# Can people squat comfortably if they are sufficiently lean? Or is there a knack?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-people-squat-comfortably-if-they-are-sufficiently-lean-or-is-there-a-knack/459643>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [August 11, 2008, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-people-squat-comfortably-if-they-are-sufficiently-lean-or-is-there-a-knack/459643 "2008-08-11T19:03:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Rachael\_Rage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@Rachael\_Rage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachael_Rage)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-people-squat-comfortably-if-they-are-sufficiently-lean-or-is-there-a-knack/459643/41 "2008-08-12T13:49:14Z")

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I seem to remember this being an issue when I took yoga. Just tried it now, and I can’t do it flat-footed at all, even leaning against the wall. It feels like the main problem is lack of tendon flexibility, but there’s also a lot of pressure where my calves and thighs press together (I’m short and kind of chunky, so I’m sure body type has something to do with it). If I try to lean back a little to relieve the pressure, my center of gravity goes too far behind my feet and I topple. I think this could improve a lot with regular stretching though.

The other yoga issue was the sitting on my heels. I can’t do it for more than a few seconds - the pain in my knees is excruciating. I don’t have any knee problems otherwise, though.

ETA: My brief experience with squatter toilets (in Italy) was surprisingly non-traumatic. I didn’t feel it was difficult at all. But then again that was a decade and 20 pounds ago, so that might have made a difference.

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