Squats: From Dr Oz to Me

I feel like I owe you a post. It’s been a while.

I’ve been out here in rural Thailand, doing all sorts of things. If you want to follow the blow-by-blow, the best places are my X feed and my YouTube channel.

What I have for you today is something that’s already up on both YouTube and X, and it’s about squats of all things. Not going to the gym and doing loaded back squats—I’ve done plenty of those, with hundreds of pounds on the bar. I’m talking about simple bodyweight squats.

It’s not really an exercise so much as a test of your physical acuity. That’s what it is. It’s something I do every single day, although I do them differently from what you’ll see in this video. I do mine more deliberately, with a straight back, and sometimes slowly. Sometimes I do them fast. It varies.

But I do them every day because I think they’re one of the best ways to test your ability as a human being—especially as you age—and to see how well you’re actually doing.

So, without a lot of bullshit, watch the short video.

Later bye.


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Free The Animal is an eclectic writing project about everything since November 2003. 23 years, 5,500 posts, 5 million words.

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4 Comments

  1. Brian on August 31, 2026 at 19:41

    Haha! You’re in Asia doing Asian squats. That’s what I always heard them referred to, since that’s still how they poop (and pee if a woman). Now I gotta start working on these!!#lifegoals

    • Richard Nikoley on August 31, 2026 at 19:49

      Mostly Western toilets now. But with stickers saying don’t squat on the toilet.

      Best way is to ditch the toiled seat, sit on the porcelain, and go into a tip toe. Evecuation is better.

      • Brian on August 31, 2026 at 19:58

        Yes! I’ve used Squatty Potty a few times (including my own “homemade” version, just a solid wood or plastic box), and the difference is life changing



  2. Jim on August 31, 2026 at 20:04

    Read up a lot on these.
    —If you are really tight and out of shape, don’t sit in the full squat position (like the Asians in the video) too long at first. Go for like 10 seconds. You might be obtaining the position, but compensating by putting a lot of stress on, for example, your knees.
    –Your nervous system won’t let you stretch a muscle that is weak. It limits range to protect you. Getting stronger by reps like Richard is doing helps that aspect.

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