Congress of the Cow Position: How to Do It + 3 Variations

The Congress of the Cow is a standing, rear-entry position from the Kama Sutra. The receiving partner stands and bends forward at the hips with their hands on the floor (or on something sturdy), and the penetrating partner stands behind them, holding their hips. It's deep, primal and surprisingly playful. It's also one of the more demanding positions on hamstrings and balance, so below you'll find the classic version plus three gentler ways to get the same feel.

Where the Name Comes From

The Kama Sutra is a Sanskrit text attributed to Vatsyayana and usually dated to roughly the 2nd to 4th centuries CE. Most English readers know it through the 1883 translation by Richard Burton and Forster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot. Despite its reputation, only a small part of the book covers sex positions. Much of it deals with courtship, relationships, etiquette and everyday pleasure.

In the section on positions, Vatsyayana describes several "unusual" ways of making love in which a couple imitates the movements of animals: the dog, the goat, the deer, the horse, and the cow. The "cow" describes the receiving partner's posture, on hands and feet with the back angled forward, with the other partner behind them. It's a metaphor for body shape and rhythm, nothing more. Two consenting adults, no animals involved, ever.

How to Do the Congress of the Cow Step by Step

• Warm up first. Plenty of foreplay and lube matter here, because the angle tends to allow deep penetration quickly.
• Receiving partner: stand with feet about hip-width apart, knees soft rather than locked, and hinge forward from the hips. Place your palms on the floor, or on a low, stable surface if the floor is too far away. Your weight is spread between your hands and feet.
• Penetrating partner: stand behind them, feet planted, and hold their hips or waist for stability. Bend your knees as needed to line up your heights.
• Start slow. Begin with shallow, gentle movement and let the receiving partner guide depth and pace. They can also rock back into their partner instead of staying still.
• Come up carefully. When you're done, the receiving partner should rise slowly, rolling up through the spine, to avoid a head rush.

The position works with a penis, a strap-on or a toy, for vaginal or anal penetration, and for couples of any gender. For anal play, use generous lube and go even slower. Condoms (or a condom on shared toys) protect against STIs, and you should switch to a fresh one when moving from anal to vaginal.

3 Variations of the Congress of the Cow

1. Supported Cow

Instead of the floor, the receiving partner rests their hands or forearms on the edge of a bed, a sturdy table or the arm of a couch. The bend is much shallower, the head stays closer to hip level, and it's far kinder to tight hamstrings. Make sure the furniture is stable and won't slide.

2. Wall Cow

The receiving partner places both palms flat on a wall at about chest height and steps their feet back, so the body forms a gentle forward lean. This is the most balance-friendly option and leaves room for the penetrating partner to reach around for clitoral or genital touch.

3. Kneeling Cow

The receiving partner gets on hands and knees near the edge of the bed while the penetrating partner stands on the floor behind them. It keeps the spirit of the original without any standing balance. A pillow under the knees helps, and if the heights don't line up, the standing partner can bend their knees or the receiving partner can add a firm cushion under their knees.

Making It More Comfortable

• Bend the knees. Locked legs in a deep forward fold strain the lower back and hamstrings.
• Put a non-slip mat or rug under your hands and feet. Socks on a wooden floor are a recipe for comedy, not romance.
• Keep sessions short in the full version and switch to a supported variation when arms or legs get tired.
• Use a step or a thick book to even out a big height difference.

When to Skip This Position

• Head-below-hips issues: if you have blood pressure problems or glaucoma, or tend to get dizzy, choose the wall or kneeling variation so your head stays up.
• Back, hip or hamstring injuries: the deep fold can aggravate them. Stop if anything pinches or radiates.
• Pain with deep penetration: rear entry can bump the cervix or press on tender spots, for example with endometriosis. Shallower movement or a different position is fine.
• Pregnancy: a deep forward bend and standing balance get harder as pregnancy progresses. The kneeling or wall versions are often more comfortable, but check with your healthcare provider about any concerns and stop if you feel pain, cramping or lightheadedness.
• Wrist or shoulder pain: put your weight on your forearms on the bed, or use the wall version.

Communication and Consent

Because the receiving partner can't see their partner's face, talk more than usual. Agree beforehand on what's on the menu (vaginal, anal, toys) and pick a simple stop word or tap signal. Check in during sex with a quick "deeper or slower?" and respect the answer immediately. Saying yes to the position doesn't mean saying yes to everything in it, and either of you can change your mind at any point.

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