Their was a good article on exercises for aging (50+) a while ago in the NYTimes, can't find it now. Exercises were based on bursts. Slow motions to compress and then burst to uncoil. Squatting, a position Asian women typically work in was one of them but with the addition of bursting out of it. All about creating and maintaining flexibility.

That's surprising since you're so overweight and out of shape.

[QUOTE=vash;12430047]can you stay in that squat for say, 15 minutes.? up and downs are not bad.



I'm not trying it, but I don't know why not. But bursting back up after 15 minutes would be a 'slow' burst. :)


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Both.. Moving in general from a deep squatted position or just relax in that position for a bit.

Coincidence.

Today on Conan's podcast, the chill-chums discuss working on flexibility during the first part of the show.

I can, but then my gut pushes me backwards. Not ideal if you are taking a crap.

Getting down is easy. Getting up is the true fitness test.

I'm handicapped also.
I have a hip to knee titanium rod in my left leg for the past 6 years. I forget it's in there because I don't notice it one bit. :)

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Back in the day, off line in Viet Nam, our carrier docked in Yokosuka and Sasebo seaports for liberty. As I recall, there were “binjo” ditches running the entrances of bars. Running water all the time, that’s where you relieved yourself. The rest rooms back then were unisex. You’d be taking a leak and right long side of you was a woman squatting doing her business. Kind of unnerving for a first time bar hopping and having to see this. You got used to it after awhile though.

When we lived in Japan, many/most roads had benjo ditches, but I don't remember ever seeing them used as a urinal, but then I was a kid and wasn't out at bars at all hours.

My younger kid does now and then but then he's also 5'10, 230 lbs. It was their first time to China, or Asia for that matter, and they were 10 and 12 at the time. we were making fun of the locals how they can sit in that position for hours. He tried and succeeded easily. I can do it now and we have contest on squat when we remember. Getting up isn't an issue for me. We discovered there is a way to balance your body so you body rest on your hips and legs without any effort. I joke with my wife that we should design and sell some type of pulling rope/device for over weight westerners who need help getting up out from the hole in the ground. That 250 lbs old lady ain't getting up from that squat, no way. Make millions:D

I can. I just assumed everyone can.

Mind you I did grow up eating A LOT of Asian food.

I know friends who even have the correct track suits.

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There is no reason not to be able to squat, unless you have had something do to the legs or hips that limit movement, im a fitness instructor and train all ages and that is needed it be able to do..

I first saw this when I worked at Moto Liberty in Dallas (before it was just an accessory store today). They had their little shop in Dallas but a bigger shop in Osaka, Japan and mechanics would occasionally come to Texas. I watched two Japanese mechanics working on a bike in a squat position. Very strange and uncomfortable looking.

I've never been much into doing squats for exercise but recently I've added body weight only squats to my routine.

There's a saying in the weight training community that you push things and pull things, you don't "leg" things so anything other than chest day and back day is useless.

At the age of 54, I don't care about a Dorito shaped back anymore or rippling pecs but while most of my routine is geared towards strength and muscle growth, my leg routines primarily focus on range of motion.

The Asian squat is still an aspiration but I'll keep at it.

Years ago I was installing a floor for a grocery store and tried out a new employee, a young Mexican guy.
I handed him some knee pads and he said he didn't need them. He troweled adhesive all day long squatting, never touching a knee to the floor. I asked him how in the world can you do that? He said he's been a strawberry picker for years

That's an interesting "philosophy." I'd always heard and ascribed to the philosophy of "Never skip on leg day; it is the foundation for everything." Most of your core movements center around a solid base (legs). Squats are paramount to just about any athlete's routine.

Flat heeled squat
 

It’s said tongue in cheek. A true athlete values their core strength and lower body but the “mirror muscle” crowd does not.

I asked my Thai wife about this, she laughed and squatted down easy as can be at 57. Of course she confirmed that Asians squat like that from babies all through to adulthood so it's easy for them.