Squat Mastery
The squat is an anomaly.
On one side, the squat is a basic human function. Before toilets, chairs and couches we probably squatted a lot. As babies, we learn how to squat to stand up and take our first steps. Somewhere along the way we lose this innate ability.
Many adults have no clue how to squat. This is such an issue there’s even people out there that say squatting is bad! This is what makes it an anomaly. We all do it at some point, and most of us lose the ability throughout the course of our lives.
Whether you’re a squatting pro, or just an amateur, I have good news for you. It is such a complex, high skill move that you’ll never master it. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try though. It’s a moving target. You should always be trying to make it feel better, smoother and more comfortable.
Here are the top 3 things to consider when performing a squat:
Keep your feet on the ground. No heel lifting or toe lifting. Try to maintain even pressure through the whole foot. Let this dictate depth.
Stand tall. By standing up nice and tall and the end of every rep, you set the next rep up for success. Be sure to set your hips by squeezing your butt.
Let yourself lean forward. In a perfect world, we could all squat with our torso totally upright. The problem with this however, is that it requires more skill and range of motion. I prefer to teach people how to squat with a big lean forward. While this looks more hinge-like than a squat, this teaches you to engage your hips, organize your spine and helps you keep your feet on the ground.
Even if you’ve been squatting for years. Pay close attention next time and see if you can improve your movement. There’s always space to get better.
Justin Miner
@justinminergain
