20 Irresistible Kama Sutra Positions for Newbies & Pros

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

The Bandoleer is similar to the missionary, but there are minor changes in the placement of the female partner’s legs. To try this, the female partner lies on their back and lifts their legs into the air. 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.

This position allows for deep penetration and gives the male partner a more dominant role.

2Congress of the Crow

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.”

There are various ways to enjoy the 69. The classic version involves the male partner lying on his back while the female partner climbs on top, facing his genitals. They adjust their positions so their mouths align with each other’s genitals, allowing them to perform oral sex simultaneously.

Another variation is the sideways 69, where both partners lie on their sides, facing each other’s genitals, making this version more relaxed and equally intimate.

3Yawning Position

This position is another variation of missionary, but with the female partner’s legs lifted into the air. To try it, the female partner lies on her back with her legs spread wide and raised fully into the air. The male partner kneels in front of her, holding her hands for support as he gently thrusts into her.

4Indrani (The Position of the Wife of Indra)

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.

To try this, the female partner lies on her back, lifting and folding her legs. The male partner kneels in front of her, holding her buttocks and gently lifting her to align her vaginal opening with his penis. The female partner holds her legs close to maintain the position. Once set, the male partner can begin thrusting.

5Pressed Position

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.

For this one, the female partner would lie down on her back, lifting and folding her legs. 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

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.

For this one, 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. 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.

Once positioned, the male partner can begin thrusting into his partner. Now, here’s where it gets interesting—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

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.

To try it, set up as you would for the original position, with the female partner lying back, her legs raised, and one foot resting on her partner’s chest or shoulder. The difference here is the placement of her heel on his forehead. The couple can then follow the same rhythmic movements in the original position.

8Pair of Tongs

Known as the classic cowgirl position in modern terms, the Kama Sutra refers to this as the “Pair of Tongs.” In this position, the male partner lies on his back while the female partner straddles him, facing forward.

She guides his penis into her vagina and can explore various movements—rising and lowering, 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

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.

To try this position, the woman lies on her stomach with her legs slightly parted to allow access for her male partner. The man 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. 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

Another animalistic position on the list, the congress of a cow, is easy to replicate. Both partners begin standing, facing the same direction. The female partner bends forward until her palms are flat on the floor, creating a comfortable angle. The male partner then supports her by holding her waist and enters gently from behind, allowing for a steady rhythm.

11Virsha

Similar to the cowgirl position, its reverse counterpart is also found in the Kama Sutra, known as Virsha. Here, the male partner lies on his back while the female partner straddles him, facing away.

12Kama’s Wheel

This position takes a more meditative approach to sex, encouraging both openness and connection between partners through their movement.

To try it, the male partner sits on the bed, his legs stretched out and spread apart. The female partner then lowers herself onto his 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. Once settled, the female partner can move her hips grindingly or gently bounce up and down.

13Milk and Water Embrace

This is considered one of the easiest and most inclusive Kama Sutra positions. For this position, the male must sit on a couch, chair, stairs, or any surface, with legs slightly apart. After that, the female partner would sit 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

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.

To try it, the male partner lies on his back while the female partner straddles him, facing him. After she 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.

15Veshititaka

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.

To try this one, the couple lies on their sides, facing each other. The female partner crosses her legs, creating a snug fit. 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

If you’ve been checking out our sex positions guides, you probably already know about this one. This sensual position is all about closeness—perfect for caressing, passionate kissing, or sharing loving gazes as you move in harmony.

To try the Lotus, the man sits cross-legged on the floor or bed. 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

This position begins with the classic missionary setup but takes a surprising and challenging twist—literally. The male partner rotates his body upside down while staying connected to the female partner.

Here’s how to try it: The woman lies on her back with her legs slightly apart. The man starts in the traditional missionary position, sliding his penis in and thrusting gently. After a few moments, he 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.

As you might have noticed, this position isn’t designed for deep penetration. Instead, its goal is to deepen the connection between partners.

18Suspended Congress

Also known as the stand-and-carry, this position is relatively simple but requires strength and stamina from the male partner.

To try it, the man stands upright, slightly leaning against a wall for support. The woman stands close before him, wrapping her arms around his neck. He then holds her 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. 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.

19Tail of the Ostrich

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. To try it, the female partner lies on her back with her legs together. The male partner then kneels on the bed, carefully lifts her legs until their genitals are aligned, and begins thrusting.

20Rainbow Arch

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.

For this position, the female partner lies on her side, while the male partner lies on his side as well, positioning himself between her legs. The woman holds onto the man’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.