The Asian Squat, Can You Do It?⁣

We’ve been quite fascinated by this since Uzbekistan. In Asia we’ve been watching people sit in this deep squat position for extended periods of time. I’ve tried to pick up photos along the way and this is the best I can get without being too intrusive.⁣

It seems to be the go-to position and people can be seen in this deep squat position everywhere – on the side of the road, in towns – they sit like this while they smoke cigarettes, catch up with friends in the street, talk on the phone. They sit like this outside their trucks on breaks, while washing dishes and clothes (yes on the floor in a bowl) and while working – you get the picture!⁣

I was so interested in this sitting position that I Googled it – I searched “Asian squat” to find it returned exactly what I was after. ⁣

This is a common sitting position in Asia. It makes sense to me that Asian’s can sit like this and for so long – I assume that this comes from the squat toilets. They’ve effectively been practising this for years! I should add that people young and old do this – from toddlers to grandparents.⁣

I find squat toilets incredibly uncomfortable – actually using them has given me some troubles and I assume it’s due to my very inflexible body which simply can’t squat deep enough.⁣

I find I can get into a half decent deep squat if I open my legs very wide and turn out my toes, I struggle to get my feet flat on the floor. Stew manages to get into the position relatively easily but holding it for anytime is quite difficult.⁣

I read that this squat position is harder for Europeans due to ankle flexibility – for me this is true. What about you?⁣

Most interestingly, I read that this is a natural sitting position that toddlers will get into and Europeans have a habit of stopping our toddlers from doing this, plonking them onto their bottoms instead. Is this true do you think? Tell me, did your children try and get into this position?⁣

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