The Meaning of (a Squat-less) Life

I’ve told students this and I’ve said it to our student coaches in our Coach’s Prep program. The single greatest gift I can give you as a coach of movement in the ability to squat. Clearly, the idea of what being able to squat means is rarely enough to motivate.

Let’s talk about what not being able to squat means, then, instead.

If you aren’t the proud owner of a mature, organized squat then it’s likely you’re hips don’t work. Faulty hips make for knee and ankle issues and visa versa. You can’t run without pain. You’re first in line for back pain. You’ll also need to say/listen to weird things like “lift with your legs and not your back.” If you can’t squat, it’s nearly guaranteed that you can’t get strong or remarkably fit. Furthermore, I’ll bet that if you’re active, you’ll be injured at some point this year.

Fun Fact: Zero percent of men and women in assisted living can squat.

It’s surely a negative way of looking at the situation, but sometimes we need to get whacked over the head. The good news? With a good squat, you can read the paragraph above and the exact opposite of every line would be true.

 

Logan Gelbrich

@functionalcoach