Have you ever stopped at a rest stop on a major Interstate, had to use the bathroom, and then wondered how on Earth you were supposed to sit on the toilet SOOO low to the ground, especially without touching anything? Forget the fact that you also need to put your purse somewhere without it touching anything gross. Yah, kinda nasty, but a real experience for those who have used a public toilet.
Most people don’t think about how low they can and do go into a squat position. “How low can you go” is usually reserved for the LIMBO! Remember that? If I ask someone to purposefully go down lower than they’re comfortable in a squat, they make a face and I get “that look”. BUT, let me give you some info about your toilet seat! Yup, your toilet seat!!
Did you know that standard toilet seat height in the US is 15″? That’s a little taller than a school sized ruler! “Convenient” toilet height is 20″ in the US. Not something we think about – ever! Just as a reference and without giving you too much personal information (ewh, gross!), the distance from the ground to my knees is 17″. Granted, I’m only 5’2″! If I have a standard toilet, I need to be able to squat below my knees. If I have a convenient toilet height, I have a little more wiggle room (no pun intended). While we typically don’t think of our squat depth when we’re holding a kettlebell or a sandbag, it is relevant to daily life. You will be strong in the range of motion that you train. Thus, training a squat to your toilet seat height means that you will undoubtedly be able to sit on your toilet seat without any problems, forever!
At age 45, toilet seat height isn’t much of a concern, but people lose muscle strength and range of motion as they get older. There’s a reason why the Board of Health requires “grab bars” in all public bathrooms – some people need help getting that low. While sitting on a toilet isn’t something most people talk about out loud or in public, it can be a problem for some. Squat depth is functional. How low can you go?