Increasing squat depth/general flexilibity

I agree with middlehaitch (as usual ) about yoga, etc.

That said, I found I got materially better/faster results from daily stretching/yoga - even just a few minutes for targeted areas - than I did from 2-3 times a week. I don't squat, though - knee issues - but this has been true for other body areas of importance to me. YMMV.

Can you squat to parallel or lower with lighter weight? I'm sure you know best, but I'm wondering whether flexibility really is the problem vs. a bit of strength imbalance in particular ranges, or body geometry issues, or something like that.

When I squat I start warm ups with an empty bar & go ATG at first, I will pause at the bottom hold it and let my joints get working. ( I'm 67 y/o ) I go to parallel when I put weight on it. If you can go deep until you put weight on it you may have to check your ego & lower the weight as the previous poster said

aokoye wrote: »

alteredsteve175 wrote: »

Thanks, everyone, for your suggestions.

AnnPT77 wrote: »

I agree with middlehaitch (as usual ) about yoga, etc.

That said, I found I got materially better/faster results from daily stretching/yoga - even just a few minutes for targeted areas - than I did from 2-3 times a week.

I have been attending yoga classes a couple of times a week for about two months. Hasn't seemed to help flexibility so far, but I will continue a while longer. The meditative and balance aspects have been enjoyable. I will add some daily stretching as well. Worth a try.

Can you squat to parallel or lower with lighter weight? I'm sure you know best, but I'm wondering whether flexibility really is the problem vs. a bit of strength imbalance in particular ranges, or body geometry issues, or something like that.

I can go parallel doing goblet squats with kettlebells and lighter weight on the bar. I can deadlift 225+ for reps, so I think I should be strong enough to squat more. I'm a little frustrated with by the lack of progress on the squats.

You think you should be strong enough to squat more but you clearly aren't if you're able to physically get to that parallel position at a lower weight. That's not some sort of slight or mental weakness, it just is. One of the things that my physical therapist said to me last week was that if we're not doing X strength exercise(s) in Y position then we're not strengthening Y position. By continuing to do squats at a higher weight but not going to parallel you're not building the strength to get to that position in whatever squat you're trying to do.

I'd been planning to post something like this, but you said it better.

I've had a similar experience: My legs are stronger than the average woman's my age from 15+ years of rowing. When I was taking a group circuits class, I maxed out the leg press machine in the circuits area, and had to switch to one in the weight training area to keep progressing. Its settings allowed a wider range of movement (deeper bend than the other machine, and deeper bend than rowing). I had to back the weight off and train up the "new" range for a while before proceeding.

Steve, if you've been working on flexibility and slowly improving, you perhaps haven't spent a lot of daily-life time working the squat range you're shooting for now. I think it's plausible that it could be a little weaker, if only in neuromuscular terms. (I'm not sure I buy it totally, but my very science-oriented and well-credentialed massage therapist argues that flexibility is typically more a matter of neuro adaptation than muscular/connective tissue adaptation. Oh, and: Even if neuro, it's still not a mental weakness, it just is. ).

i might work from mountain pose to garland pose.
frog pose might help too.
goddess pose too

since you are already doing yoga.

middlehaitch wrote: »

Have you ever taken a yoga/Pilates/aqua fit class?

You could well benifit from doing one or 2 of the above a couple of times a week to improve your flexibility and mobility, as you age. Saying this as I am about to turn 65 and swear by them as a complement to my lifting.

My SO is a runner and swimmer and started coming to Inyingar yoga with me. He couldn't believe how much work he had to do and how much it improved his flexibility. He could never even touch his toes, now fingers on the floor, just shy of palms.

Cheers, h.

This^^^ My 6'3", 320 pound powerlifting son does yoga to stay flexible.