Amazing! I had foot surgery 8 months ago and doing a squat taxes my inner ankle joint. This stretch allowed me to get lower in my squat with lesser pain in the ankle. Thank you!
Yes, do both sides! And when you do, notice the difference in your ability to do the movement on one side as compared to the other. This is what adds more intelligent feedback to the brain to you can improve proprioception and muscle control.
This is amazing! I've heard that squatting like this is very healthy but couldn't manage it. Although I can only go down to about 18 inches from the floor - it is far better than ever before - and my knees (both injured years ago) - didn't hurt so much I couldn't get back up...remarkable - thank you!
Interesting result - I thought my issue was tight calves but that significantly reduced after the upper body rotations and my squat improved. If you ever update this video, you might mention the correct foot position, as many people these days are incorrectly told their feet should be parallel as they squat.
Right you are! Thanks for that input. Many people can squat with their feet pretty much straight forward (I saw this a lot in India), but most Westerners can't. We simply don't squat as a matter of lifestyle. Proper foot position is really important. Thanks, Martha
When people squat with their feet pretty much straight forward is this the ideal the best and roper foot position? Thanks in advance for your clarification . I bought your book "Move without pain" and I appreciate it and also you videos
I think you have to squat in the position that is most comfortable for your hips. Not everyone can squat with the feet straight forward. I can't! Be comfortable!
Thank you very much for your clarification. I will listen to my body and do as you told looking for the most comfortable position for my fleets . Thanks again . Amunku
Thank you so much. Keep exploring and make sure to attend the Fundamentals Immersion one day in order to learn more, in person. Find a skilled Clinical Somatic Educator who can guide you to discover your patterns of Sensory Motor Amnesia. You can find all of our courses and educators on the Essential Somatics website. It's clear that you are eager to learn and grow. That's the first step to creating freedom!
Wonderful! When you shift your awareness to the whole body and how it moves as a somatic system things can change without force. Enjoy! Consider coming to our online classes and learning more.
+eksempler l Look on my blog for the post about "happy feet." There are some wonderful explorations for your feet and lower legs, which will help your ankles. They're all connected!
You need to address your entire body - front, back, right side, left side. You are a full body system. Learn the basic somatic movements...then go to this one and EXPLORE. Sense for yourself where you're tight, where you can move, where you can't move as well. It's not about getting into a squat; it's about learning to release tightness in the center of the body that will allow you to sense the movement involved in a squat. It's the journey of somatic learning, not the destination. Leave this for now and focus on the basics. Consider coming to one of our Fundamentals Immersion courses. You will learn a LOT, and perhaps find yourself squatting before you know it.
Although I am fairly fit I have a problem that came about this last year after a knee injury and it left me not able to squat. Doing Child’s pose puts painful pressure on the back of my calves. However for several months I have at least tried to do the pose to retrain my brain and I have gotten somewhere - much less pain in the calf muscle. But If I try to squat I feel pain in front of knees, again in back of calves and also very tight stiff ankles. I still attempt it once a day but have to support myself with hands on the floor to help support my body weight otherwise it would be too painful on my calves. Suggestions?
Pushing and forcing things never works. It only makes the muscles tighter. When we have an injury we tend to compensate by tightening one side of our torso to take the weight off the injured limb. If we do that long enough we habituate to the Trauma Reflex. It sounds like that's what you're doing. You need to re-educate your brain to find neutral and create balance in the center by releasing the tight muscles that have gotten stuck due to your injury. The fastest way to do that is to work one on one with a skilled Clinical Somatic Educator. You can find a good one on the ES Find a Practitioner page. I'd also recommend participating in a Fundamentals Immersion where you'll learn how to pandiculate instead of force your muscles to do what you want them to do. Tight calves can also be the result of a tight back of the body. We are a system and there is usually a pattern at the root of any kind of pain. Address the pattern and the pain will go away. I hope this helps.
Amazing! I had foot surgery 8 months ago and doing a squat taxes my inner ankle joint. This stretch allowed me to get lower in my squat with lesser pain in the ankle. Thank you!
Wonderful! I'm so glad it helped.
Yes, do both sides! And when you do, notice the difference in your ability to do the movement on one side as compared to the other. This is what adds more intelligent feedback to the brain to you can improve proprioception and muscle control.
This is amazing! I've heard that squatting like this is very healthy but couldn't manage it. Although I can only go down to about 18 inches from the floor - it is far better than ever before - and my knees (both injured years ago) - didn't hurt so much I couldn't get back up...remarkable - thank you!
You're so welcome!
Interesting result - I thought my issue was tight calves but that significantly reduced after the upper body rotations and my squat improved.
If you ever update this video, you might mention the correct foot position, as many people these days are incorrectly told their feet should be parallel as they squat.
Right you are! Thanks for that input. Many people can squat with their feet pretty much straight forward (I saw this a lot in India), but most Westerners can't. We simply don't squat as a matter of lifestyle. Proper foot position is really important.
Thanks,
Martha
When people squat with their feet pretty much straight forward is this the ideal the best and roper foot position? Thanks in advance for your clarification . I bought your book "Move without pain" and I appreciate it and also you videos
I think you have to squat in the position that is most comfortable for your hips. Not everyone can squat with the feet straight forward. I can't! Be comfortable!
Thank you very much for your clarification. I will listen to my body and do as you told looking for the most comfortable position for my fleets . Thanks again . Amunku
Thanks. This will be very valuable for me and my students. Thanks for sharing.
You're very welcome!
Martha
Amazing! You are the best I have found
Thank you so much. Keep exploring and make sure to attend the Fundamentals Immersion one day in order to learn more, in person. Find a skilled Clinical Somatic Educator who can guide you to discover your patterns of Sensory Motor Amnesia. You can find all of our courses and educators on the Essential Somatics website. It's clear that you are eager to learn and grow. That's the first step to creating freedom!
Your videos are so interesting I love them :)
Thank you!
I felt that when i squatted i somehow felt different maybe more balanced..
Wonderful! When you shift your awareness to the whole body and how it moves as a somatic system things can change without force. Enjoy! Consider coming to our online classes and learning more.
This was wonderful. But, shouldn't we be doing it on both sides?
hello do you have exercices that would fix the stiff ankles to squat better?
Thank you
+eksempler l Look on my blog for the post about "happy feet." There are some wonderful explorations for your feet and lower legs, which will help your ankles. They're all connected!
Thank you very much for your answer:)i will look on your blog:)
Essential Somatics happy feet
what is happening anatomically here ? It's so cool !
what if my client can only get half way down?
Hmm...maybe that's OK for now. I would work with releasing the center of the body in order to increase the ability to squat.
Thanks,
Martha
Thanks, Martha. You info has dramatically changed my movement practice and instruction.
Squatting as low as that is for the already fit! What do stiffer patients do? Despair?
Practise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You need to address your entire body - front, back, right side, left side. You are a full body system. Learn the basic somatic movements...then go to this one and EXPLORE. Sense for yourself where you're tight, where you can move, where you can't move as well.
It's not about getting into a squat; it's about learning to release tightness in the center of the body that will allow you to sense the movement involved in a squat. It's the journey of somatic learning, not the destination. Leave this for now and focus on the basics. Consider coming to one of our Fundamentals Immersion courses. You will learn a LOT, and perhaps find yourself squatting before you know it.
Although I am fairly fit I have a problem that came about this last year after a knee injury and it left me not able to squat. Doing Child’s pose puts painful pressure on the back of my calves. However for several months I have at least tried to do the pose to retrain my brain and I have gotten somewhere - much less pain in the calf muscle. But If I try to squat I feel pain in front of knees, again in back of calves and also very tight stiff ankles. I still attempt it once a day but have to support myself with hands on the floor to help support my body weight otherwise it would be too painful on my calves. Suggestions?
Pushing and forcing things never works. It only makes the muscles tighter. When we have an injury we tend to compensate by tightening one side of our torso to take the weight off the injured limb. If we do that long enough we habituate to the Trauma Reflex. It sounds like that's what you're doing. You need to re-educate your brain to find neutral and create balance in the center by releasing the tight muscles that have gotten stuck due to your injury. The fastest way to do that is to work one on one with a skilled Clinical Somatic Educator. You can find a good one on the ES Find a Practitioner page. I'd also recommend participating in a Fundamentals Immersion where you'll learn how to pandiculate instead of force your muscles to do what you want them to do. Tight calves can also be the result of a tight back of the body. We are a system and there is usually a pattern at the root of any kind of pain. Address the pattern and the pain will go away. I hope this helps.