Cultural Maneouvres- crouching, head-basket balancing..

[shootingstar]

I think it's what you learned. I knew a lady who returned from her first trip to Europe totally outraged about the seatless toilets. She could not sit on her haunches and demanded that i show her (i can do it) how to.

This is not on topic..but the opposite of the toilets with seats...people from rural areas in some developing countries aren't familiar with our toiletseats at all. In fact, they will stand onto the toilet seat astride and crouch down...to do their thing.

I confirm this when one of my cousin's children, who both just immigrated from China many years ago. The boy, at that time 6 yrs. old, was standing but crouched down on the toilet seat at my apartment bathroom, while his mama held his hand for him to balance. I was rather surprised to see this and quickly explained to them, about sitting down on toilet seat. I guess they stand around the open pit in the outhouse in rural China.

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Anyway, there must be a limit on the sheer weightload to carry stuff on top of head. But maybe it helps give a strong, straight posture..and back...

Some of these maneouvres just have to be culturally influenced. When my father was 75 yrs. awhile back, I saw him sitting on top of his legs underneath while he was looking for something underneath a piece of furniture. Now, dear father does not exercise so that movement had nothing to do with anything fitness-oriented. But it was a natural movement for him, for his body type. I don't think he realized what he was doing.

But I was even impressed to see it myself, something so ordinary in a family member yet not totally typical in North American culture/body movement.

As for this crouching positiion, I couldn't really find one quickly to illustrate, except for the black 'n white photo of a guy in this link:
http://kdriese.blogspot.com/2006/04/...or-horror.html

[teigyr]

I think so much is culturally influenced, even down to our posture.

The toilet issue is so difficult. I work in a highly diverse area and there is a lot of conflict due to crouching, water bottles, and other things. I think there tends to be hostility because some things (ie crouching) don't mix so well with our culture unless you aim really really well.

Re the carrying things on your head, didn't anyone else have deportment lessons where you had to walk with a book on your head? Kinda sorta almost the same thing? Of course I'm not saying my etiquette lessons really worked....though it would be handy to carry groceries on my head as opposed to the backpack.

I think crouching for sitting is a wonderful thing. Imagine not relying on furniture? And I bet that stretches your quads too. As far as us (ie me) relying on crouching for sitting and other functions, ack! I would not adapt so well though it would probably be really good for me. Usually when I travel, I try to conform to whatever cultural norms exist where I go. Perhaps I will crouch some day but for sure, people in the U.S., will hear the creaking in my knees as I do

[OakLeaf]

I love carrying stuff on my head. It's so much more comfortable than carrying things in my arms! I don't have the balance to just carry it "cold" though - I have to put a hand up for support. (I think when people in other cultures carry stuff on their head, they wrap a piece of cloth around their heads to create a larger platform, don't they?)

As far as squatting on my haunches - it's the flexibility in my Achilles that I lack. Since you're bent at the hips, you're not really stretching the quads. I'll do it, but generally I have to put one knee down and shift side to side.

Don't most American women crouch over public toilet seats? As far as aiming, that's kind of a pet peeve of mine, and not the way you'd think. Women have the physiological ability to pee standing up and aim accurately the same as men, it's just that our culture (and most world cultures) doesn't allow girls to learn to touch ourselves "down there" when we're of an age for toilet training. By the time I learned (in adulthood) that it's possible for me to pee standing up, I just don't have the patience to toilet train myself all over again - even in the shower where I won't have to clean up after my feeble attempts. I don't have kids, but it takes, what, months to a couple of years of every single urination for a little boy to learn to aim? I tried, I gave up.

[SouthernBelle]

Many moons ago, when I was in law school, there was a woman lawyer from India taking classes to get licensed here. I happened to be in an adjoining stall in the restroom. I looked down and noted that her feet were pointing in the opposite direction from mine.

[alpinerabbit]

I looked down and noted that her feet were pointing in the opposite direction from mine.

I wanna can do that too.

[mimitabby]

talk about off topic!!

[Andrea]

Women have the physiological ability to pee standing up and aim accurately the same as men, it's just that our culture (and most world cultures) doesn't allow girls to learn to touch ourselves "down there" when we're of an age for toilet training. By the time I learned (in adulthood) that it's possible for me to pee standing up, I just don't have the patience to toilet train myself all over again - even in the shower where I won't have to clean up after my feeble attempts. I don't have kids, but it takes, what, months to a couple of years of every single urination for a little boy to learn to aim? I tried, I gave up.

I've never even considered it! I think I have something new to learn over summer vacation

[sundial]

Andrea, you have those quads built up well enough to hover.