"To sit cross-legged you need to have good hip rotation, as well as lower-back mobility so that you can get on the floor," explains Helen O'Leary, physiotherapist and director of Complete Pilates.

“The longer and more often you sit cross-legged, the more likely it is that you’ll have long-term changes in the muscle lengths and bone arrangements in your pelvis,” says Taylor.

The Malay tradition of sitting cross-legged and sharing meals with family is becoming increasingly rare. Now, one restaurant here is evoking nostalgia by offering diners the chance to relive ...