Squats

Fr3shStrt

I didn't want to highjack the Deadlifts post... but I am new to this lifting heavy thing. I've done plenty of squats without weights. Today I started doing squats with a 22# bar (such a low weight it is embarrassing) across my shoulder and my toes lifted off the ground to balance me when I got low and then lifted. Seems the only way to keep my toes on the floor is to not go as low. Any chance you have a solution to that without seeing a video of my squat? It didn't feel like the weight was too much, it seems like a balance issue. Thoughts?

Sarauk2sf

It sounds as if you just need to work on hip flexibility and form - I would just keep practicing with a low weight. One thing that may help is to squat with some lighter plates (2.5 or 5lb) under your heels.

Fr3shStrt

Hip flexibility makes so much sense. I am uber tight there. I can do step-ups with 25 lbs, so I would think I should be able to lift heavier squatting, but I am probably wrong. I'll try the plates under my heels and I'll work on hip flexibility - any suggestions for that?

Thanks!

Hendrix7

Your toes coming off the floor? Usually it's the heel?

Anyway,

http://www.mobilitywod.com/2012/01/episode-363-pre-squat-hip-opener-mob-rx.html




^^^ push knees out with elbows

I do these pre-squatting

Sarauk2sf

Your toes coming off the floor? Usually it's the heel?

It makes me think it may be more of a balance issue and just volume of doing them will help.

Fr3shStrt

Your toes coming off the floor? Usually it's the heel?

It makes me think it may be more of a balance issue and just volume of doing them will help.

How would it be to practice them with no weights on my rest days in between lifting days?

Sarauk2sf

Your toes coming off the floor? Usually it's the heel?

It makes me think it may be more of a balance issue and just volume of doing them will help.

How would it be to practice them with no weights on my rest days in between lifting days?

That would be fine imo. You could also do some of the stretches that Hendrix posted above.

Fr3shStrt

I'm definitely going to do the stretches too. I already do the squat stretch he pictured before a lifting session, but I'll start stretching on "off" days as well, and I'll do the other stretches too.

Thanks!

pandorakick

Instead of starting another squat thread, I hope it is ok to put my question in this one.

The thing is that I appear to have the opposite problem of the OP: I can squat down to about parallel, but can't get down lower without lifting my heels up. Is stretching and practise also an answer to this? What kind of stretches?

Sarauk2sf

Instead of starting another squat thread, I hope it is ok to put my question in this one.

The thing is that I appear to have the opposite problem of the OP: I can squat down to about parallel, but can't get down lower without lifting my heels up. Is stretching and practise also an answer to this? What kind of stretches?

The ones above posted by Hendrix should help.

pandorakick

Thank you Sara, I'll give those a try!