There's a podcast I listen to and the host is Mormon, did his mission to Japan or something like that. He was talking once about how the Asian folks can squat for hours straight like us westerners sit. Even as an in shape twenty something he couldn't squat with these folks and it changed his perspective on things. Now he weightlifting squats ass to floor like you're talking and has built his strength over time doing it that way, tries to sit as little as possible, always engages his ass when he's driving, etc. He thinks he has/is avoiding lower back problems by doing this.