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Physical effort: Medium Frontal

The Deep Rainbow: on her back with legs raised, bodies crossed

The Deep Rainbow is a face-up position for vaginal sex. The receiving partner lies on her back and lifts her legs, held together and straight, towards the ceiling. The penetrating partner lies over her at a diagonal, so the two bodies cross, with his legs stretched out behind him and her raised legs resting against his chest. He sets the pace and penetration tends to be deep. It asks for reasonably flexible hamstrings and care not to load too much weight on her folded body.

Also known as: Rainbow · Criss-cross

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Illustration of The Deep Rainbow: She lies on her back with her legs together and raised; he lies over her diagonally, legs stretched back, with her legs resting against his chest.
Anatomy and biomechanics

She lies on her back, head and shoulders on the bed, and raises both legs together and straight towards the ceiling. He lies over her at an angle rather than in line with her body: legs extended behind him with his feet on the bed, pelvis against her buttocks, torso leaning forward onto her raised legs, which rest on his chest. Her hands hold his back. He moves from the hips and controls the rhythm; with her legs closed and lifted, penetration is deep and can feel snug. Her legs sit between their faces, so there is no eye contact or kissing. Folding her legs towards her trunk under his weight compresses her abdomen and stretches the back of her thighs, so he should keep part of his weight on his own arms.

Why this position works

Some couples enjoy the snug sensation of closed, raised legs and the depth this angle allows. She can stay relaxed on her back while he sets the pace, and the crossed bodies give a different angle from a classic missionary. Sensations vary from person to person: some people find deep penetration very pleasurable and others find it uncomfortable, so it is worth agreeing on the depth as you go.

Sensory Exploration Medium Penis-Vagina Configuration

Variations of this position

Variation 1: cushion under her hips

A firm cushion under her hips raises the pelvis and softens the angle.

Same crossed position, but with a firm cushion or folded pillow under her buttocks. Her pelvis sits higher, so he does not have to lean as far over her legs, the stretch on the back of her thighs is gentler and less of his weight reaches her abdomen.

  1. She lies on her back and places a firm cushion under her buttocks.
  2. She raises her legs together towards the ceiling.
  3. He lies over her diagonally, legs stretched back, with her legs resting on his chest.
  4. He enters slowly and adjusts the depth as she indicates.

Variation 2: knees slightly bent

She bends her knees a little instead of keeping her legs straight.

Her legs stay together and raised, but with the knees slightly bent and her feet near his shoulder. This eases the stretch on the back of her thighs and makes penetration a little less deep, a good option if the straight-leg version is uncomfortable.

  1. She lies on her back and lifts her legs together.
  2. She lets her knees bend slightly, feet near his shoulder.
  3. He lies over her at an angle and leans gently against her shins.
  4. Move slowly and check together which depth feels comfortable.

Variation 3: his weight on his hands

He straightens his arms on the bed so that he barely leans on her legs.

Instead of resting his torso on her raised legs, he places his hands on the bed on either side of her and holds himself up on straight arms. Her legs only touch his chest lightly, so much less pressure reaches her abdomen, although it is more tiring for his arms.

  1. She lies on her back with her legs together and raised.
  2. He positions himself diagonally over her and places both hands on the bed.
  3. He straightens his arms so that her legs rest only lightly on his chest.
  4. He moves from the hips and pauses to rest when his arms tire.

✓ Tips
  • Start slowly and let her set the depth: with her legs raised, penetration is deep and can press against the cervix.
  • He should keep part of his weight on his hands or forearms instead of resting it all on her legs and abdomen.
  • If the back of her thighs feels too tight, bend her knees slightly or put a cushion under her hips.
  • Avoid hard, fast thrusts at a steep angle: if the penis slips out and hits her body it can bend painfully.
  • Use lubricant if needed, and a condom to prevent STIs and pregnancy.
  • Stop if there is pain in the abdomen, the hips or the back of the legs.
Interaction type
Face-up vaginal penetration with legs raised together and bodies crossed
Active anatomy
Penis
Receptive anatomy
Vagina (deep penetration)
Main stimulation
Deep vaginal penetration with the legs closed and raised
Setups and participants
Couple · 2 people Hetero

Frequently asked questions

Is The Deep Rainbow suitable for beginners?

It is easy to set up, but it needs reasonably flexible hamstrings and clear communication about depth. A cushion under her hips and a slow start make it more comfortable.

Is there eye contact in this position?

Hardly any: her raised legs are between your faces. If you want to see each other and kiss, lower her legs to one side or switch to a classic missionary.

Can clitoral stimulation be added?

It is not the focus of the position, but she can reach down with one hand, or he can use one hand while keeping his weight on the other arm.

Safety and evidence 1 topic · 2 clinical and academic references

Scientific context for common terms used on this page. Keeping these terms makes the content easier to understand; the sources clarify what is established and what remains uncertain.

G-spot: what the evidence says

“G-spot” is a widely used term for a sensitive area of the anterior vaginal wall. Scientific literature has not established a discrete anatomical structure with an agreed location, size and nature; sensitivity and response can vary between individuals.

Sources
O'Connell HE, Sanjeevan KV, Hutson JM. Anatomy of the clitoris. The Journal of Urology. 2005. PubMed ↗
Vieira-Baptista P, et al. G-spot: Fact or Fiction? A Systematic Review. Sexual Medicine. 2021. PubMed ↗

Reviewed by the editorial team ·

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