Not just for yoga (Getty)

You may well have heard of the lotus yoga position, but there’s also an X-rated version that is super popular – and a little lazy.

Also known as the ‘yab-yum’ position in tantra, the lotus sex position is favoured by those who love the soft, gentle kind of sex that connects you and your partner deeply.

It involves sitting around your partner cross-legged (so you kind of look like a pretzel) and switching out thrusting for some gentle-but-deep rocking.

Certified sex expert Isabelle Uren from Bedbible tells Metro.co.uk that the lotus is a favourite as it’s incredibly intimate and allows for lots of sensual touching and eye contact. ‘It’s great for long slow sessions, and it can be modified to suit both vaginal and anal penetration with a penis or strap-on, making it a sex position anyone can enjoy,’ she says.

To get started, she says the penetrating partner will sit with their legs loosely crossed. Their partner then straddles their lap, allowing the bottom partner to penetrate them.

Both partners then wrap their legs and arms around each other. In this position, rather than thrusting, the movement comes from rocking back and forth. 

It’s worth keeping in mind that this can be a tough position depending on your shape, size, height difference and mobility levels. The person sitting first should generally be stronger and willing to support the other partner during intercourse, though you can use pillows or wedges under your butt or knees to lean back against and make this a little easier.

Once you’ve got the basics nailed down, Uren says you can spice it up with these tips:

Enhance the intimacy by starting with some eye-gazing. The face to face nature of this position is great for connecting deeply with your partner and eye gazing is a great way to enhance that.Use your hands to caress and explore each other’s bodies. You can use long soft strokes, run your nails over their back, or massage their scalp. If the top partner is a vulva owner, you can use a bullet vibrator for some added clitoral stimulation.Make the most of the face to face position by sensually kissing their neck or whispering in their ear. If you’re the one on top, you’re also in the perfect position to receive some breast play. You can adjust the angle of penetration by leaning back on your arms. This is best done on a semi-firm surface, so if you have a very soft bed, it might be better to make a cosy nest of cushions and blankets on the floor. 

If this position proves a little too close for comfort, you can alter is to be just a little less personal by placing your hands behind you and lean into a back bend. Doing this also transfers who is ‘in charge’ which can be really sexy, as this version of the position means your partner needs to take control and hold your hips while thrusting into you.

So, it’s kind of like a cuddle but hornier. What’s not to like?

The perfect position for those who love hugs as much as they love sex