Sadly with both knees replaced, the Asian Squat and Seiza are no longer possible.Years ago - when I was a new immigrant to the Philippines - I would laugh at the way many people would squat/sit at the roadside - or waiting for a Jeepney/bus - and think of how silly they all looked as I drove around in my fancy Hi-Lux Truck - they all looked so odd sat in that position - and could do anything from playing poker/card games - to reading books - to eating - some could even sleep in that position - and often you could see groups of local people all sat in the Asian Squat position - having debates and/or heated arguments as well - as if it was a perfectly natural and comfortable stance to sit and be relaxed in - where the hands were free to engage in whatever was wanted or needed -
Eight years ago - I had to return to the west (UK) - and live here again - bringing my wife/kids over to live with me from The Philippines - and after the plandemic - found myself with an old back injury that was getting worse - due to inactivity and because I had got alot heavier -
- a year of religiously adhering to a keto diet and intermittent fasting helped me lose 55lbs - and alot of pool exercises - swimming and stretching and weight training - got me back into good shape again -
One of the main stretches I used to lose alot of the pain around my back/hips and legs was The Asian Squat - practicing it nearly every day -
- at first it was very difficult to sit/Squat in that position - and I would often fall over - but eventually it became easier and easier - as that core area of my body became stretched out - and more comfortable too - so eventually I could sit/Squat in that position comfortably for up to half an hour or more - while being able to rock back and forwards - side to side - have conversations with others - and just like the native Philippino people I would laugh at years before - be able to play a card game - eat and argue too - in that odd looking position - that turned out to be a main stretch - and great pain reliever to me too -
- My advice is to go ahead and try to do this stretch - and hold in that position for as long as you can - upping the time you do it for daily - and after some months - it will become a position you feel naturally comfortable in - and might notice - like I did - that certain pains go away - and you can operate at a much lower elevation - tending to plants or fixing stuff - hands free - without pain -