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.”
Are you able to reach the same position when lying on your back?
So: I can squat flat-footed IF my back is up against a wall. I guess the main problem is that my center of gravity is just too far back for me to do it freestanding. I tip over backyard.
When I lay on my back and try bringing my knees in, I can’t really tell if I’m achieving the right position to have my center of gravity where it needs to be.
Ah, you probably just need to shift your weight on your feet and balance. Like a slav squat (track suit and cheap liquor optional).
https://www.instagram.com/p/DMyQA5NymdK/
Yeah, just can’t do it. Even with my arms extended all the way straight forward, I’m still tipping over backward. My ankles just won’t close to a tight enough angle.
How about doing a squat with your heels up? And/or while grabbing something stable in front of you to keep from falling over backwards?
I can squat on the balls of my feet with my heels up but that is a very different posture requiring a lot of active balancing, so it doesn’t afford the benefits of a flat foot squat. It is also less stable and fairly punishing on the balls of the feet. At that point I’d rather just kneel.
Active balancing is good for the brain. One could still use a hand on a post, counter, chair or some such to facilitate balance training. There are foam pads, which when you stand on them don’t allow a firm balance point, it’s a part of rehab for all sorts of things. And after using them, one’s balance improves. Here’s a review of them: https://activesilvers.com/best-foam-balance-pads-for-stability-training/
There’s lots of other ways to train, of course. And the choice, as always, is up to you.
I appreciate the thought but while it may be a healthful exercise it’s not a useful working position - just like planking. When I need to get low to the ground it’s usually for some working purpose so I need both hands. Safety is a consideration, too. Active balancing may be good for the brain but falling over is not.