If squatting is so natural, how did western civilization get off on the wrong track?
Although squatting is the most natural and effective posture for evacuation, the body is able to use other positions in emergencies (like a broken leg). For thousands of years, kings and queens have taken advantage of this option to distinguish themselves from the “commoners.”
Then, in the mid-nineteenth century, at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, indoor plumbing became universally available. The early industrialists decided (rather arbitrarily) to install throne-like toilets everywhere �?? to allow ordinary people to feel like kings and queens. Knowing nothing about physiology, they sincerely believed that they were improving people’s lives.
Those who felt uncomfortable with this decision were forced to keep silent. (In Victorian England, bodily functions were considered unmentionable.) From Great Britain, the most influential country in the world at the time, the fad quickly spread to the rest of Europe, and to North America and Australia. No country wanted to seem “backward” at a time when the world was making such rapid “progress.”
Until just a few years ago, the taboo on discussing this subject kept most of the western world in the dark about how the human body was designed to function. The ignorance of the medical profession has been especially regrettable �?? and has caused much needless suffering.
I live in a country where squat toilets are used and 2 out of 3 toilets in my rental house are squat. The only time we use the squat in the house is if it’s absolutely necessary, or for me, for a wee. Believe me, the throne is far superior to the squat. The squat is just awkward. You have to make sure that you get everything in the bowl which isn’t always easy and if you are dressed its best to take off your pants so that things don’t fall out of your pockets or you don’t pee into your pants.
Squat toilets are also terrible for heavier people or those who have poor flexibility. Reading on the toilet is out of the question. No long relaxing poos with your favorite shit-erature. Also, you have to have a floor in the bathroom that you can throw water on because both 1 and 2 functions manage to occasionally get on the floor.
The only time that a squat is better is when you are in a public place with nasty dirty toilets and can’t hold it any longer. Then you are grateful that you don’t have to sit on a public seat.
[quote]Andy63477 wrote:
Andyyboy wrote:
I had to use those when i was in thailand. I feel bad for the cleaning lady because i got the shits from the thai food and honselty didnt know how to aim
That’s the luxury version of a squat toilet. Usually there is just a hole in the restroom, where you can take your dumb. Afterwards you have to use a bucket to flush.
I guess that’s the reason why I can squat ass to grass without even practicing. (well, I’m from Vietnam and that’s why I can “naturally” perform the third world squat)
On another note, do you guys think “bouncing” of your calves/hammies while squatting is more healthy for the knees. Some time ago I read that benching with touching the chest is more healthy for the shoulder joints, because the shock travels through the whole body.
[/quote]
You have to use a bucket on that one too ^^ They usually have normal toilets at hotels there though… And the newer houses.
I have a client that has told me that on more than 2 occasions he has been in a stall at work (TX) and saw the feet in the next stall go upward, disappering.
It did turn out to be an asian. One the other hand I know tons of Asian American and I don’t think they do this but hell, I could be wrong.
If you can halfway do the 3rd world squat http://www.T-Nation.com/readArticle.do?id=1856085&cr
you’ll be fine. I figure if I can rid my body of even a couple extra ounces of toxic waste it’s worth the added effort.
[quote]wfifer wrote:
I don’t want to get to the bottom of a heavy front squat and have my body think, “oh, is it time to take a shit now?”
[/quote]
That’s what I was thinking reading the thread; wouldn’t this make your brain think it an amazing time to shit at the bottom of a heavy squat?
[quote]Hog Ear wrote:
My $10 solution- quick to set up/take down and hide. Quality of BMs has improved after doing this for a week. I know it seems retarded…but it works! [/quote]
So, how exactly does horrible taco-diarrhea workout with that?
[quote]machiajelly wrote:
wfifer wrote:
I don’t want to get to the bottom of a heavy front squat and have my body think, “oh, is it time to take a shit now?”
That’s what I was thinking reading the thread; wouldn’t this make your brain think it an amazing time to shit at the bottom of a heavy squat?
Hog Ear wrote:
My $10 solution- quick to set up/take down and hide. Quality of BMs has improved after doing this for a week. I know it seems retarded…but it works!
So, how exactly does horrible taco-diarrhea workout with that?[/quote]
Do you feel the urge to crap when you do heavy seated presses? Two unrelated things.
Squatting for people with frequent diarrhea might be messy I have no doubt.
Makes sense, once while squatting deep and trying to keep the torso upright and tight i hit the bottom and squeezed out a gem. Purely accidental and would of tried to avoid it, except i was kinda stuck.
[quote]dwilliams wrote:
I live in a country where squat toilets are used and 2 out of 3 toilets in my rental house are squat. The only time we use the squat in the house is if it’s absolutely necessary, or for me, for a wee. Believe me, the throne is far superior to the squat. The squat is just awkward. You have to make sure that you get everything in the bowl which isn’t always easy and if you are dressed its best to take off your pants so that things don’t fall out of your pockets or you don’t pee into your pants.
Squat toilets are also terrible for heavier people or those who have poor flexibility. Reading on the toilet is out of the question. No long relaxing poos with your favorite shit-erature. Also, you have to have a floor in the bathroom that you can throw water on because both 1 and 2 functions manage to occasionally get on the floor.
The only time that a squat is better is when you are in a public place with nasty dirty toilets and can’t hold it any longer. Then you are grateful that you don’t have to sit on a public seat.[/quote]
My thoughts as well.
I lived in Japan for several years, and in a lot of public bathrooms there would be one stall that said ‘WESTERN STYLE’ on the door and the rest of the stalls would be the ‘squatty-pottys’ as we liked to call them. There would usually be urine on the ground and god knows what else.
Also I can’t imagine being pregnant and having to use one of those…although that’s how some people give birth, so who knows.
[quote]Hog Ear wrote:
schultzie wrote:
Wiping out on one of these would be devastating.
If you have any kind of balance it’s not a problem. And my buckets have you much closer to the floor anyway. Try the squat dump and you’ll be happy! [/quote]
I have the sneaking suspicion that you’re just fucking with people with that bucket design. Hoping that inevitably some poor sap will give it a whirl, climb up on top of the buckets with his pants around his ankles, and fall over in the middle of passing a herculean shit. Then he comes back here and tells you you’re an ass hole while you laugh evilly and rub your hands with glee.
Campers, hunters, hikers and outdoors people in the USA always shit like this, both men and women. Nothing new and no big deal. My sailboat has a little portable squat potty. Shitting in 10 foot ground swells in a 20 knot wind on a steep heel angle with the potty sliding to port is what I call functional shitting.
[quote]blithe wrote:
Hog Ear wrote:
schultzie wrote:
Wiping out on one of these would be devastating.
If you have any kind of balance it’s not a problem. And my buckets have you much closer to the floor anyway. Try the squat dump and you’ll be happy!
I have the sneaking suspicion that you’re just fucking with people with that bucket design. Hoping that inevitably some poor sap will give it a whirl, climb up on top of the buckets with his pants around his ankles, and fall over in the middle of passing a herculean shit. Then he comes back here and tells you you’re an ass hole while you laugh evilly and rub your hands with glee.[/quote]
Haha, yeah maybe if you left your pants around your ankles! Pants need to come off if you’re going to do this right.
(well, I’m from Vietnam and that’s why I can “naturally” perform the third world squat)
