8 Best Kamasutra Sex Positions (Classic Poses, Modern Tips)

The Kamasutra is a Sanskrit text attributed to Vatsyayana and usually dated to around the 3rd century CE. It's far more than a sex manual. Here are eight positions it really describes, translated into plain modern terms, with tips for making each one comfortable and knowing when to skip it.

First, a quick myth check. The Kamasutra has seven books covering courtship, marriage, etiquette, relationships and living a pleasurable life. Only one book deals with sexual union. The famous "64" isn't a count of positions. In the text, "the sixty-four" means eight kinds of intimate activity (embracing, kissing, scratching, biting, ways of lying together, sounds, the woman taking the active role, and oral sex), each with eight varieties. Separately, the first book lists 64 arts worth learning, like music, dance and cooking. The positions themselves are short descriptions, not acrobatic routines. Also, many "Kamasutra positions" with catchy names you'll find online are modern inventions.

The text was written for a man and a woman. Below I use "receiving partner" and "penetrating partner" instead, because these positions work for all kinds of bodies and couples, including people using toys or strap-ons.

The 8 Positions

1. The Widely Opened Position

The receiving partner lies on their back and tilts their hips up while their head rests low. The penetrating partner kneels or lies between their legs. Make it easier: skip the hip lift and slide a firm pillow under the lower back and hips instead. Skip it if: arching hurts your lower back.

2. The Yawning Position

Same starting point, but the receiving partner raises both thighs and holds them wide apart. This gives a deeper angle and lots of eye contact. Make it easier: hold behind the knees, or rest the calves on the partner's arms or shoulders. Skip it if: your hips or groin feel strained, or depth becomes uncomfortable. The receiving partner sets the pace.

3. The Position of Indrani

The receiving partner, on their back, pulls their bent knees toward their sides or chest. The penetrating partner kneels in front. The text itself says this one takes practice. Make it easier: only fold as far as feels good, and keep a pillow under the hips. Skip it if: you have hip, knee or spine problems, or any pain with deep penetration.

4. The Clasping Position

Both partners keep their legs straight and bodies pressed close. You can do it face to face lying down or side by side. Movement is small and slow, and the whole body is in contact. The text adds a "pressing" variation, where the receiving partner squeezes their thighs together after entry. Make it easier: side by side takes everyone's weight off their arms. Good for: tired bodies, sore wrists, and lazy mornings.

5. The Twining Position

From the clasping position, the receiving partner wraps one thigh over the partner's thigh or hip, pulling them closer. Make it easier: rest the raised leg on a pillow if holding it gets tiring. It's an easy one to try first.

6. Woman on Top (Taking the Active Role)

The Kamasutra gives a whole chapter to the woman taking the lead from above. Today we just call this partner on top. The partner on top kneels or squats over the partner lying down and controls the depth, angle and rhythm. Make it easier: kneel instead of squatting, and lean forward onto your hands to rest your thighs. Good for: anyone who wants control over sensation, and partners with knee or back issues who'd rather lie still.

7. The Congress of a Cow

The receiving partner is on hands and knees (the text says hands and feet), and the penetrating partner enters from behind. This is the ancestor of doggy style. Make it easier: lower onto your forearms or a stack of pillows, or lie flat on your belly. Skip it if: your wrists or knees complain, or you can't easily talk and check in without seeing each other's faces.

8. Supported Congress (Standing)

Both partners stand and lean on each other or on a wall. Make it easier: stand face to face with the receiving partner's back to the wall, and use a step to even out height differences. Safety: lifting a partner off the ground is optional, not the point. Don't try it with back, knee or balance problems, and stick to dry, non-slip floors.

Comfort Tips That Apply to Every Position

• Warm up first. The Kamasutra spends far more time on kissing, touch and play than on positions. Arousal makes every angle more comfortable.
• Use lube. Water- or silicone-based lube is safe with latex condoms. Don't use silicone lube with silicone toys.
• Pillows are your props. A firm cushion under the hips, knees or chest does more than flexibility ever will.
• Protect each other. Positions don't change STI or pregnancy risk. Condoms, dental dams and testing still matter.

When a Position Isn't for You

Pain is a signal to stop, not something to push through. Deep-folding positions (Yawning, Indrani) can strain hips and the lower back, and they can make deep penetration uncomfortable. Standing positions are hard on bad knees and balance. Kneeling positions are hard on wrists and knees. During pregnancy, side-by-side and partner-on-top positions are usually the most comfortable. Many people are advised to avoid lying flat on their back for long periods later in pregnancy, so ask your midwife or doctor what's right for you. If you have a spine, neck or joint condition, or you're recovering from surgery, choose the positions that feel supported and skip the rest.

Communication and Consent

Trying something new works best when it's a shared idea, not a surprise. Pick one or two positions together before you start. Agree on a simple word or signal for "pause", and check in while you're in the position ("Deeper or slower?", "Is this OK for your back?"). Either of you can stop or change course at any moment. A position that feels awkward isn't a failure. It's just information, and laughing about it is allowed.

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