What Are the Names of Different Sitting Positions?

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Plus, tips for improving your sitting posture

Co-authored by Claire Bowe, M.Ed., PT, Cert. MDT and Amy Bobinger, BA

Last Updated: January 19, 2026 Fact Checked

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Floor Sitting Positions

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Chair Sitting Positions

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Squatting/Kneeling Positions

Most of us spend a lot of our day sitting, but how much do you really think about the way you sit? Turns out, there’s a name for pretty much every sitting position. We’re rounding up the most common ways to sit on the floor, in a chair, or in a squatting or kneeling stance. Plus, we’re including seated posture tips from an ergonomic assessment specialist, physical therapist, personal trainer, and etiquette coach.

Common Sitting Positions

An illustration of several different sitting positions.

Floor: Cross-legged, side-sitting, long sitting, supported long sit, bent long sit, W sitting, ring sitting
Chair: Short sitting, perching, reclining, one knee over the other, ankles crossed
Squatting/kneeling: Vertical kneeling, sitting kneel, half kneel, flat feet squat

Section 1 of 3:

Floor Sitting Positions

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Cross-legged Sitting cross-legged—or criss-cross applesauce—is one of the most common floor sitting positions, especially with kids. To sit cross-legged, sit with your bottom on the floor and your legs crossed with your ankles under your knees. It sometimes gets a bad rap, but sitting criss-cross on the floor is actually pretty good for maintaining mobility and improving circulation.^{[1]
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- Also known as: Criss-cross applesauce, pretzel style, or tailor sitting
- In yoga, sitting cross-legged with your hands on your knees is known as Sukhasana, or Easy Pose.
Meet the wikiHow Experts

Claire Bowe, PT, Cert. MDT is a physical therapist and the owner of Rose Physical Therapy Group, a physical therapy clinic in Washington, D.C.

Mayami Oyanagi is a physical therapist and the owner of PT STOP Physical Therapy & Wellness, an individualized physical therapy practice in Los Angeles, CA.

Laura Flinn is a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Certified Personal Trainer, USA Olympic Weightlifting Sports Performance Coach, and Certified Fitness Nutritionist.

Laura Windsor is an etiquette coach and the founder of the Laura Windsor Etiquette Academy. She’s also been dubbed the Queen of Etiquette.
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Side sitting To side-sit, sit on the floor with both legs folded under you so they’re going toward the same side—like a mermaid. This position is similar to the W-sit, but may put a little less strain on the hips and knees.^{[2]
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- Also known as: Side saddle, mermaid style
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Long sitting Long sitting involves sitting on your bottom with your legs stretched out straight in front of you. It’s about as basic a sitting position as it gets, but it provides a little less stability than some positions—and it might not be comfortable for long.
- This position also takes up a lot of space, and it’s hard to reach forward to grab things while you’re sitting this way.
A supported long sit involves bracing your hands on the floor while you sit with your legs stretched out in front of you. Small children often splay their legs and put their hands on the floor in front of them, while adolescents and adults might be more likely to put their hands on the floor next to or slightly behind their hips.
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Bent long sitting The bent long sit is the same as the long sit, except your knees are bent in front of you, with your feet flat on the floor. Some people may wrap their arms around their knees while sitting this way.
- Also known as: Knees up
- In yoga, this is known as Dandasana, or Staff Pose.
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W sitting In the W sitting position, you sit on your bottom with your knees out to either side and your feet pointed behind you. This is a common position for small children, but it’s somewhat controversial—sitting like this rotates the hips and knees inward, which can lead to tightness in the joints.^{[3]
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- Although some people believe that W sitting in childhood can lead to hip dysplasia later in life, no real evidence of that has been found. Most children grow out of it starting at around age 8.^{[4]
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Ring sitting Ring sitting is another position that’s common with small children. In this position, you sit on the floor on your bottom with your legs in front of you to form a circle and the bottoms of your feet touching.
- In yoga, this position is known as Baddha Konasana, or the Bound Angle Pose.
- This position is also the base of the hip-opening butterfly stretch, which helps relieve hip pain and tightness.

Section 2 of 3:

Chair Sitting Positions

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Short sitting Short sitting is the most basic way you can sit in a chair—with your bottom centered on the chair seat, back straight, and feet flat on the floor. It’s considered one of the most ergonomic ways to sit for long periods, although you may need to shift around after a while.
- Ergonomic assessment specialist Claire Bowe, PT, Cert. MDT says when you’re trying to find the right sitting posture at your desk, start by tipping your hips forward to put an arch in your back. Make sure your hips and knees are both at 90° angles with your feet flat on the floor.^{[5]
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- Physical therapist Mayami Oyanagi adds that your elbows should be at 90° as well, with your computer monitor right in front of you.^{[6]
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- NASM certified personal trainer Laura Flinn agrees, adding, “If you can’t reach the floor to keep your feet planted on the floor, invest in a foot step.”^{[7]
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Perching Perching on a chair means sitting on the chair’s front edge with your feet flat on the floor. In this position, you stay a little more upright, with your core engaged and your hips a little higher than your knees.
- Some people find this position keeps them from slouching, but it’s not very comfortable for long periods.
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Reclining Reclining in a chair means you’re leaning back in it. This typically requires a reclining chair, where the back of the chair leans back at an angle. It doesn’t necessarily have to be an armchair recliner, though—a lot of chairs recline, including car seats, office chairs, airplane seats, theater seats, and more.
- Slumping and reclining are similar, but they’re not exactly the same thing. When you’re reclined, your back is usually supported by the back of the chair. When you’re slumping, your hips are pushed forward in the chair so your back curves in a C-shape.
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One knee over the other Sitting with one knee over the other is considered a fairly casual sitting position. To do it, sit comfortably in your chair, then prop one ankle on the other knee. But this sitting position comes with a caution: sitting cross-legged in a chair for long periods may not be good for you—it can impact your circulation and spinal alignment.^{[8]
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- If you find yourself sitting like this often, try to remember to switch which leg you cross over the other. That may be easier than breaking the habit entirely, especially at first.
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Ankles crossed If you’re sitting in a chair, you can cross your ankles in front of you, or you can tuck your legs to one side or the other, with your ankles crossed. This position can feel a little uncomfortable at first, especially crossing your ankles to one side—but it does get easier with practice.
- Etiquette coach Laura Windsor says that sitting with your knees together to one side is considered ladylike. She adds that it’s a flattering position because it makes the legs look longer.^{[9]
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Section 3 of 3:

Squatting/Kneeling Positions

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Vertical kneeling Vertical kneeling is essentially standing on your knees. To get into this position, put your knees on the ground with your feet straight out behind you. Lift yourself up so your thighs are perpendicular to the ground.
- This can be hard on the knees over time.
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Sitting kneel To do a sitting kneel, get on your knees with your feet behind you. Then, sit your bottom back until it’s touching (or almost touching) your feet. In this position, your thighs will be almost parallel to the ground.
- Also known as: Short kneel, seiza
- This is more comfortable for longer stretches, and it’s a common position for children while they’re playing.
- In yoga, this pose is known as Vajrasana, or the Thunderbolt pose.
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Half kneel To get into a half kneel, keep one foot flat on the floor, then lower yourself so the opposite knee is touching the ground. If you need a little more support, rest one forearm on the leg that’s bent.
- Also known as: Taking a knee
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Flat feet squat A flat feet squat is a deep squat where you keep both feet on the floor, then lower your bottom down past your knees. This one takes practice—in yoga, it’s called Malasana, and while it’s considered a beginner pose, it can still be a little difficult if you’re not used to it.
- Also known as: Malasana, garland pose