November Position of the Month: Power Play

 Written by Katie Mitchell, M.A., NCC, CST, LPC

Lead Therapist and Sex Therapist at Heights Family Counseling

November’s highlighted position of the month is the Power Play!  As usual, it is recommended that if you or your partner are not feeling well, you might consider delaying sexual engagement until both of you are feeling up to par!  And, as a continued healthy sex practice, please wash your hands before and after a sexual experience.  If it helps you both to feel more comfortable, and in the mood, start your shared sexual experience by taking a shower together.  While a sexual experience can definitely aid in feeling emotionally connected with one another, it is also a great time to get your blood pumping and release physical energy together.  Remember that a sexual experience will release Oxytocin and other beneficial endorphins that will help you both feel bonded to one another and release stress/tension.  In addition to keeping healthy sex practices in mind, I also recommend beginning any sexual experience by doing some light stretching together to help avoid injuries and/or muscle cramps that might arise during a sexual experience, as this is still the most common sexual injury.  For the Power Play, stretching ahead of time is especially important, as it will require more flexibility for the partner being penetrated. 

Ideally, you and your partner would try out the Power Play on a soft supportive surface (carpeted floor or bed – trying this out on a sofa may not provide enough room).  The partner being penetrated will kneel on their knees (hint for why a soft, supportive surface would be helpful).  The partner being penetrated will begin by laying on their back, looking at and facing their kneeling partner.  The partner being penetrated will also raise and bend their legs, lifting their back off the ground.  The partner being penetrated will then place their feet on to their partner’s chest for support (both partners genitals will be about even with one another).  The partner being penetrated can also place their arms/elbows on the floor to support their upper body.  The penetrating partner will hold onto the outer portion of their partner’s hips for support.  In holding onto their partner’s hips, this partner creates more support for thrusting.   

As always, once penetration occurs, be mindful of effective communication; take the time to verbally and nonverbally communicate with another what is pleasurable or what needs adjusting.  Take the time to get in rhythm with one another before thrusting with any amount of power, as this position might require an unusual penetration angle.

For the penetrating partner, this position will work their glutes, hip flexors, and hamstrings.  For the partner being penetrated, this position will work their core and lower back.  It is recommended to try this position out for 5-10 minutes.

Here’s to prioritizing intentional time to engage emotionally and sexually with one another this November.  For more information for this specific position (including image) can be found at the following link.

If you’re struggling with physical intimacy, contact us to learn how sex therapy could help.