Do you always have to strain when you poop? Everyone seems to have their own technique, but one 35-year-old X user in Japan recently revealed that she only just learned the proper way to have a bowel movement from her doctor.
According to her, adjusting your seated posture and pairing it with a specific breathing technique can help stool move more naturally, reducing pressure on the anus and surrounding areas. She jokingly dubbed it the "Thinker pose." After the post gained attention, users flooded the replies with their own tried-and-tested toilet tricks.
First, she explained, your knees should be positioned higher than your hips while sitting on the toilet, creating a pose similar to Auguste Rodin's sculpture The Thinker. Next, rest your left elbow on your left knee, lightly clench your fist, and pretend you are about to fire a blow dart. Then exhale repeatedly in short bursts as if you were actually shooting it.
The original poster said this posture and breathing technique made it feel as though the stool was moving through her intestines on its own. Even without deliberately straining, she found that it passed more naturally. She also had AI create an illustration to make the technique easier to understand.
However, she added that the method may not work for severe constipation when the stool is rock-hard. In her experience, it seems more effective when the stool has a moderate firmness and is closer to normal. She recommended letting posture and breathing do most of the work, then applying a small amount of pressure only when necessary instead of straining from start to finish.
As the post went viral, several users said they already had similar habits. One person noted that whenever they spent a long time on the toilet, they would instinctively rest their left elbow on their knee. They had always assumed it was bad posture, only to discover that it was surprisingly close to the recommended position.
Others pointed out that the posture can help straighten the anorectal angle, making stool easier to pass. Some users also recommended placing the feet on a small stool to raise the knees and mimic a squatting position.
Another user said they usually lift both legs, which makes it easier to apply pressure and finish the job.
Beyond posture, users shared plenty of more unconventional methods. These included visualizing stool moving through the intestines, repeating a specific rhythm in their heads, or raising both arms and stretching like a cat.
Many commenters agreed that this kind of practical knowledge is genuinely useful, with some joking that it should be taught as part of compulsory education. Users who had undergone anal surgery also warned that repeatedly straining during bowel movements can place considerable stress on the body, and that forcing things just to finish faster may do more harm than good.
The unexpected conversation on X in Japan helped plenty of people realize that bowel movements involve more than simply sitting down and pushing. Posture and everyday habits matter too, and almost everyone seems to have a personal technique for getting things moving.
Whether any of these user-submitted tricks will work for everyone depends on the individual's physical condition. Chances are, you probably have a go-to method of your own too. XD
via： X@yunuizaki