Hindu squats (Uthak-baithak)

There’s not much of a difference between these two, although the Hindu squats appear to be more intense than the standard version. Conventional squats do not involve a complex technique and can be performed by anyone with healthy knees, but Hindu squats include a more exaggerated movement, usually practised by pehelwans or wrestlers. The difference is in the following movements:

• Feet are closer for Hindu squats and slightly wider in the conventional one.
• There is no movement of arms in the basic squat exercise. But Hindu squats allow you to train your shoulders by moving the arms.
• Other than Hindu squats, all other variations of squats are performed with slower movements.

The Hindu squat is fascinating in the way that it takes an already effective movement (the squat) and makes it even more effective. Following are some effects you can experience with the right form and repetitions of the Hindu squats:

• The Hindu squat can be performed without any equipment, unlike weighted squats with a barbell behind you; wrestlers prefer doing it barefoot. And yet, it gives an equal gain of strength and muscle mass. Being a compound exercise, it targets the glutes, hamstrings, calves, quadriceps, core as well as the shoulders. 
• Weight loss remains a priority for a majority of gym-goers. More intense exercises mean the body consumes more energy, resulting in losing more carbohydrates and fats.
• This is a great lower body workout which increases the blood circulation in the entire body. Much like other variations of the squats, working the larger muscles in the legs lead to an increase in testosterone levels as it promotes improved blood flow to the muscles. Better blood circulation also helps in preventing cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure and heart attack.
• The Hindu squat requires more coordination and balance to succeed. Once you are able to achieve the correct form and posture, you can perform several reps without resting. Exercises as dynamic as the Hindu squat also add incredible stability and balance in the body.
• Trainers usually advise you to keep your knees parallel to your feet while going down during a squat as it helps avoid knee injuries. However, the Hindu squat allows your knees to go beyond the toe line, as it strengthens the knees and allows a better grip for the toes. The movement allows to build more strength in the ligaments and muscles around the knee joint.

This exercise is a more advanced version of the conventional squats. Mastering the basic technique before moving onto more complex movements like the Hindu squats is a wise idea. For accurate form and posture, seeking expert advice from a traditional wrestler or pehelwan can be great.

Muscle targeted

• Glutes
• Hamstrings
• Quadriceps
• Calves
• Abs
• Shoulders

Experience level

• Professional

Equipment required

• None

Sets & reps

• 3 sets of 20 reps each

How to do it

• Stand with your feet not too far from each other. In a swift move, begin to bend towards the ground like in a squat.
• The knees can go further wide than the width of the feet. As you begin to move down, your arms must swing with a heave downwards.
• Your toes begin to rise at the bottom of the move as your fingers touch the ground and assume the squat position.
• Rise up on your toes with your arms moving straight ahead of you and return to the starting position, back on planted feet. This is one rep.

Tip: The exaggerated swing of the arms must be matched alongside the squat for the perfect balance, otherwise it is easy to tip over forwards while performing this movement.

• This exercise can be stressful to the knees due to its high impact. To avoid such injuries try to perform the exercise slowly at first.
• Just like deep squats, this movement can put additional pressure on the back. It is advisable to not go all the way down. First, try to strengthen your back then try a full motion of the Hindu squat.
• This movement requires a lot of coordination between the feet and the hands. Understanding the mechanics of how the feet rise up upon reaching the ground is critical here.
• While rising up contract your abs for better results.
• If you have a history of rotator cuff problems, or you feel discomfort in your shoulder while performing this exercise, avoid the hand movement. Try not to swing your arms with full motion.

Every exercise has a variety of alternatives or variations that can be performed for equal or similar effects on the body, also to break the monotony of performing the same exercise every time you work out. Here are a few alternatives to the Hindu squat:

• Over-head squats
• Thruster
• Hamstring curl
• Good morning

The Hindu squats not only make for an intense exercise, a combination of it along with the Hindu push-ups can make for an incredibly tough workout in itself. However, the complex movement requires a lot of practice, as well as the lack of exposure for physical trainers around can make it a difficult movement to perform. Practising the different squat variations, along with other exercises can, however, make you more confident about performing the Hindu squats as well.