Always sit with your legs crossed? You might want to try a different position

Too often, women are told to ‘sit like a lady’, which usually results in one knee being crossed over the other.

If I had to bet on it, I’d guess you’re sitting in this exact position now, while reading this. Am I right?

For some, sitting this way is just comfortable, but for others, it’s about modesty. And a few will have had it drilled into them that it’s the most ‘lady-like’ way to sit. Sigh.

Some celebs, such as Billie Eilish and Lady Gaga have rebelled against this notion, being praised for adopting more ‘masculine’ seating positions during interviews.

If you’re thinking of doing the same and spreading out on your seat, we’ve got even more reason for you to do so, as experts warn this ‘lady like’ position could actually be damaging your health.

Why is sitting with one knee over the other bad for you?

Anisha Joshi, an osteopath with two decades of clinical experience, tells Metro that the reason this particular position is considered harmful is because of one primary reason: ‘asymmetry.’

She explains: ‘Sitting cross-legged on a chair rotates one hip while the other stays relatively neutral, which means one side of your pelvis, hip, and lower back is working differently to the other.

‘Over time, that imbalance may contribute to tightness in the hip rotators, uneven load through the lower spine, and discomfort that people often can’t immediately trace back to how they’ve been sitting.’

Another thing to consider is blood flow.

When you cross your legs, particularly at the knee, it can temporarily increase blood pressure as the top leg exerts pressure on the veins of the bottom leg.

What is the best position to sit in?

If you’re going to be seated for a long stretch, there’s an alternative option for you.

Anisha says: ‘A good starting point is both feet flat on the floor, knees roughly at hip height or lower, and your lower back lightly supported.’

However, she adds that ‘movement is really what matters most.

Anisha continues: ‘More important than getting the ‘perfect’ position is changing it regularly. Even if that means shifting your weight, stretching your legs out, or standing up for a couple of minutes every 30 to 40 minutes.’

While Anisha recognises the specific impact the ‘ladylike position’ can have, she notes that when we when we hold any position for a long time, the muscles supporting that posture start to ‘fatigue, circulation slows in the areas under pressure, and the joints aren’t getting the fluid movement they need to stay healthy.’

‘That’s true whether you’re sitting upright, slouched, or cross-legged, the problem is the stillness, not just the shape.’

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