[jghn]

Also many personal trainers don't know now to squat either, so just grabbing the nearest or most fit looking one one won't help. If one goes down this path and the trainer tells you things like to not go down all the way, find another trainer. Ideally your butt is touching your calves at the bottom of your movement.

[stinkytaco]

Thighs parallel to the ground is a competition squat. Indeed, your but touching your calves often means you are curling slightly to make that contact and that can lead to injury.

[x0x0]

Most people will not have the flexibility to go atg without serious butt wink. Look at all the stretching the oly people do.

[parthdesai]

uggghh, it's not necessarily true. At the least, your butt has to be parallel to the floor and at the most you can go all the way down. You can stop anywhere between that and it is still a perfectly proper squat.

[failrate]

Yes, and if you are just starting out, half squats with no weight are a perfectly valid exercise.