The other guys at the bus stop will laugh at you when you have to stand up and stretch. That’s motivating. 😉
when did I start watching your videos? a year ago about? your tips have made a huge difference in my squatting capabilities.. and I notice small improvements every month.. to where now.. i'm almost a squatting pro.. ok i exagerate.. but it's a LOT better then when l started..
I can hold a deep squat for any length of time. I'm also a senior person. Certain positions are soooo comfortable to me I could just slumber in them, one being the squat, two doing the squat whilst holding onto a pole or tree and rounding out the back. Third, downward dog, lovely and last the most incredibly relaxing posture ploughman's pose. Yep as embarrassing that one is I just find it sooo relaxing
After 5 months of Pilates and Bodyart, I can fibally sit as a Japanese and deep squat, at least for a few minutes. I am very pleased and developping this lost skill. I am 62
Get with the Programme all you over 70’s - practice makes perfect !!!! Just keep doing your daily stretches - that is the sweet Spot from which all else is revealed !!!!!!
I’ve been gardening like this since I was a lil kid
I waddle around the kitchen in a squat and clean my floor with dustpan and brush.
Me too :)
I can’t get my ankles all the way down yet. I have started using the position to pick up my daughters toys every night though which is not uncomfortable for me and it’s a natural way to incorporate it into my daily life.
For me it's tight calves. Knees not a problem. I just feels like I'll fall backward.
Im up to maybe a couple of minutes of squatting at a time. But I definitely like moving around and changing positions, or as you say, fidgeting, often!
Intelligently presented!^^
The very idea of timing how long I can squat has never occurred to me.
From 2 to 10 is 400% not 500% (as is intuitive). I definitely noticed that you knew this difference!
I like your videos. Thanks for making them. What do you think of doing deep squat-jumps after you are comfortable in the deep squat?
I have very bad arthritis in my knees and can’t get into a full squat because of lack of mobility (and a lot of pain), but strength is not an issue. The arthritis became severe just a couple of months ago.
I’d love more information about how to approach these squats if you have bad knee arthritis.
Thank you!
Great advice!
What's the best way to work on knee arthritis?
Paused the video and timed myself
Barefoot: 56s
In Squishy House Sandals : 1:22 seconds
I have been dealing with achilles tendonitis and my heels kept coming up. Time to work on that ankle flexibility. That felt like the limiting factor.
Squat + Gilligan’s Island 🎉
I wish I had seen this before I attempted to squat for the first time a couple of years ago. My new gf said she could only do it for a couple of minutes, and stupid 56-year-old me tried to impress her by squatting for the entire 12 minute video we were watching. It hurt like hell at the time and continued to hurt for months after. I never got a diagnosis, but I'm pretty sure I really messed up my piriformis for a while. Sitting, driving and sleeping were excruciating. I haven't tried this squat since, and don't think I will anytime soon.
I can to a tip toe deep squat for quite some time, but im progressing towards the flat foot Asian squat, as my legs eventually complain about being squished together in the toe squat. The Asian one looks more comfortable
My brother and I took Kung Fu as young kids, the only two Germans in the class. I'm my 60's we both can and do the Asian Squat, and do to this day.
i used to know a man who would sit this way for literaly hours. he would keep beers in the bushes so at a party he would just say want a beer...and he would just reach in and grab one. He was an old cowboy. last time I saw him do this was before he died at 82 years old. ..like you say ..he would just hang out like that. RIP uncle Bud
I was practicing this squat for several weeks just for minutes at a time and my right knee got really painful and still is. Was I in the wrong position? Thanks
I never knew that this is what I am doing. I am sitting in the garden, taking care of weeds in "the asian squat". I am an old women and find it quite comfortable. Sometimes (after an hour or so) I can get pain in the lower back. But that might not be the squat in itself, but that I reach out to far instead of movig the whole body.
Thank you for this video. The last video I saw the guy just thinks everybody's supposed to do 30 minutes a day.
How about hanging on a pull-up bar? How long should one hang for? A minute? Longer?
what sandals are those?
I'm up to 30 seconds, but I had a double knee replacement last year. I can sit seiza, sit crosslegged, and hold a child's pose for long periods, though.
Doing algebra exercises while watching the video, thinking how many more chapters I need to read before getting to derivatives....
Thanks!
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@@Uprighthealth I'm still falling back and my squat. My whole body is tight. And my heels are very close together when I go into the squat like a 2-inch Gap.
I used to! But my osteoarthritis won’t allow me to even do squats but I keep trying
Question, I've been able to squat all the way down and hold it, but I have trouble getting and keeping my heels on the ground. Am I missing something? or doing it wrong? Thanks
So is sitting on the floor in varying positions for much of the day actually...okay? Conventional wisdom is that sitting is bad for the body, which I've assumed includes sitting on the floor as well.
Trading the couch for the floor would be _way_ more doable for me than spending most of the day on my feet.
Committed doing the Asian squat while I brush my teeth🦷😬🪥
I definitely have noticed improvement in simply holding the squat and the tightness/stiffness in my lower back has eased up tremendously!
What are the benefits of doing the squats for a longer period of time?
I NEVER used to be able to do this! Seriously, I gave up figure skating because I could not do this!!!
I can asian swat in the swimming pool in the shallow end on the steps but really struggling to get past 90% at home. I am benefiting from doing them in the swimming pool and why is it so much easier?
Thank you
I can hold a deep squat comfortably but getting up again without moving to table pose and then using my hands to push up is my challenge. Any advice?
My squat is going OK but an old ankle injury has interrupted my flexibility in getting down fully, I'm working on it though
I can’t get my heels down, I need to watch your videos to get to that point.
I put paperback books under my heels
I always feel like if I'm squatting for more than 30 seconds or so, it's more comfortable to roll back to get out of it if I'm not on a hard surface. Should I work on standing straight out of it instead?
I can sit cross-legged (criss-cross applesauce as my kids call it) but... after a few minutes I get a lot o pain in my right foot (just the right one, never the left)... What's happening there?
HI SIR...PLEASE ADVICE OR GUIDE ON KNEES PAIN..KNEE S R HURTING WITH HARMSTRING muscle and front side too...Please help...
I can get down there but I have trouble staying upright as my bum wants to fall backwards so I end up leaning forward to compensate resulting in a curved back. So I like to hold on to a small weight or a door. Is that ok?
so, i can do a deep squat no problem, no pain, and with great ease. (hypermobile here 🙋) it's the several minutes after returning to standing position, and from then out, that i experience pain deep in my right glute around the ball joint. like a burning cramp radiating dull ache. any idea what that could be about?
What's the difference between yoga malasana and asian squat?
I can squat low but I can’t do it with my heels on the floor. How can I get there?
So I’ve been good getting there for small task but after testing the 5-10 I nothing my top for foot (left mostly) was sore w/ strain towards big toe I was also skating more that week. Laces may have been tight in that day.
To b clear, nothing hurt or sore while doing the sip. Of anything, just got tired baking while watching video on iPad
I previously had a meniscus tear and ACL reconstruction on my left knee. The meniscus tear was at the very back, the horn and I was told to avoid exercises like the child pose where you sit on the back of your knees. To me this deep squat seems exactly the same so although I would really like to go into this position I believe I risk further injury in doing it. Any thoughts on this?
Danke!
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How to you increase your mobility in your ankle as i sort of do a calf strech but not necessarily concertrate on strenching my calf but my ankle as you stand up pushing against a wall that type of typical calf strnching exercise but i bend at the knee and try and get my kneee to go over my toes and i feel it nice in my achilies tendon but when i try on my right side my ankle feels like its hurting at the front of my foot say just below that arch where your shin and foot meet it hurts or feels not right. Have you any advice how to increase mobility in your ankles, please? When i attempt the asian squat i feel like if i do it properly, i feel like im going to fall back. I can do it against my sofa. And its fine but my knees start hurting. Even from when i was a kid when you uae to sit on the floor at school i could never cross my legs fully like budda or how some kids youse to sit say with their knees folded like how japanese women sit but your ass is on the floor and feet are back either side of you. I could never do that for long at it was uncomfortable and i was always active as a kid climbing up tress and buildings jumping of high stuff etc.
Toes pointed forward or out?
Will sitting in the deep squat help with sitting cross legged? I can sit in a deep squat for several minutes but cross legged is still hard for me no matter what I do (and yes I’ve seen your other video on it!) Thanks 😊
This is me exactly! Cross legged sitting hasn’t improved for me despite years of practice!
@@Penske30 Super frustrating isn’t it?! For me I think it’s an anatomy issue, the shape of the acetabulum and my pelvis is narrow. I’m flexible everywhere else! 😤
@@anniwilson2534 Very frustrating! The Asian squat is fairly east for me.
ua-cam.com/video/kUtYRiOC3sE/v-deo.html
Currently doing x3 sets of ten mins a day
I was a competitive dancer & athlete, but I could never feel comfortable sitting cross-legged, even as a child. Are some born this way?
I like this
My heels always pop up which (I believe) means my hips are tight. I’m 50 and started practicing squats once a day for short periods of time 30!seconds). Now my hip flexors are super sore. Any suggestions?
Could be tight calves. I have the same problem.
I believe he has some videos for diagnosing which joint might be the major issue and sometimes it’s more than one. There’s also a channel called knees over toes that has some similar diagnostic videos. Best of luck to all of us on this.
To be considered a true Asian squat, you would need to be holding a cigarette 🚬🤭🙄