7 Popular Ways to Sit on a Couch — And What They All Mean

By Melanie Aman Updated: November 5, 2018

When you plop yourself on the couch after a long day, chances are you don’t give much thought to how you sit. But according to the experts, you couch slouch reveals some hidden clues about not only your emotional well-being, but also your posture.

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According to body language expert Robert Phipps, your couch slouch is a “reflection of your inner emotions.” Sprawling out on a loveseat, stomach down and face in the cushions indicated an entirely different mood than adopting a cross-legged pose, or even perching on the armrest. It turns out your body has a way of exposing your internal thoughts and feelings without you even realizing.

As for your posture, you may not be doing your joints any favors by the way you sit — no matter how comfy it is. “If you’re sitting in a hunched up or slouched position, you’ll be placing excessive pressure onto the joints within your spine and especially the lower back as this is the larger weigh-bearing area,” Dawn Morse, MS, the founder of sports therapy and yoga studio Core Elements. “Aim to sit in an upright and lengthened position so that the muscles in the spine are long and your chest is lifted.”

Keep scrolling to learn more about all the different sofa slumps and how they affect your body — and to see how popular your favorite sitting position is.

Couch Positions Starfish

Courtesy of Barker and Stonehouse
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The Starfish

According to a survey commissioned by furniture retailer Barker and Stonehouse, the "starfish" is the most popular position to assume once you're on the couch.

Comfort: 5/5

Posture rating: 3/5

"This position is adopted by most people who hate their jobs, unfortunately," Phipps explains, "which could be the reason why people who sit like this appear to be focusing on de-stressing and relaxing as much as they can."
Couch Positions Pew

Courtesy of Barker and Stonehouse
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The Pew

Comfort: 3/5

Posture rating: 5/5

According to the Barker and Stonehouse survey, the "pew" is the second most popular sitting stance. "This is quite a controlled position, not really allowing the body and spine to relax, which would indicate you still carry some of the stress from your day," Phipps says.
Couch Positions Dive Bomb

Courtesy of Barker and Stonehouse
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The Dive Bomb

More than 16 percent of respondents said this was their favorite position on the couch.

Comfort: 4/5

Posture rating: 4/5

"This changes the angle of your spine and hips, allowing your body to slump over to one side releasing some of the days tension," Phipps describes. "This is often related to feelings of anxiety, but our study shows the opposite. This probably reflects being as contented as a baby and dealing with life’s stresses with ease."
Couch Positions Buddha

Courtesy of Barker and Stonehouse
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The Buddha

Fifteen percent of those surveyed said they preferred sitting cross-legged on the couch.

Comfort: 4/5

Posture rating: 4/5

"This position, with crossed legs and hands resting in the lap, is well rounded and symmetrical, reflecting an overall contentment and inner confidence," Phipps notes. "Reflected by someone who is a calm person, keeping a straight back allows you to breath better and compose yourself more quickly."
Couch Positions Spreader

Courtesy of Barker and Stonehouse
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The Spreader

If you've got a big family, you know couch space is limited — so spreading out is a luxury. Nearly four percent of people said this was their favorite pose.

Comfort: 3/5

Posture rating: 5/5

"This spread out position makes you feel more in control of that space," Phipps says. "Feet on the floor is, as they say, 'very grounded.' It doesn’t give you much wiggle room so the body stays erect and is not the most relaxing of positions."
Couch Positions Cheap Seats

Courtesy of Barker and Stonehouse
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The Cheap Seats

For those times you just can't get comfortable on the couch, a seat on the floor might be more pleasant. Getting cozy with some blankets and oversized pillows is the perfect way to take advantage of your plush living room rug.

Comfort: 3/5

Posture rating: 3/5

"Sitting on the floor is likely to be adopted by anyone who either doesn’t find their sofa very comfortable or by someone who likes to do things their own way and not be shackled by rules," Phipps suggests.
Couch Positions Hawk

Courtesy of Barker and Stonehouse
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The Hawk

The "hawk" is the least popular seating position, and it tells those around you that you don't plan to stay long.

Comfort: 2/5

Posture rating: 3/5

"This elevates the feet and lower legs, so it is very soothing after a long day," Phipps explains.