Back pain? Try squatting!

If you are like many people, you may be thinking, “Wait a minute. Squatting is for young people. I can’t squat… my knees hurt… I’m too old.. I’m too stiff… my back is sore.”

I’m here to tell you that you CAN squat, and that Nia classes offer countless gentle and encouraging opportunities to explore your body’s way of squatting.

What you might not know about squatting is that

– when done properly, squats actually improve knee stability and strengthen connective tissue

– squats won’t hurt your knees or your back if performed correctly

– squats engage the core muscles of the body. Abdominal and back muscles are needed to keep balance during the movement. The result is a tighter, flatter abdomen and a stronger lower back.  If you make a conscious effort to hold in your abdominal muscles while squatting down, you can increase this effect.

– doing squats is a whole body exercise that actually increases joint flexibility. The ankles, knees, hips and lower back are all utilized in the squatting motion. Be sure to maintain proper form to avoid injury. If you feel any pain in these areas, stop doing the exercises until the pain is gone.

Come to a Nia class to try squats out for yourself:

The general population will benefit from better mobility and less chance of lower back or knee pain by doing squats. A recent study performed on elderly people with osteoarthritis showed that squat training resulted in less self-reported pain in the knees, better balance, and faster walking speed. Participants also had less evidence of chronic inflammation that is associated with arthritis.

So maybe squatting IS for you afterall – check out a Nia fitness class near you to learn how your body likes to squat!