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RE: The profound health benefits of squatting... YES !!! ... squatting!
So strange you posted about this position. Past few years I have found myself contemplating squatting especially while watching geography shows or walking by certain areas of cities. I also practice it every so often and notice the comfortable stretching in the places you write about. I keep thinking there must be some basic human bone and muscle construction that makes it work (with habit). Always happy my knees can still handle getting up without assistance. The achilles area is somewhat of a problem though. It does look awkward if you're the only one at an outdoor barbecue sitting like that. Best to find a squatting partner, lol!
In case this isn't obvious, my comment is not about bowel issues, just sitting!
Thanks! I like the idea of a squatting partner!! Many years ago I was travelling with an American in the Garhwal Himalayas. She had a terrible time of it with the squatty toilets that were often just a couple of planks over a deep pit. It all literally "went to pot" [pun intended] when we ended up with Giardiasis and incessant diarrhoea during our travels! She had so much trouble squatting I sometimes had to support her in the toilet so she wouldn't fall backwards! Apologies for the "too much information"...merely highlighting the fact that often westerners have real trouble squatting down on to their heels, feet flat on the floor. Squatting on the balls of the feet is unfortunately quite an unstable position and puts undue strain on the plantar fascia and the Achilles. Best to work at it slowly. I know quite a few who have mastered this over time and are able to squat comfortably for longer periods of time.