When it comes to squatting, most people don’t go low enough. Therefore, they actually don’t end up completing a full squat, because it’s harder and more challenging. If you do it half-assed (no pun intended), then you wont get all of the benefits intended from doing a full squat.

Performing a low squat is just below parallel, where the hip joint is lower than the knee joint. I understand some people can’t perform a full squat due to injuries or physical issues and  I totally understand.

After all not all hip joints are the same.

If you attend my sessions, from time to time I always stop you in your stride and I get you all to go over a full quality squat demonstrating, getting you all to perform the squat low enough. I always shout teaching points out in every session so try and take them in, remember they are there for your own doing.

I would rather you do 3 good quality squats than 10 poor quality squats. As I say

“it’s all about quality not quantity”

Not doing full squats doesn’t just come with zero benefits they can actually cause more harm on your joints. The popular myth is that squatting too deeply can harm your knee joints when in actuality, squatting deeply stabilises the joint even further, so the deeper you squat, the less pressure there is inside the knee.

When you squat low you work the entire glutes (BUM) also deep squatting helps maintain your lower back flexibility within your hips something we all will need as we get older…

So here is a full squat demonstration in the picture as well as tips below to remember.

Feet hip width apart, looking forward keeping the chest lifted as you sit your weight back into your heels, pushing your bum back, dropping the bum so it falls parallel with the back of the knees. keep it slow and controlled.

Know your limits as every single person is different with different body parts working in different ways.

This should be applied to all your exercises, for example if you are trying to do a full press up but not actually getting the chest low enough you are better going to a half press up on your knees to lower the chest further so next time you are doing your session listen to my teaching points don’t just rush to get the exercise done first.

Try it and you will see how much more effective the exercise is once performed with the correct form.