Try reading the Ian King article about proper posture in this week’s issue. Make sure you stand with your feet pointed ahead at all times. I don’t think you’re going to get an overnight solution on this one. Just keep working on flexibility and proper form, and it’ll come in time.
ZEB: When I squat with my feet close together (this is the most natural stance and most comfortable for me), I break parallel, quite easily. My hams come close to touching my calves, but I can’t really tell without looking in the mirror, but I know it’s close. I don’t have huge “thunder” thighs. So going “Ass to Grass”, where I can rest on my calves/heels is pretty damn low. I almost think too low. I have been getting much lower and lowered the weight since visiting T-Mag, and I can already see results in the mirror. My quads are really starting to take shape. And I want to continue my progress. So, I figured grass stain squats would be the next logical step. But I was worried I needed to work on my weekness/flexibility issue (right foot turning out on very low decent).
I do have one question. If my split has Quad Dominant and Hip Dominant workouts, would I want to still do wider stance squats w/ feet pointed slightly out on quad day? That would take more emphasis off the quad, no?
Thanks for the feedback and heads up on the Ian King article. I will definitly be checking it out.
Chris
Just remember that the word DOMINANT describes which muscle group is doing most of the work during the exercise. If your feet are just outside of your shoulder width you can be pretty sure that your quads are the primary movers. While your glutes/hams are getting hit they definately aren’t the dominant muscle group.
Thank You Everyone!
I just got back from my squat workout. I took everyones advice. Slightly wider stance, toes slightly pointed out. My stance ended up being almost exactly shoulder width and my toes were barely pointing out. I had to really lower the weight though, as this was my first time ever going this deep. And like someone said above in this post it should be a smooth effortless motion getting down and it was. Getting up, a little more difficult. Like I said I really had to lighten the load, ALOT!
But I did it. My ass practically touched my ankles. Despite the wimpy weight, I feel like I did it 100% correct for the first time ever. I even had a buddy who works there critique me. Of course after I got done he gave the “Does it hurt your knees?” lecture/speech/question, but said if it don’t hurt by all means. He said, “Your form was awesome! I wouldn’t change a thing. The weight will go up in time if you stick to it.” That may not be exactly word for word but that is what he said in short.
Oh yeah, I used some of Ian Kings suggestions in issue 270 along with his Lazy man’s stretching techniques (not all, as I had a hard time picturing the descriptions, but I used a few I had never done before). Worked wonders!
Thanks,
Chris