When people hear Kama Sutra positions, their minds often jump to images of overly complex, acrobatic moves that seem impossible for regular couples to pull off. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth— it includes versatile, practical, and deeply intimate positions catering to all levels of flexibility and experience.
In fact, many of the positions described in this ancient guide are ones you may already be incorporating into your sex life without even realizing it. Here are some of the best positions to try tonight:
What is Kama Sutra?
The Kama Sutra is an ancient Hindu text written by Vātsyāyana between the 3rd and 5th centuries CE. It serves as a comprehensive guide to living a meaningful life, finding a life partner, engaging in lovemaking, and nurturing relationships.
However, its reputation as a “sex positions manual” stems largely from its 1883 book adaptation by British explorer Richard Francis Burton and British orientalist Forster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot. While progressive for its time, the adaptation included modifications to suit its audience, with some modern experts noting inaccuracies compared to the original text. This shift in focus contributed to the book’s association with eroticism and its emphasis on sex positions.
While the Kamasutra does include different sex positions, we need to recognize its deeper teachings on love, relationships, and spirituality. If you’re curious about some of its other significant insights, here are some resources to check out:
For those looking for inspiration in the bedroom, stay tuned—we’re sharing some of the best Kama sutra-inspired positions in the next section!
Best Kama Sutra Positions for Beginners
For those who are new to sex or simply looking for easy-to-master positions, here are some erotic poses inspired by the Kama Sutra. While the original text references male and female partners, these moves are adaptable for couples of all genders. Feel free to incorporate a strap-on to mimic penetration or explore anal penetration to suit your preferences.
1Bandoleer
Skill Level: Beginner
The Bandoleer is similar to the missionary, but there are minor changes in the placement of the female partner’s legs. This position allows for deep penetration and gives the male partner a more dominant role.
How to do it:
- Step 1: The female partner lies on their back and lifts their legs into the air.
- Step 2: The male partner positions themselves between her legs, facing her, and gently bends her legs to rest along his sides, just below his underarms. He then holds her knees forward for support before gently entering and beginning intercourse.
2Congress of the Crow
Skill Level: Beginner
Did you know the classic 69 is also featured in the Kama Sutra? The book cites, “When a man and woman lie down in an inverted order, i.e., with the head of one toward the feet of the other, and carry on this congress, it is called the congress of a crow.”
How to do it:
- Step 1: The male partner lies on his back while the female partner climbs on top, facing his genitals.
- Step 2: They adjust their positions so their mouths align with each other’s genitals, allowing them to perform oral sex simultaneously.
3Yawning Position
Skill Level: Beginner
This position is another variation of missionary, but with the female partner’s legs lifted into the air.
How to do it:
- Step 1: The female partner lies on her back with her legs spread wide and raised fully into the air.
- Step 2: The male partner kneels in front of her, holding her hands for support as he gently thrusts into her.
Sold Out
4Indrani (The Position of the Wife of Indra)
Skill Level: Beginner
Indrani is named after the stunning and seductive wife of Indra, the Hindu deity of rain and thunder. This position is often considered one of the “highest congress” positions, celebrated for its deep intimacy and fulfillment. It’s designed to foster a genuine connection between partners who try it.
What makes it more fulfilling than the other Kama Sutra positions? It stems from the fact that the vagina is fully open, allowing for deep and maximum penetration.
How to do it:
- Step 1: The female partner lies on her back, lifting and folding her legs.
- Step 2: The male partner kneels in front of her, holding her buttocks and gently lifting her to align her vaginal opening with his penis.
- Step 3: The female partner holds her legs close to maintain the position. Once set, the male partner can begin thrusting.
5Pressed Position
Skill Level: Beginner
This position is similar to the previous one, with the key difference being that the female partner’s legs are pressed against the male partner’s chest. Not only is this position great for male partners who have a sexual interest in feet, but it also creates a subconscious dynamic between the partners. It allows the male partner to take full dominance while the female partner feels more vulnerable, letting go of control to fully enjoy the experience.
How to do it:
- Step 1: The female partner would lie down on her back, lifting and folding her legs.
- Step 2: The male partner would kneel in front of the female partner, and he would then place her feet on his chest and hold onto her knees for additional support as he pushed his penis into her.
6Splitting of a Bamboo
Skill Level: Intermediate
Another popular sex position featured in the Kama Sutra is the Splitting of a Bamboo. Like many of the positions on this list, it’s similar to missionary, but the difference lies in the positioning of the legs.
How to do it:
- Step 1: The female partner lies on her back and lifts one of her legs; she can choose which leg, but for this example, let’s go with the right leg.
- Step 2: The male partner then kneels in front of her, but only on one knee, positioned on the opposite side of the lifted leg. So, if the female’s right leg is lifted, the male partner kneels on his left knee, and vice versa; the other leg would be straight and relaxed.
- Step 3: Once positioned, the male partner can begin thrusting into his partner. After a few seconds of thrusting, the couple can switch which leg is lifted and which knee the male partner is kneeling on. They repeat this process in a continuous cycle, hence the name.
7Fixing of a Nail
Skill Level: Intermediate
This is a variation of the “Splitting of a Bamboo” with a unique twist: the female partner gently places her heel on the male partner’s forehead.
How to do it:
- Step 1: The female partner lies at their back. The male partner would kneel in front of the female partner.
- Step 2: The female partner raises their legs, with her foot resting on the male partner’s chest or shoulder. Her heel should be gently pressed on the male partner’s forehead.
- Step 3: Once positioned, the male partner can start thrusting.
8Pair of Tongs
Skill Level: Beginner
Known as the classic cowgirl position in modern terms, the Kama Sutra refers to this as the “Pair of Tongs.”
How to do it:
- Step 1: The male partner lies on his back while the female partner straddles him, facing forward.
- Step 2: The female partner guides the male partner’s penis into her vagina and can explore various movements, such as bouncing, rocking back and forth, or moving in a circular motion. This allows her to control the depth and speed, making it a versatile and empowering position.
9Elephant Posture
Skill Level: Beginner
You might recognize this as Prone Bone, but in the Kama Sutra, it’s called the Elephant Posture. This position is one of the text’s animal-inspired poses, not meant to mimic actual animals but to tap into their primal, instinctive energy.
How to do it:
- Step 1: The female partner lies on her stomach with her legs slightly parted to allow access for her male partner.
- Step 2: The male partner then positions himself over her, supporting his weight with his palms planted on either side of her body. He enters her from behind, resulting in a deep and intimate penetration.
Bonus Tip: For added stimulation, the woman can press her thighs together slightly, enhancing the pressure and intensifying the pleasure for both partners.
10Congress of a Cow
Skill Level: Intermediate
Another animalistic position on the list, the congress of a cow, is easy to replicate.
How to do it:
- Step 1: Both partners begin standing, facing the same direction.
- Step 2: The female partner bends forward until her palms are flat on the floor, creating a comfortable angle.
- Step 3: The male partner then supports her by holding her waist and enters gently from behind, allowing for a steady rhythm.
11Virsha
Skill Level: Intermediate
Similar to the cowgirl position, its reverse counterpart is also found in the Kama Sutra, known as Virsha.
How to do it:
The male partner lies on his back while the female partner straddles him, facing away.
12Kama’s Wheel
Skill Level: Intermediate
This position takes a more meditative approach to sex, encouraging both openness and connection between partners through their movement.
- Step 1: The male partner sits on the bed, his legs stretched out and spread apart.
- Step 2: The female partner then lowers herself onto the male partner’s lap, aligning her body to slide into him comfortably. He can place his hands on her back for support while she holds onto his arms for balance.
- Step 3: Once settled, the female partner can move her hips grindingly or gently bounce up and down.
13Milk and Water Embrace
Skill Level: Beginner
This is considered one of the easiest and most inclusive Kama Sutra positions. If you’re new to sex, we recommend trying this one out.
How to do it:
- Step 1: The male partner sits on a couch, chair, stairs, or any surface, with legs slightly apart.
- Step 2: The female partner sits right on his crotch, sliding her vagina into him. Since the couple’s hands are free, they can use them to stimulate each other’s pleasure zones, like the nipples, clitoris, and inner thighs.
14Inverted Embrace
Skill Level: Beginner
It’s pretty similar to the Cowgirl or Pair of Tongs position, but the female partner’s body is leaned forward and pressed against the male partner’s chest, making it a great position for couples who enjoy more skin-to-skin connection during sex.
How to do it:
- Step 1: The male partner lies on his back while the female partner straddles him, facing him.
- Step 2: After the female partner slides onto his penis, she leans forward, pressing her body against his chest. Her arms relax, and her legs are slightly straightened. The male partner can hold her back for support as she moves her hips back and forth.
Hot
Only 1 left
15Veshititaka
Skill Level: Intermediate
One fascinating aspect of the Kama Sutra is its thoughtful consideration of body compatibility, including penis and vagina size. It provides a variety of positions to suit different body types, and this position, called Envelopment, exemplifies that inclusivity.
This position is particularly recommended for couples where the female partner has a larger vaginal size, and the male partner has a smaller penis.
How to do it:
- Step 1: The couple lies on their sides, facing each other. The female partner crosses her legs, creating a snug fit.
- Step 2: The male partner then gently enters her vagina. The crossing of her legs not only enhances pressure around the vagina and clitoris but also increases sensation for both partners, making the experience more pleasurable.
Best Kama Sutra Positions for Experienced Couples
If you consider yourself and your partner pros and are looking for complex positions, here are some of the best ones from the book:
16Lotus
Skill Level: Intermediate
If you’ve been checking out our sex positions guides, you probably already know about this one. This sensual position is all about closeness, which is perfect for caressing, passionate kissing, or sharing loving gazes as you move in harmony.\
How to do it:
- Step 1: The male partner sits cross-legged on the floor or bed.
- Step 2: The woman then straddles him, facing him, and slides her vagina onto his erection. Holding onto each other for balance, she can move her hips in a grinding or up-and-down motion.
17Turning Position
Skill Level: Advanced
This position begins with the classic missionary setup but takes a surprising and challenging twist. The male partner rotates his body upside down while staying connected to the female partner.
How to do it:
- Step 1: The female partner lies on her back with her legs slightly apart.
- Step 2: The male partner starts in the traditional missionary position, sliding his penis in and thrusting gently.
- Step 3: After a few moments, the male partner moves his left leg, then his right leg, over the woman’s right leg. Slowly, he twists his body until his legs are on her right side, forming a cross-like position with their bodies. He turns until his face is near her feet, maintaining the connection.
18Suspended Congress
Skill Level: Advanced
Also known as the stand-and-carry, this position is relatively simple but requires strength and stamina from the male partner. While fun to try, this position is more of a novelty and is often a quick experiment before transitioning to more comfortable and intimate options.
How to do it:
- Step 1: To try it, the male partner stands upright, slightly leaning against a wall for support.
- Step 2: The female partner stands close before him, wrapping her arms around his neck.
- Step 3: The male partner then holds his partner’s hips or thighs, lifting her up and gently guiding his penis into her. Once in position, he adjusts his lift to allow for a sliding motion during penetration.
19Tail of the Ostrich
Skill Level: Advanced
This position might seem simple at first glance, but it requires some effort as the male partner needs to lift the lower half of his partner’s body during the act.
How to do it:
- Step 1: The female partner lies on her back with her legs together.
- Step 2: The male partner then kneels on the bed, carefully lifts her legs until their genitals are aligned, and begins thrusting.
20Rainbow Arch
Skill Level: Advanced
This one is a bit more complex, as the couple isn’t parallel to each other. Still, its novelty and playful nature make it worth the effort.
How to do it:
- Step 1: The female partner lies on her side, while the male partner lies on his side as well, positioning himself between her legs.
- Step 2: The female partner holds onto her partner’s ankles while he holds onto her shoulders for support, creating a unique, angled alignment before he starts thrusting.
Takeaway
When it comes to the best moves in the bedroom, the Kama Sutra certainly has its fair share of sex positions worth trying out.
Like with other sexual activities, make sure to prioritize safety and mutual comfort. Start with informed and enthusiastic consent, use condoms for protection, and apply lubricants for a smoother experience. During the act, check in with each other to ensure both partners are comfortable and enjoying themselves. And don’t forget to wind down with some aftercare to reconnect.
