This post may seem OT, but it's relevant to the topic. So give it a chance.
I have a new "
squat assist machine". $125 on Amazon. I'm not big on exercise machines -- other than my stationary bike, which I like a lot and use often in the Maine winter ... which is long. I even sold my real bike because I live on a network of very ... um, bike-unfriendly rural roads that are racked by frost-heave-cracks (some of which can swallow a bicycle) and no shoulders.
But in general, I'm more into weights (dumbbells, kettle bells, steel clubs, mace bells) and body weight exercises, including squats. But I have severe arthritis in my hips (one more than the other) and am likely to have hip surgery this year; verdict is still out on that. So regular squats can be ... a bit problematic.
Yet, they're good for strengthening muscles that need to be strong for hip support -- like glutes -- and quads, hamstrings, etc.
So I read some reviews and watched some videos of this machine, which is made by the same company as my stationary bike.
I love it. Took me a couple of days to learn how to use it effectively, including getting on and off of it without busting my butt.
But I'm up to 60 squats a day with it, and can feel a burn (but not hip pain) that I didn't get with regular squats.
So I decided to name it, just for fun.
I call it Sasquats.
