There are certain sex positions that you do just to say that you did it. The Arch is definitely one of those positions. It’s a challenging pose that only select couples will be able to pull off, because you have to be incredibly flexible and strong. And unlike a position like missionary or cowgirl, which both work if you’re different heights, the Arch only works if the person getting penetrated is as tall, or even taller, than the person doing the penetrating.
Even though the Arch is difficult, that doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t give it a try. (If you can’t do it, you’ll probably end up collapsing together on the bed giggling before transitioning into a more traditional position like doggy style.)
To learn how to get into this position along with some variations to pull it off, we spoke to Dr. Jess O’Reilly, Astroglide’s resident sexologist. Here’s what she told us.
How do you get into the Arch sex position?
We sincerely hope you’ve been hitting up yoga class. “One partner lies on their back and presses their hands above their head with their feet on the floor,” O’Reilly explains. “Then, they press their body into an arched bridge position – like an upside-down U. The other partner climbs on top to ride them.”
If you can pull it off, it’ll look something like this:
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What are the pros of the Arch?
The biggest pro? “The excitement of a very challenging feat,” O’Reilly says.
Additionally, this position can allow for deep penetration. The receptive partner just hops on their partner’s penis or dildo and sits on it unencumbered.
What are the cons of it?
“It’s not going to be a comfortable (or doable) position for most people, and comfort is essential to pleasure when it comes to positioning,” O’Reilly says. When you’re worried your legs may collapse at any point, and a human will come crashing down on top of you, sex isn’t the most fun. Ya know?
Additionally, if the upper partner’s legs aren’t long enough to straddle the lower partner’s body, it’s unlikely this position will be feasible. There will simply be too much weight on the person doing the bridge.
What are variations to the Arch?
You might notice that assuming the initial bridge position is easier said than done. “Many people can’t assume this bridge position unsupported,” O’Reilly says.
That’s why you’ll likely need to modify this position to make it work. “Rather than assuming a full arch-bridge position, prop your hips up with some pillows to allow your body to extend and elongate,” O’Reilly says. Or, just do cowgirl. That’s a much simpler position to have one partner on top “riding” the insertive partner.
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Now, if you can assume the arch-bridge position but have trouble holding it, you can still put some pillows underneath your back to help prop you up. Note that you will need a bunch of pillows. Alternatively, you can “use a footstool beneath your body before assuming the arch-bridge position,” O’Reilly says. An ottoman could work, too. This will help take some pressure off of your back.