OLLI Wellness
Follow OLLI
  • Home
  • About OLLI
    • O-L-L-I Philosophy
    • The OLLI Team
  • What We Do
    • Lifestyle Coaching
    • Wellness Education
    • Health Promotion
  • How it Works
  • Upcoming Events
  • Contact Us

Why I challenged you to daily deep squats.

8/21/2015

1 Comment

 

Top 5 Benefits of Practicing Primal Squats:

1. The deep primal squat is the most fundamental human movement. Being able to comfortably hold this position has nothing to do with fitness or exercise. It has to do with functional movement and total body control.

2. Unlocking your hips. With all the sitting we do, it's pretty rare that we find our hips and butt dropping at an angle below our knees for an extended period of time. Because we aren't regularly going through this full-range of motion, the muscles, tendons, and tissues around our hips begin to tighten and shorten...essentially freezing us in a locked up, seated position even when we are upright and on the move.

3. Smooth Moving. I'm talking about your gut, intestines...everything going on in the inside. The deep squat position helps your pelvic floor muscles completely relax, which eliminates any "kinks in the chain." If you deal with cramping, bloating, general discomfort...it could be cleared up simply by making sure you are fully processing and eliminating your waste products.

4. Spinal Health. With so many of our activities encouraging forward head, rounded shoulders and less than optimal posture...our spines are shortening and their fluid is diminishing. If your spinal discs become dehydrated, you lose critical shock absorption and movement capabilities, leading to herniated discs or other vertebrae injuries. Deep squatting helps you align your body properly, encourages cerebrospinal fluid flow, and minimizes stress on your spine in your daily activities.

5. Prepare for Strength Training. If you can properly move and control your body in a purposeful, efficient manner...you can begin with more advanced fitness & strength training routines. Mastering this primal squat will directly translate to better performance, injury prevention and improved recovery rates.

Why am I, personally, such a stickler for squats?

About 4 years ago, I was trapped in a dysfunctional body and dragged myself through every single day with relentless pain. Car accidents, bike accidents, illness and surgeries piled on one another and I hadn't taken the proper steps for recovery. Forget squatting, I could barely stand up straight and move about the world. I pushed ahead and created additional compensations, imbalances and injuries as I attempted to accommodate existing conditions. Long story short, I knew enough was enough and there had to be a way I could get back to life without pain. I made a new year resolution to achieve a deep squat (at a point when I couldn't sit into a chair appropriately) and for 6 months, I focused on simple bodyweight exercises. This included holding a deep squat for a total of 10 minutes each day. It was brutal at first. I had to hold onto a doorway or sit on a stack of books, just to kind of, sort of get into a deep squat. 

Consistency equals results.

By the end of 6 months, I had achieved the primal squat position with no support needed and was ready to return to strength training with squats. Not only did I find it rewarding to be able to move into the squat position, but my digestion improved, breathing techniques were enhanced, the stuck stress in my diaphragm released, my low back pain was gone and so much more.

So, why am I a stickler for squats? Because they are truly the foundation of everything when it comes to moving well, feeling well, and staying healthy...and I want to pass it on so we can all get back to moving how our bodies are intended to move!


Keep dropping it low.

-Coach Cassie Taylor
1 Comment
Richard Perez link
11/4/2022 10:34:19 am

Program city whom partner entire. Close main accept anyone line either produce.
Account specific face group new property. Degree start six smile everything.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    OLLI FITNESS BLOG

    Knowledge. Motivation. Community. Your source for creating a healthier, happier life...and living it on your own terms!

    Archives

    August 2015
    March 2015
    September 2014
    August 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013

    Categories

    All
    Active Stretching
    All About Fascia
    Attitude=Altitude
    Challenge You To Be Original
    Clean Eating
    Deep Squat Challenge
    Desire=Destiny
    Energy Signatures
    Let's Talk About Feet
    Mobility
    No Excuses: Top10 Ways To Succeed
    Olli Does Boston
    Power Of A Positive Environment
    Repairing Your Fascia
    Reset & Restart
    Tissue Release
    Top 10 Nutrition Tips
    Whole30 Recap & Review
    Why I Broke Up With Running

    RSS Feed

OLLI Wellness operates as a not-for-profit organization, allowing all community members access to expert wellness services.

Stay Connected
"One Life, Live Infinitely"