If you’re anything like me, you’ve spent way too long believing that certain sex positions just weren’t “for you.” Whether because of body size, flexibility, past trauma, injury, chronic pain, or just not seeing yourself represented, it’s easy to feel boxed out of “mainstream” intimacy.
But that’s why I’m obsessed with discovering and sharing positions that work for real bodies – and the mermaid sex position has quickly flipped the script for so many of my clients and readers. This pose is soft, sensual, crazy-accessible, and honestly… hot.
If you’ve ever wanted a position that prioritizes comfort, closeness, and those deep, delicious strokes, then babe, you’re going to want to grab your metaphorical tailfin and dive into this guide. Let me show you how to make the mermaid sex position not just work – but shine for YOUR body.
What Is the Mermaid Sex Position?
Overview and Visual Description
Picture this: you’re lying on your side, with your legs gently squeezed together, knees slightly bent, like you’re lounging on a beach rock waiting for your pirate lover.
Your partner enters you from behind (also lying on their side) – not kneeling, not towering over you, but with you. Both of you are horizontal, your bodies close, your chests aligned or one behind the other depending on how snug you want to be.
From the outside, your legs look tucked together like a tail – hence the name. It’s cozy. It’s sensual. It’s gorgeous.
Why It’s Called the “Mermaid”
The name comes from the visual – your legs grouped together mimicking the elegant tail of a mythical mermaid. There’s something dreamy and *deliberate* about how the positioning creates a sleek, curved line.
Plus, let’s be honest: there’s something empowering about tapping into that siren-of-the-sea energy during sex. This isn’t just a position; it’s a vibe.
Benefits of the Mermaid Position
Comfort and Accessibility
This is one of the few sex positions that prioritizes complete body rest.
You don’t have to hold yourself up. You don’t have to prop yourself on your elbows. There’s no pressure on your knees, hips, or wrists. You can fully relax into the mattress, the couch, or a stack of strategically placed pillows.
For anyone with chronic pain, joint issues, or limited mobility, this is an absolute game-changer.
Body-Positive and Inclusive
If you’re plus-size or have a body that doesn’t match what you’ve seen in mainstream porn? This one is for you.
The mermaid position lets you feel sexy without having to perform. Your belly isn’t compressed awkwardly. Your thighs aren’t bearing weight. Your rolls and curves are not a problem – they’re part of the posture.
You are not only included here – you are centered.
Deep Connection and Intimacy
Because you’re both lying down and close together, this position encourages skin-to-skin contact.
You can kiss. You can entwine fingers. Breathe into each other. Establish eye contact if you want to rotate face to face. Or close your eyes and lose yourself in the rhythm.
This isn’t a pounding kind of position. This is a melting into each other kind of position.
How to Do the Mermaid Sex Position
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s how to glide into the mermaid:
- Start by lying on your side, your legs stacked and bent slightly at the knees – just enough to be comfy.
- Your partner lies down right behind you, spooning you. Their front aligns with your back.
- You can keep your thighs together or place a soft pillow between them to assist positioning.
- Penetration (vaginal or anal) usually happens from the back while you stay in this tucked side position.
- The deeper the angle of your thigh and hip, the more intense the sensation can become.
Best Roles for Each Partner
This can work beautifully for pairs of all genders. Whoever is receiving penetration does less physical work and focuses on sensation, while the giving partner controls angle and rhythm.
If you’re the one behind doing the penetrating, it helps to gently grip your partner’s hip or waist for stability – not force. Just anchor.
Switching roles? Add a strap-on into the mix. Mermaid doesn’t discriminate.
Tips for Enhancing Pleasure
Use of Pillows and Props
One of my go-to recommendations? Tuck a soft pillow or a wedge under your waist or chest. This lifts your hips and can intensify the angle of penetration – without making things uncomfortable.
Want to elevate this even more? Try a firm sex wedge like the Liberator Ramp for extra support without slipping.
Ideal Lubrication and Rhythm
Since movement is more subtle in this position, friction levels can increase without proper lubrication. A good silicone or water-based lube goes a long way here.
As for rhythm? Slow and steady wins this race. This is not about thrusting with force – it’s about rocking, pulsing, and letting the natural curves of your bodies do the work.
Communication and Consent
This position is incredibly intimate. Use that to your advantage.
Check in verbally or non-verbally. Ask what feels good. Adjust. Encourage feedback. The more attuned you are, the more connected the experience becomes. Never forget: the sexiest thing is feeling safe and seen.
Best Situations to Try the Mermaid Position
For Plus-Size or Body-Diverse Lovers
I have personally seen this position transform the way plus-size clients experience intercourse. There’s minimal strain. Your belly isn’t compressed. Your breasts and hips are supported. It’s like your body can finally breathe during sex.
Zero gymnastics required. All pleasure.
During Pregnancy or Recovery
If you’re pregnant and looking for gentle, side-lying positions past the first trimester, mermaid works wonders – especially with pillow support between the knees or under the bump.
Same goes for post-surgery or postpartum healing (pending doctor clearance, always). Your body needs tenderness. This gives exactly that.
For Slow, Sensual Sessions
Mermaid is ideal when you want a night that’s more about melting than acrobatics.
Candles. Oils. Low music. This position practically invites a massage before or a cuddle nap after. It slows everything down.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Incorrect Leg Positioning
If your legs are too straight or locked, the angle can become uncomfortable, especially during penetration. Keep them soft and bent at the knees.
Adjust often. Movement is part of the magic here, not a mistake.
Neglecting Partner Comfort
The beauty of this position is its balance. But if the partner behind doesn’t have a comfortable angle, they might experience numbness in their arm or hip.
Use stacked pillows under their upper body or encourage switching sides halfway through. Equal pleasure = lasting pleasure.
Variations and Related Positions
Seated Mermaid
Imagine the same side-lying intimacy, but now you’re seated on your partner’s lap, straddling one thigh, with your legs still tucked together at the side.
Great for deeper G-spot access and more visual stimulation. Still comfy. Still sexy. But with bonus eye contact and control if you’re on top.
Reverse Mermaid
Ready to spice things up? Try flipping over so your partner is behind you, but you’re facing slightly downward with your upper chest supported by pillows.
It shifts the angle entirely and can feel more intense – almost like spooning meets doggy, but still deeply connected.
Final Thoughts: Is the Mermaid Position Right for You?
If you’ve been looking for a position that delivers deep pleasure without compromising comfort, the mermaid sex position is your golden shell, my love.
It’s soft. It’s accessible. It gives plus-size, chronically ill, newly postpartum, and sensual-as-hell humans a way to say “yes” to intimate connection right now.
Every body is a good body for sex. The mermaid position just helps prove it.
Try it. Adapt it. Love it.
Because you? You deserve sex that feels like magic – tail and all.
