Monday, November 16, 2009

Squatting

Here's an interesting subject for you: squatting.

It's new to me. When I was at my dad's last weekend, F. (step-mother) and I were talking and she mentioned her chiropractor suggested she practice squatting 2-3 times a day. Except instead of keeping your arms on the outside, bring them inside your legs and slightly push apart. It really stretches the muscles. I didn't ask why she was to do this, I was more put off track by the randomness of the conversation. I tried it, though and it really works. The stretch feels good.

I started to research it a bit from what she mentioned to me. It's the most natural position for us. It helps with waste elimination, it's a yoga pose, helps to ease and make a more natural childbirth and if you watch, you'll even see small children instinctively doing it. Now, I'm not a great informer of anything primal, but don't you see this or similar positions with our ape ancestors?

It takes a lot of pressure off some of our internal organs and even prevents some illnesses - a load of gastrointestinal disorders, diverticulitis, colon cancer, IBS, appendicitis, etc. We've just been using the conventional toilet for the past 150 years. This web page argues we have these ailments because we're not assuming the squatting position anymore.

I still have some research to do on this but I thought I would open it up for discussion. Try the exercise and let me know what you thought.

Try 'squatting position' in Google and see what kind of things you come up with.

2 comments:

Bix said...

You know what, this is really neat. I may incorporate this into my stretches. Thank you!

Perovskia said...

Anytime!

Be sure to place your elbows inside, at your knees. I believe this works best. I like it cause it's gentle, controlled and gives me a bit of surge of..energy :)

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