The Great Indian Toilet

When I got back to India after a decade, I came prepared for the usual changes. India shining, prosperity, malls, cars, excessive pollution and what not (the last few days have been very gloomy here, thanks to Obama saying no to Bangalore). Anyway, I was quite surprised to see so many fat people in the city, especially women in their 30s and 40s. Cylindrical with multiple bulges. I thought it was quite an eye sore. The other thing that I had not expected was the absence of the Indian style squat toilets in the middle class households. I think there is a strong connection here and I miss the squat toilets. I know it is just a puffed up hole in the floor.

Even if one does not practice Yoga, a squat tells you how healthy and flexible all the important joints are. When you use the squat type toilet, there is no room for you to hold a newspaper or a magazine or to plan your next weekend getaway. You really have to be in the cliched yogic here and now. Focus, concentration and some contemplation. It wakes you up in the morning, with a good hamstring stretch, the hip flexors, ankles, feet get a workout too. It strengthens your back and the abdominal muscles. There is a bit of pressure against the abdomen which ensures that the unloading is complete.

When you don’t squat everyday, it is easy to forget how your joints are getting useless. The public toilets still have the squat type toilets. The ashrams that I visited had the Western style even though they were all preaching the ancient Gurukul system. I am not surprised with this, more than 95% of the people that stay at the ashrams are non-Indians. The Gurukul system had to be updated too.

I wish more Indians would realize that the squat type is actually good for them. They use less water and are more hygienic than the commodes in the Indian households. The western commode in the Indian bathroom does not work for me, as there is always water around and is such a mess. There is this thing called a water gun and it is just weird to use. Such a clash of cultures. In this regard, it should be left Indian in my opinion. And, then there is this mix of Western commode and the Indian squat type, a 2-in-1 approach which is quite annoying.

I recently came across a squat type toilet designed in the US called Go with the Flo, which is designed using yogic principles.

If you use the squat toilet or not, make sure you practice purna utkatasana everyday, the full squat pose to keep those joints healthy.

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