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When you get in the full depth of the squat (properly of course).It is more than just another exercise. This is a powerful complex compound movement. Not only does the full squat demonstrate movement efficiency, but also joint range of motion in the lower body. Think back to the last time you squatted with your hips going below your knees. It's probably been a while right? This is because chairs have taken over and taken the spot of us having to do a full depth squat as part of your daily movement patterns. AKA "you either use it or you lose it."

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All hail the squat! in terms of movement patterns, the squat is king! This single movement provides the most diverse benefits of increasing strength. There is a lot that goes into a proper squat, your software and hardware are all working together. Software is the brain telling the body what to do. Then the hardware is the muscle strength and joint mobility. A full depth body weight squat demonstrates range of motion through the ankle, knees, and hips. This in turn requires a very specific and proper motor pattern to lower your body mass between your two legs. Then, we get more benefits from a loaded squat by having to ingrain the pattern of keeping a neutral spine while generating power from the hips.

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Like I said the squat is beautiful when done correctly and when done poorly it is harmful to your joints. Especially done incorrectly through multiple reps and an added load it can be disastrous to your body. As a trainer I run into clients all the time that tell me their knees hurt when they squat. I like to fire back "the way YOU squat hurts your knees." There is a reason we have every client who wants to train at our studio do a squat in their fitness assessment. A body weight squat can tell me how some one moves in 3 seconds more than any other movement.

Think about how many times you perform a squatting motion each day. You get in and out of bed, in and out of your car, you sit in a chair, on a toilet, or even picking some trash off the floor. They could be quarter or half squats but if performed with poor form could over time take a toll on on your joints. The quickest way to change the way you feel is to change the way you move! 

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The instant gratification of our society is also a culprit for why we have lost the art of the squat. People will say the squat hurts their knees, so it must be the knees fault. Then they take pills or get injections and avoid squats all together and hope that when they try it again it will magically feelt better. The better option of changing the way you move involves hard work and some effort. These are things needed to learn improved movement patterns.Poor patterns are tough to crack. First, you need take ownership over your body. You can do this by finding a coach to teach you how to move and squat properly. Then, Once you get the movement down perfectly, squat often. 

First action step is to try a squat yourself. Try it barefoot, with your feet hip width apart and pretty straight. squat down as far as you can go keep your shins and torso parallel and as vertical as you can. Most people will not be able to do this. This is where hiring a coach who values proper form and technique comes in! Learning to do the squat correctly will no doubt increase your quality of life. Drop the pills, shots, and the training through pain and start improving the way you move! NOW GO SQUAT!