Navigator: she lies on top, face to face, and slides
The Navigator is a face-to-face position with the woman on top, lying rather than sitting. He lies on his back with his knees slightly bent. She lies stretched out over him, legs straight and together between his, and raises her chest by resting her hands on his chest. Instead of bouncing, she slides her whole body forwards and backwards along his. Penetration is shallow, and the constant rubbing of the pubic area, the eye contact and the chance to kiss are what set it apart.
Also known as: Woman on top lying flat · The shuttle
Anatomy and biomechanics
He lies on his back on the bed, legs slightly bent at the knees, hands on her buttocks to guide the movement. She lies on top of him facing him, with her legs straight and extended back between his and the tops of her feet on the mattress. She lifts her upper body by placing both hands on his chest, which keeps her face above his. Her pelvis rests on his, and she moves by sliding her whole body a few centimetres forwards and backwards, like a shuttle, rather than lifting her hips. Penetration stays shallow, and her pubic area rubs against his with each movement. Her wrists take part of her weight, and the rest rests on him.
Why this position works
Many couples like it because they can look at each other and kiss throughout, with a lot of skin-to-skin contact. She sets the pace, and the sliding movement keeps her pubic area pressed against his, so the clitoris can be rubbed indirectly, which some women find more pleasurable than deep thrusting. Because penetration is shallow and the movements are small, it can feel slow and intimate. How it feels varies from person to person.
Variations of this position
✓ Tips
- Get into position gradually: she lies on him with her legs between his before he enters, then she straightens her legs back.
- Slide rather than bounce: small forward and backward movements keep the penis inside and the pubic area in contact.
- If her wrists tire, she can lower herself onto her forearms or onto his chest (see the variations).
- He can help with his hands on her buttocks, but she should set the rhythm and the range of the movement.
- Use lubricant if you need it, and stop if there is any pain; if the penis slips out, guide it back in by hand rather than pressing down on it, as it can bend.
Key facts
- Interaction type
- Vaginal sex
- Active anatomy
- Penis
- Receptive anatomy
- Vagina
- Main stimulation
- Vaginal entrance (shallow penetration) and indirect rubbing of the clitoris against his pubis
- Setups and participants
- Couple · 2 people Hetero
Frequently asked questions
Is the Navigator suitable for beginners?
Yes, as long as you take it slowly. It does not require much flexibility or balance, although she needs some strength in her arms to keep her chest raised.
How is it different from the cowgirl?
In the cowgirl she sits upright astride him. In the Navigator she lies stretched out on him with her legs straight back between his, and moves by sliding rather than going up and down.
Why is penetration shallow?
With her legs together and straight, her pelvis cannot sink very far onto his. Some people prefer this, because the movement focuses on the vaginal entrance and on pubic contact.
Can it help with clitoral stimulation?
It can: the sliding movement rubs her pubic area against his. Whether that is enough varies from person to person, and either of you can add a hand if you like.
Reviewed by the editorial team ·
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