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How do you sit.

(59 Posts)
Beammeupscottie Mon 08-May-17 13:48:38

I was reading in a novel about being judged old by the way you sit. Apparently, to sit with your ankles crossed, with hands resting on knees is the default position of a pensioner!
To look youthful, cross your legs high up or lie full-length on the sofa (that's me) or? You tell me.

Katek Mon 08-May-17 17:04:22

I sit in corner of the sofa with my legs curled up. Dining chairs I do tend to use the crossed ankle manoeuvre-we were always told at school never to cross our legs as it wasn't ladylike!

Ana Mon 08-May-17 17:09:52

I suppose it depends to some extent on how long your legs are. If I sit at a dining chair and cross my feet at the ankle my legs would naturally fall akimbo, so I'd have to force them together, which would be uncomfortable!

It's much easier for me to cross my legs (thigh over thigh) although I've noticed some men can't do it because their legs are either too short or too chunky.

whitewave Mon 08-May-17 17:16:03

Queen crosses her ankles, its ladylike. I sprawl any old how. At the moment lounging on sofa with legs stretched out.

stillaliveandkicking Mon 08-May-17 17:56:06

On my backside grin

Greyduster Mon 08-May-17 18:41:35

For as long as I can remember I had the habit of sitting with one leg tucked underneath me. I can still do it, the only difference being that now I can't stand up afterward!!

SueDonim Mon 08-May-17 18:41:45

Jalima, I was thinking of this, dailynews.lk/2017/04/28/sports/114386/6th-annual-big-match-today-tholangamuwa-central-takes-galahitiyawa-central I suppose, rather than that photo of queen, although she doesn't have her hands on her knees. grin

Jalima1108 Mon 08-May-17 18:46:08

I never thought it was ladylike thank you whitewave smile
I just laughed when I saw old photos of ancestors from the 1800s and one of my father, who was identifiable out of a huge number of people, because they were all sitting with ankles crossed !!

Although I do sprawl around at home, feet up usually on a pouffe in the evening!

Brilliant SueDonim!! although I don't recognise any as a relative but you never know!
Some of my Dad's cousins were cricketers (not professional as far as I know)

Jalima1108 Mon 08-May-17 18:47:05

Why did I say that, my mind is away with the fairies - I meant my Dad was identifiable because he was the only one on the front row with his legs crossed

Duh, need a wine

Jalima1108 Mon 08-May-17 18:48:01

That's what comes of multi-tasking - trying to post on GN and listening out for the oven beeping at the same time
blush

Beammeupscottie Mon 08-May-17 18:49:12

The thing is, my Mother-in-law used to sit with knees apart, treating the world to the tantalising sight of pink Directoire (I bet that will puzzle anyone under 50)knickers.

Jalima1108 Mon 08-May-17 18:49:52

oven beeping .....

Christinefrance Mon 08-May-17 19:03:56

I remember the lovely directoire knickers, why were they always pink ?

SueDonim Mon 08-May-17 19:23:39

Jalima, Dh has a photo of his father and his RAF colleagues all sitting like that in tropical uniform at their station in Africa just after the war. It's funny and poignant at the same time. smile

I remember seeing directoire knickers in the window of a 'ladies outfitters' called Nan Daybell's, in my childhood. They were always a thing of wonder to me, along with the pink corsets and suspenders, as there were no such articles in our house. grin

Swanny Mon 08-May-17 19:46:53

I sit at one end or the other of my recliner settee, either with my legs up or on the floor, but definitely with ankles crossed and knees (slightly!) apart to balance my laptop. Was always taught never to cross my legs at the knees as this was most unladylike. Do you remember the press comments about 6 weeks ago on Theresa May's and Nicola Sturgeon's legs in the photos of their meeting? Have a look here

Jalima1108 Mon 08-May-17 19:55:07

Which one will be getting varicose veins?

I was always taught not to cross your legs because you could get the dreaded varicose veins. Crossed ankles are OK apparently - oh no, just realised I have done it again!!!
Uncross, uncross.

Coolgran65 Mon 08-May-17 21:26:12

I'm in the right hand end corner of the sofa with left leg up on the sofa and bent so that the calf is under my right thigh. Right leg has foot on the floor.

Deedaa Mon 08-May-17 22:45:08

I fear that I lounge rather than sit. My grandmother used to nag me about it all the time.

inishowen Tue 09-May-17 09:41:53

When I was pregnant I was told off by a nurse for crossing my legs. These days I sit with them crossed and in the evening I put my feet up on the sofa.

rocketstop Tue 09-May-17 10:36:13

After a major operation, I'm just glad I can sit at all ! grin

Lilyflower Tue 09-May-17 10:42:26

I am short with short legs and sit with them curled up under me to my right. It's getting a bit harder to do this as I go on.

JackyB Tue 09-May-17 11:42:56

Do you remember curling your feet round the legs of the chair? Do girls still do that these days?

Diggingdoris Tue 09-May-17 11:43:31

As I'm reading this from my armchair I have legs up on a pouffe just crossed at the ankles. Always do this.

shysal Tue 09-May-17 11:58:40

As I have short legs my feet don't always reach the ground when sitting on a chair. On my sofa I have my feet up with a cushion behind my back in the corner. I live alone so there is no worry about modesty when on a chair I cross my ankles and my knees flop open. At the moment I am on a dining chair with one foot raised on the bar of the next chair - stops my back aching.

maddyone Tue 09-May-17 11:59:25

Yep, that's me too, lying full length on the sofa, with loads of cushions beammeupscottie. Also the hairdresser thing, she always tells me to uncross my legs so the cut will be right, so I guess must cross my legs when sitting upright.

lovebeigecardigans1955 Tue 09-May-17 12:01:13

It sounds like I sit in an old fashioned way but it's comfortable for me. I'm not self-conscious enough to care if I'm thought old simply due to that.
I'm aware that I slouch horribly whenever I'm at the computer or sewing m/c and try to stretch backwards now and again to counteract that.