The most intimate details of sexuality are dealt with in the same level of detail and objectivity. Here’s an example: Now the householder, having got up in the morning and performed his necessary duties, should wash his teeth, apply a limited quantity of ointments and perfumes to his body, put some ornaments on his person and collyrium on his eyelids and below his eyes… Having then eaten betel leaves, with other things that give fragrance to the mouth, he should perform his usual business. It’s a systematic and unabashed compendium of the good life in that time and place. The Kama Sutra is as much about the details of gracious living as it is about sex. (The first is Dharma, or virtuous living, and the second is Artha, material prosperity.) Its subject is Kama, or the pursuit of pleasure, which is the third goal in life for Hindus. As such, it gives scholars a fascinating peek into daily life and morés of that time. It was written in about the Third Century AD in northern India and is considered one of the oldest Sanskrit sacred texts in existence. So, what is the Kama Sutra, anyway, and could it shake up a humdrum, middle-age bedroom routine or give you ideas for new techniques now that you’re not quite up to dangling from the chandelier?įor starters, the Kama Sutra is old. In fact, if you’re like me, you may not know what the Kama Sutra is.

Or, if you’re like me, you never quite figured out what all the fuss was about. You may have even tried some of those melodic-sounding acrobatics: the “splitting of the bamboo,” the “lotus-like position,” or the “fixing of a nail.” It may have been tougher for us since my boyfriend is leggy-like, the dude is 6'4'.If you came of age in the 1960s, you may have had two books on the nightstand: The Joy of Sex and the Kama Sutra. “ It’s cute because you’re all huggy and close to each other, but moving around is kind of tough and requires more core strength than my Pilates-skipping self has. You feel more connected to your partner than you would in a position like doggy.” -Valerie, 24 “The angle feels really nice, and I like it because it’s face-to-face and super close. I’m just very shy, so eye contact is too much.” -Jamie, 31 You definitely have to be the kind of person who loves looking into your partner’s face too. “It takes some planning on how to position both of your legs so that you can move and gain traction. It’s deep, intimate, and also great for some chest play.” -Liz, 25 “ My boyfriend has bad knees, so this position actually felt really nice for him. There was nowhere to go but climax!” -Haley, 24

It’s great because you’re v close but also v supported-I didn’t feel like I was going to fall off. “Yes to this position! With his legs crossed like that, I felt like I was in a little love nest.

Sacred lotus position karma sutra