We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.
Squats are one of the basic powerlifts (+ deadlifts, bench press, dumbell or barbell or cable rows, overhead press, and pullups/pull downs). All are designed and used to build or maintain physical sturdiness and energy. They are the core of the strength component of a fitness program for men and women of all ages.
For me, squats are the most unpleasant strength exercise. Years ago, as a beginner, I started out with body-weight squats, advanced to goblet squats and then to barbell back squatting. I hate it because it gets so damn hard to go heavy, but also because it feels scarey to get low with all that weight on your back. You just can't feel confident that you can get back up. Improvement is slow.
If you have short legs, it feels less treacherous but I do not have those.
Three tips: Wider stance, keep knees out, deep breath before you go down and hold it until you thrust up.
In the Youtube clip below, some Boston guy advocates "ass to grass." I do that with goblet squats (a regular component of my calisthenics classes), but never with good weight on a barbell. I just aim to get my butt below my knees. Not so young anymore but, dammit, I do want to get low with the weight because a squat ought to be more than getting up from a chair.
I love squats, and I hate squats. I do them as part of the StrongLifts 5x5 program. My goal is to just break the horizontal plane of my thighs when I go low. Any lower and my firm falls apart.
Heavy squatting has given me faster minute per mile run times and it has helped my hill climbing on the bike, too. Overall they are a fantastic full-body exercise.
