Suma Katra Position: How to Do It + 3 Variations

The Suma Katra position is a seated, face-to-face position: one partner sits upright, and the other sits in their lap, facing them, with their legs wrapped around the seated partner's waist. It's less about speed and more about closeness. You get full-body contact, eye contact, and plenty of room for kissing and touching. It works for couples of any gender, with or without penetration.

A quick honesty note: "Suma Katra" isn't a standard term from well-known translations of the Kama Sutra. It's a name that circulates online, sometimes spelled "Suma Khatra." The position itself will feel familiar if you've read about seated, face-to-face positions in Tantra-inspired writing. If you're new to this kind of reading, our sex education hub is a good place to start.

How to Do the Suma Katra Position

We'll call the person sitting underneath the "base partner" and the person on top the "lap partner."

• Set up the base. The base partner sits on the bed or a firm, padded floor, either cross-legged or with legs stretched out in front. Putting a headboard, wall, or a stack of pillows behind their back makes a big difference over more than a few minutes.
• Climb in. The lap partner faces them, straddles their hips, and lowers down onto their lap. Then they wrap their legs around the base partner's waist or rest their feet flat on the bed behind them.
• Find your hold. Wrap your arms around each other's backs or shoulders. Bring your chests close together, so you can feel each other breathing.
• Add penetration if you both want it. Take it slowly and use plenty of lubricant. The lap partner usually does the lowering, so they control the depth.
• Move together. Big thrusts don't really work here. Try rocking, grinding, or slow circles of the hips instead. Many people like to sync their breathing and simply hold still for a while.

Because there's so little in-and-out movement, many people with a vulva find this position more satisfying when someone adds clitoral stimulation: a hand slipped between your bodies or a small vibrator. Orgasm isn't the scorecard, though. Plenty of couples use this position mainly to slow down and reconnect.

3 Suma Katra Variations

1. The Chair Version

The base partner sits on a sturdy, armless chair or the edge of the bed with both feet on the floor. The lap partner straddles them, either with feet on the floor or with knees resting on the seat. This is easier on stiff hips than sitting cross-legged. And with feet on the ground, the lap partner gets more leverage to move. Check that the chair can comfortably hold both of you before you try it.

2. The Lean-Back

From the basic hold, both partners lean back a little and support themselves on their hands, or the lap partner leans back against the base partner's raised knees. This opens a bit of space between your bodies. The angle of penetration changes, you can see each other more, and there's more room for a hand or toy. It's tiring on the wrists, so treat it as a short detour.

3. Lay-Down Transition

When your legs get tired, you don't have to break contact. Keep holding each other while one partner slowly lowers onto their back and the other ends up on top or alongside. Lying down like this is the version some sites describe as "Suma Katra." It's simply a close, face-to-face lying position, very similar to missionary. Whoever is on top should keep some of their weight on their elbows.

Making It More Comfortable

• Put a pillow under the base partner's hips or behind their lower back to keep the spine upright without straining.
• A pillow under the lap partner's knees, or a firmer mattress, keeps them from sinking.
• Have lubricant and any toys within reach before you settle in. Getting up in the middle breaks the mood.
• Switch who sits on the bottom. Different body sizes often fit better one way round.
• Use condoms or other barriers as you normally would. A close position doesn't change STI or pregnancy risk.

When to Skip It or Adapt It

Stop or change position if anyone feels pain in the knees, hips, or lower back, or gets numbness or pins and needles in the legs. People with knee or hip injuries, or recent surgery there, usually do better with the chair version or the lay-down transition. If the base partner has back problems, they need firm support behind them, or they should take the lap role instead.

During pregnancy, a seated position with the pregnant partner on top can be comfortable for some people, because it keeps weight off the belly and lets them control depth. As the bump grows, chest-to-chest contact gets awkward, so lean back or sit side by side instead. If you've been told to avoid penetration or have any pregnancy complications, check with your healthcare provider first.

Communication and Consent

Being this close makes it easy to talk, so use that. Before you start, agree on whether penetration is on the menu. During, check in with simple questions: "Slower?", "Deeper or shallower?", "Want to lie down?" Agree on a non-verbal signal too, like a squeeze on the shoulder, for when words feel like too much. Either of you can pause or stop at any point, and changing your mind isn't a failure.

FAQ