Brilliance in the basics. I try to sit in a deep squat at least 20 minutes a day. Reading, working, relaxing. To your point, it has restructured my body in ways I would not have believed. Great stuff, Kyle.
I love watching my kids just naturally sit into the position without prompting for play, relaxing, coloring, etc. Interesting how we tend to grow away from natural positions due to perceived comfort over time.
I'm 70 and just started your deep squat challenge. I'm up to a whole minute w/support. Door frame. Looking forward sitting for.five min. and no support.
Hi Kyle! I'm in Japan this week and next. While waiting at the train station after a day of a lot of walking, I needed to take some pressure off my back, but it's impolite to sit on the floor here. Resting in a deep squat, however, is completely acceptable! I was able to rest comfortably without falling over because I've been putting in the work this month based on your recommendation. Thank you for sharing this challenge!
Looking forward to this month’s challenge. And I have a question! Is the goal of this type of deep squat hold to engage the muscles and build strength? I do a lot of yoga and its deep squat hold (malasana) is more of a restorative posture (focusing on a straight spine, breath, energy flow, and relaxation).
This month is more about range of motion and less about strength. I would argue the straight spine deep squat pose requires more strength (more so muscular endurance) than the one I’m suggesting with a rounded back. The engagement from holding this is more to stretch muscles, increase mobility in lower joints, and cause some decompression in the back (helped by the rounding).
Now, if you do air squats or weighted squats down to this position (once you’re comfortable getting into and out of it), then you’re building functional strength through your full range of motion.
Fantastic, I am all for focusing on range of motion/flexibility/mobility. When I first started doing yoga, I couldn’t straighten my spine in the squat at all without falling backward. The rounded back version for decompression will be a nice change of pace though.
I am 67 years old and was just telling my wife how my knees just do not warm up like when I was younger. People have told me it is arthritis and there is nothing I can do. I play pickleball for three hours and my knees still feel stiff on my last game. I wanted to find a great way to stretch them.
Kyle, I will do the modified deep squats every day, until I can do them unmodified.
I often wonder if squats are a physical or mental challenge. If you talk to doctors, they will tell you under anesthesia they can move a patient’s body into almost any position. Yet when we’re conscious that flexibility vanishes. It seems like our brain is trying to protect us. I remember a couple years ago my dead lift stalled at 250 pounds. Then one day I decided I’m gonna do this, walked up to and did 300 pounds easily. Before that I would grab that 300 pounds and all the bar did was shake a little bit. I think you quoted David Goggins a while back, who says that when we think we’re tapped out, we’re really only at 40% of our capability.
Brilliance in the basics. I try to sit in a deep squat at least 20 minutes a day. Reading, working, relaxing. To your point, it has restructured my body in ways I would not have believed. Great stuff, Kyle.
I love watching my kids just naturally sit into the position without prompting for play, relaxing, coloring, etc. Interesting how we tend to grow away from natural positions due to perceived comfort over time.
20 minutes a day is solid. Love it
They are like plastic! Those kids who keep up natures work will excel.
“Keeping up nature’s work” well put 👊🏻
I'm 70 and just started your deep squat challenge. I'm up to a whole minute w/support. Door frame. Looking forward sitting for.five min. and no support.
That’s incredibly impressive you’re already there! Looking forward to it too. Stay the course 👊🏻
Hi Kyle! I'm in Japan this week and next. While waiting at the train station after a day of a lot of walking, I needed to take some pressure off my back, but it's impolite to sit on the floor here. Resting in a deep squat, however, is completely acceptable! I was able to rest comfortably without falling over because I've been putting in the work this month based on your recommendation. Thank you for sharing this challenge!
Thank you for sharing this beautiful real world application! Abundance of elite deep squatters in Japan! Hope you enjoy the trip. I love that country.
Looking forward to this month’s challenge. And I have a question! Is the goal of this type of deep squat hold to engage the muscles and build strength? I do a lot of yoga and its deep squat hold (malasana) is more of a restorative posture (focusing on a straight spine, breath, energy flow, and relaxation).
This month is more about range of motion and less about strength. I would argue the straight spine deep squat pose requires more strength (more so muscular endurance) than the one I’m suggesting with a rounded back. The engagement from holding this is more to stretch muscles, increase mobility in lower joints, and cause some decompression in the back (helped by the rounding).
Now, if you do air squats or weighted squats down to this position (once you’re comfortable getting into and out of it), then you’re building functional strength through your full range of motion.
Fantastic, I am all for focusing on range of motion/flexibility/mobility. When I first started doing yoga, I couldn’t straighten my spine in the squat at all without falling backward. The rounded back version for decompression will be a nice change of pace though.
I am 67 years old and was just telling my wife how my knees just do not warm up like when I was younger. People have told me it is arthritis and there is nothing I can do. I play pickleball for three hours and my knees still feel stiff on my last game. I wanted to find a great way to stretch them.
Kyle, I will do the modified deep squats every day, until I can do them unmodified.
Thank you!
Love it dad 👊🏻
This looks good, I'll give it a try!
❤️👊🏻
I started today and only did 30 seconds before it started getting a bit uncomfortable. But I'll share my progress with you in a month
Love this one - in!!
❤️👊🏻
best low back stretch for me. especially if add in twisting, hand to sky type stuff
I often wonder if squats are a physical or mental challenge. If you talk to doctors, they will tell you under anesthesia they can move a patient’s body into almost any position. Yet when we’re conscious that flexibility vanishes. It seems like our brain is trying to protect us. I remember a couple years ago my dead lift stalled at 250 pounds. Then one day I decided I’m gonna do this, walked up to and did 300 pounds easily. Before that I would grab that 300 pounds and all the bar did was shake a little bit. I think you quoted David Goggins a while back, who says that when we think we’re tapped out, we’re really only at 40% of our capability.