How to Sit on a Toilet Properly: 3 Quick Steps

 

The original way of sitting on the toilet with your knees perpendicular to your back is unhealthy. It can lead to serious health risks such as colon cancer, hemorrhoids, and appendicitis. So, how to sit on a toilet properly? 

The best position to poop is to squat, which means putting your knees slightly above your hips. Using a stool comes in handy.

Let’s walk you through the steps of sitting on a toilet properly.

Ideal Sitting Position on the Toilet

Most people in developing countries often squat to sit on the toilet to poop, and it’s for a good reason. Studies show that squatting allows you to poop easier, resulting in a healthier colon and flatter stomach. 

It’s easy to squat if you own a squat toilet, but if you have a pedestal, then squatting on top of it can be a bit risky. You can break the toilet seat, or worse, slip and break a bone. Here are steps to perform the correct toilet position of squatting. 

1. Elevate your Knees

First, sit on your toilet seat. Position yourself at the center part of your toilet seat, not too far right or too far left.

Now, get your footstool and rest your feet on it. Use a squatty potty like this one. It’s designed with curves to tuck under the base of your toilet neatly.

When you place your heels on the footstool, ensure your knees are positioned higher than your hips. The leg elevation further increases the angle of your rectum and anus to make yourself poop immediately.

Watch how to use a footstool here.

2. Lean Forward

Keeping the right pooping posture is key in reducing the strain on your muscles as you do your business. Sitting upright isn’t ideal. In this case, you need to keep your body at a certain angle. 

Lean a bit forward to widen your rectum and make poop come out easily. Your upper body should form a 35-degree angle utmost. To keep you relaxed, rest your hands or elbows on your thighs. 

3. Breathe Properly

Doing the right positions to help you poop takes you halfway there. You need to do the right breathing techniques so you can massage your pelvic muscles and make you poop instantly. 

1. Lower your shoulders to feel relaxed.
2. Breathe slowly. Keep your mouth slightly open so that you can relax your pelvic floor muscles that support your bowel.
3. Widen your waist and bulge your stomach a bit as you take regular, gentle breaths.
4. Relax your anus then push down from above.
5. Squeeze and lift your anus to close it off after you have pushed the waste completely. Don’t do it prematurely or you’ll get the poop stuck halfway out.

Healthy Toilet Habits

Besides maintaining a good sitting position, you should also consider these healthy toilet habits.

1. Never strain. Poop without it hurting your anorectal muscles. Putting too much strain will only cause serious health conditions like hemorrhoids and increase the risk of constipation.
2. Set a regular time for toilet business. Pooping can happen at the same time every day; hence, make sure that you do it at a time when you’re mostly available at home. If you’re at home most of the morning, do it at that time and not in the later part of the day when you stay in the office.
3. Don’t hold it in. If you feel the urge to poop at a certain time, never hold it in. You only increase the chances of getting constipated.
4. Wash your hands. You know that the toilet is one of the breeding places of germs, so always make it a habit to wash your hands after using it.

Tips for Relieve Constipation

When you constantly have a hard time emptying your bowels, here’s what you can do.

1. Exercise regularly. Exercises that involve twisting your upper body or working your abdomen can help stimulate bowel movement. Do them at least three times a day to avoid constipation.
2. Drink water. Drinking lots of water can help soften the poop inside your stomach. The ideal water consumption is 8-10 glasses a day.
3. Eat more fiber. Incorporating fiber into your diet can do wonders in your gut. The fiber content of avocados, lentils, and sweet potatoes can get a hard poop out.

Conclusion

At this point, you already know how to sit on a toilet properly. You should keep a stool in your bathroom so you can use it to elevate your knees when pooping each time. Raising your knees slightly above your hips allows you to move poop more easily.

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