By Larry Billinger
Introduction: The Origin of the Squatting Saga
Here’s how it all started: After hours of sitting at my non-standing desk, I decided to stand. But how long could I last? My coworkers, always up for some fun, start betting – 20 minutes, 30, an hour. I defy expectations, standing for a solid 1 hour and 10 minutes. The real twist comes when I try to squat to type an email comfortably. My colleagues immediately protested, arguing that squatting is cheating because it’s just sitting. And so, our great squatting debate begins.
Squatting is Standing
- Bent Knees Bonanza: Proponents of squatting-as-standing emphasize the bent knees and grounded feet, akin to a modified standing position.
- Muscle Matters: They highlight similar muscle engagement to standing, especially in the legs and core.
- Sleep: I have never found myself falling asleep while standing, however, I have found myself nearly falling asleep and have actually fallen asleep on my couch… Sitting!
Squatting is Sitting
- Relaxed Readiness: The sitting side sees squatting as a paused sitting position, a practical solution in my workday challenge. When I tried to squat to type, it was seen as shifting to a more relaxed, sitting-like posture, thus sparking the debate.
- Comfort Comparison: They argue that squatting, akin to sitting, allows for a more relaxed posture, easing muscle tension, much like what I sought when I decided to squat while typing.
Squatting: A Cultural Lens from China
- Squatting as Everyday Life: In China, squatting is a routine activity. Whether waiting for a bus or using the squatty potty, it’s a common sight. Even activities like playing a game or smoking a cigarette are often done in a squat.
- Bathroom Realities: The fact that squatting is a practical posture for both genders in certain situations adds an interesting layer to our debate.
Pros and Cons: A Balanced View
- Pros of Standing Squatting: More active muscle engagement, a posture of endurance.
- Cons of Standing Squatting: It can be tiring and may strain muscles over time.
- Pros of Sitting Squatting: Sustainable for longer periods, more inclusive for different physical abilities.
- Cons of Sitting Squatting: Less muscle engagement compared to standing squatting.
The Verdict: A Delightful Dilemma!
Squatting, it turns out, is a unique pose combining standing and sitting elements – but way more standing elements. It’s a versatile posture that defies easy categorization, sparking debates and laughter in workplaces like ours!
My point was squatting is not the same as standing. The act of going into a squat after prolonged standing will provide a short amount of relief from standing. I will agree, prolonged squatting as you were describing is harder than standing in the long run, but the temporary relief from the position change should end the timer on your goal to stand as long as possible at your desk.