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Squat Assessment

Proper Squat Form: A how to Technique

Welcome to the Pose Assessment Guide for the Squat!

This guide helps you:

  • Learn proper squat form and technique for a deep yoga squat
  • Understand the aspects of strength and mobility measured by the squat
  • Know what the aspects of your fitness need work based on your performance in the squat

Watch the full pose assessment guide video below, and then read on to learn more about the squat, and specifically how you can measure your personal fitness based on your performance in it.

The Squat is a foundational exercise of any effective fitness program, making it a great indicator of your overall fitness. Here are the primary fitness aspects measured in the squat:

Core Strength

Your ability to remain upright in the squat, without leaning forward or needing something to hold on to.

Hip Strength

Your ability to generate power and support your body weight in the squat.

Hip Mobility

Your ability to keep your toes facing straight forward, to lower your hips below your knees, and drive your knees out (prevent your knees from “knocking” inwards) as you squat.

Ankle Mobility

Proper foot positioning in a squat; your ability to keep your heels firmly on the ground in the low position of the squat and to keep your arches lifted (not allowing your feet to cave in).

The squat is not just a great assessment of your fitness. It’s also a great exercise to IMPROVE your fitness. Practice is on a daily basis and you’ll be shocked at what it can do for your body – not just your performance or for muscle-building, but also for the way your back, knees, ankles, and hips feel throughout the day, your day-to-day movements, and even improved posture.

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On the flip side, weakness or not paying enough attention to the above aspects of your fitness can result in aches and pains, injuries, or even surgery.

Knees

MCL, ACL, and other ligaments in your knee that can be strained or torn, sometimes resulting in knee surgery.

Ankles

Ankle instability, ankle sprains, injury to your achilles tendon, and more.

Spine

Exercise-induced back pain, chronic (regularly-recurring) back pain, herniated discs, spinal-fusion surgeries.

Hip Flexors / Hamstrings

Common sites for soft-tissue injuries such as muscle tears and strains, which usually put you out for a couple of weeks but can last for months if more serious.

How do you know if you are at a higher risk for problems in the above areas?

Helpful indicators can be easily found in your performance of the squat. Although this is sometimes an incomplete picture, below I’ve listed some common indicators of weakness, and what they correspond to in terms of your fitness:

You may lack core strength if…
  • Weight is in the knees instead of the hips
  • You can’t “lean” back or sit back further into the squat
  • Your back is rounding and you can’t keep your back straight
You may lack ankle mobility if…
  • Your heels come off the ground as you sit into the squat
  • The arches of your feet collapse as you lower yourself into the squat
You may lack hip mobility if...
  • You can’t sit into your squat without your toes turning out
  • You can’t get your hips below your knees
You may lack hip strength if...
  • You can’t maintain your position in the squat for 30 seconds
  • You have to lean forward in order to stand up from your squat position

Try to remember how you did in the 30-second squat challenge. How’d you do? From the list of weakness indicators above, which applied to you? It doesn’t mean you failed if you didn’t do a perfect squat – remember, most guys can’t. But knowing how to improve is what’s going to help you get stronger more easily, so you’re on the right path!

What do these assessments mean?

Your body is totally interconnected, which means the obvious weakness or lack of mobility you’re noticing (toes turned out, not being able to remain upright in the squat, heels coming off the ground, etc) is most likely due to weakness or lack of mobility in another part of your party. Almost every weakness can be traced to the core area – particularly the muscles in your hips, abs, and the muscles surrounding your waist and spine. The best way to address these weaknesses is by following a comprehensive to address the SOURCE of these weaknesses, rather than just treating one of the symptoms.

Man Flow Yoga Success Stories

Busy Foreign Service Offer (Man Flow Yoga Success Story)
Derek Says...

“I have been using Man Flow Yoga for the last 2 ½ years; As somebody who is constantly travelling for work, this resource has made yoga a lot more accessible to me. The carryover benefits that yoga has had in my other workouts is noticeable as well. I also appreciate the variety of different length workout videos, I can always find the right one to start my day!”

Derek constantly travels for work, so he is in need of a reliable fitness source that goes with him wherever he goes. Man Flow Yoga has helped Derek improve his performance in other workouts, and thanks to the large variety of workouts in the diverse workout library is always able to find the right workout to start his day!

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About the author, Dean Pohlman, Founder & CEO of Man Flow Yoga, Author of Yoga Fitness for Men, Expert on Yoga Fitness for Men.

Dean Pohlman is an E-RYT 200 certified yoga instructor and the founder of Man Flow Yoga. Dean is widely considered to be an authority on Yoga for Men. He has worked with physical therapists to create yoga programs for back health and spinal recovery. His workouts and programs have been used by professional and collegiate athletes, athletic trainers, and personal trainers; and have been recommended by physical therapists, doctors, chiropractors, and other medical professionals.

Dean is a successfully published author through DK Publishing (Yoga Fitness for Men), selling 35,000 copies worldwide in English, French, and German; in addition to being a co-producer of the Body by Yoga DVD Series, which has sold over 40,000 copies on Amazon since its release in 2016.

Man Flow Yoga has been featured in Muscle & Fitness Magazine, Mens’ Health, The Chicago Sun, New York Magazine, and many more major news media outlets.

Dean And Dog


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