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Society is finally becoming more accepting that anal play is something everyone can enjoy, whatever their body, sexual orientation, or gender. Thankfully, the old stereotype that anal sex was only something that gay guys could enjoy is firmly a thing of the past, which opens up an exciting world of sexual pleasure for everyone.
However, for those still a little wary or unsure about anal play, the good news is that there are plenty of options available for those who aren't quite ready for penetration but would like to explore all those sensitive nerve endings around the anus - and rimming is top of many people's pleasure list.
So, if you and your partner are ready to eat ass like a pro, here are some of our favorite rimming positions.
1. Face Sitting
The receiver straddles the giver, who's lying on their back, pointing their genitals towards their face. The giving partner may want to support their neck with a pillow to keep their head elevated, bringing it closer to their partner's anus.
Balance for the receiver isn't always straightforward, so if the receiver is lying on a bed, the giver can support themself by holding onto the bed head or leaning against the wall.
How to take face sitting to the next level
We're going straight in with the big guns; if you and your partner are fans of watersports in the bedroom, it's a small shuffle to take a Golden Shower on your partner's chest, or if they're really into it, over their face. Remember, though, when it comes to such niche kinks and less conventional sex acts, communication beforehand and consent are an absolute must before adding them to your sexual repertoire.
2. Reverse Face Sitting
Reverse face-sitting repeats the same sentiment of our first position, only the receiving partner faces away from the giver's face. At first glance, it looks very similar to its counterpart position. However, this rimjob position provides a different sensation entirely. The giver won't find balancing as problematic as traditional face sitting, and as for the receiver who loves the sensation of being completely smothered, they'll find this position meets all of their expectations.
How to take reverse face sitting to the next level
It's easy to move into Rimming 69 from here, to explore and touch your partner's body, or to masturbate them while they work away at your bum hole with their tongue.
And with that...
3. Analingus 69
Just as with regular oral sex, analingus can be a two-way street, and in the 69 position, both partners can perform rimjobs on each other. If access to the anus isn't as easy as it is with the more front-facing genitals, both partners can try moving around a little, lying on their sides, or curling up around each other to find the best angle to lick their partner's anus.
If one partner is unsure about any part of anal play—either giving or receiving—they can choose to give or receive the more traditional genital-based oral sex for their part in the play. Whichever combination suits you and your partner, it's still a win-win. You'll still be expanding your sex life while the hesitant partner becomes more accustomed to the idea of a rimjob and is finally ready to experiment.
A note on anal 69: Even when the utmost care is taken to clean the anal opening, there are bacteria around the anus that can be harmful to other parts of the body.
For those who wish to switch between rimming and genital-based oral sex, it's essential that you wash your face and rinse with mouthwash (maybe even clean your teeth) to ensure ultimate hygiene and minimize chances of transmission.
How to take a Rimming 69 to the next level
Taking the Rimming 69 position to the next level requires us to knock it down a number. How about the 68 position? This not-so-well-known sex position keeps partners top-to-tail but flips the top partner over. Now, with the top partner becoming the sole receiver, they should be laid face-up on the giving partner's front, their head between the other's knees while their butt gets all the attention, activating all those wonderful sensations.
Whichever genitals the receiving partner owns, the 68 allows incredibly open access.
Whether you want to enhance your own or your partner's pleasure—depending on your role in the position—there's absolutely nothing to stop you from adding more touching, stroking, and masturbation into the mix.
4. Receiver on All Fours (Doggy Style)
If you want the clearest direct access to your partner's asshole, Doggy Style can't be beaten. With your partner's ass raised nice and high, it's got to be one of the most comfortable positions for the giver, being able to move around their partner while eating ass.
It's also the perfect position to move on to anal sex if the rimjob is part of foreplay. Alternatively, you can push your partner down flat on their belly and spread their butt cheeks for an even more relaxed rimming position. Your partner might prefer that if propping themselves up on all fours becomes too demanding or they can no longer control their limbs during this exquisite erotic activity.
How to take Rimming Doggy to the next level
Almost all sexual activities can be enhanced with a few sex toys, so why not your rimjob? During your Doggy Style rimming, the receiver is wide open for some extra stimulation, whatever their genitals. Whether you use vibrators, a penis ring, vibrating sleeves, or masturbators, it's all up for grabs—just like their most sensitive body parts.
An important note on sex toys and rimming: No double dipping.
When it comes to adding sex toys to your anal play, keep them specific to each body part. As we mentioned in our 69 section, however well you prepare and however clean you are, there's still a slight chance of spreading harmful bacteria to your genitals. Don't double-dip your toys in other body parts or each other's butts.
5. Receiver Standing
Getting a good butt licking while standing up can be a huge turn-on and a great way to eat ass. For many couples, foreplay for anal or anal play and eating ass often starts in the shower, as you're already standing, and you'll have a nice, squeaky clean asshole.
How to take a standing receiver to the next level
You might have heard of the Rusty Trombone or Rainy Trumpet positions; both are rimming positions where the giver reaches around to masturbate the receiver. The names depend on which genitals the receiver has, as the motion of masturbating a penis can be likened to the back-and-forth motion of playing a trombone and stimulating the clitoris to that of fingering the keys on a trumpet.
6. Receiver Squatting
The receiver-squatting position is just like reverse face sitting but with the receiver squatting on their feet above their partner instead of kneeling with their ass hovering over their face.
How to take a squatting receiver to the next level
Squatting gives the receiver complete control over their rim job; it also allows an appropriate distance for breath play as well as all the licking, probing, and sucking. It also leaves the giver clean and clear room to stimulate with their own erogenous zones while administering a good licking. Given the squatting partner isn't facing a direction where they can return the pleasure, it's a perfect position for them to satisfy themself, masturbating from being so turned on by their partner's groans of pleasure.
7. Receiver on their Back
Sometimes called the Rim Shot, the receiver lies on their back with their legs raised in what's known as the Happy Baby position in Yoga (and as a sex position). Again, this is one of the best positions for clear access to your partner's butt and is ideal for eating ass.
How to take receiver on their back rimming to the next level
With a little push, the giving partner can roll the receiver upwards and onto their shoulders, with their knees dropping around their ears. This simple shift in positions allows even better access to the butt, and it really opens up the anus with the legs spread so wide apart—ideal for a little probing, especially if your partner likes to feel the tip of your tongue inside their butthole.
Best Rim job Tips to Improve Your Experience
Anal play is nothing new amongst both homosexual and heterosexual couples. In historical terms, it's been going on since Ancient Greek times (c. 500 B.C.), according to Michael Castleman, M.A., in his Psychology Today article, Heterosexual Anal Play: Increasingly Popular. Despite its continued use for centuries, it's becoming a modern and exciting experience, as Castleman tells us:
These days, anal is often described as "the new sexual frontier," or "the new oral sex." and ...all credible evidence suggests that hetero-anal has become increasingly popular.
This is backed up by a Sheffield Hallam University study, Perceptions of Young Women Who Engage in Anal Sex: A Sociological Inquiry:
More recently, Statista (2023) reported that around 40% of people (of all ages) have tried anal sex in the USA, highlighting an increase from 39% in 2020 and 2021, and 31% in 2001.
In Britain, the National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Lewis et al., 2017) showed a rise in reported heterosexual anal intercourse over the past twenty years from 12.5% to 28.5% among 16- to 24-year-olds.
Given this growth in the practice, and the anus harboring several bacteria down to its passage of fecal matter, we want our readers to be safe as possible during anal penetration and butt play.
1. Recipients should clean their butt before anal play
Hygiene is essential. Washing your butt with mild soap and hot water should be a precursor to any anal activity.
2. Use dental dams for safe sex
A dental dam is a barrier layer for oral sex that provides the same protection against STIs and infections as a condom does for sex. An alternative to a dental dam is to cut a condom down its length and spread it out over the anus. A more DIY option is to use plastic wrap and lube, although it won't offer the same level of protection as products designed specifically for the purpose.
3. If you douche, leave some time before rimming
For those who want to be the most sure they or their partner is super clean inside and out, douching can help. This process involves squirting a little warm water inside the anus to rinse it out using a specialist but readily available douching bulb.
Make sure you douche well in advance, leaving it a few hours before your anal play, as small pockets of water can occasionally get trapped, leaving the body a little time after cleansing.
4. Consider edible lube for all oral sex play
Lube makes everything better, and when it comes to any oral sexual contact, a flavored lube designed especially for the task can take away the worry of what it might taste like. Ensure your lube is edible and compatible with any toys you may add to your play (usually water-based options, depending on what your toys are made of).
The idea of what an ass might taste like during a rimjob is a concern for many, but with appropriate preparation and washing, the skin in and around your bottom should taste no different from the skin anywhere else on your body.
5. Talk about what you and your partner like
When it comes to a balanced and healthy sex life, communication is one of the biggest components in understanding what both partners like, want, and need to ensure they stay excited and satisfied. When it comes to topics like anal play, those conversations can be a little bit uncomfortable but worth the effort for the pleasure and closeness they bring to your relationship.
Discussing how far you're willing to go, the type of stimulation you know you like, and how you might introduce something like rimming to your sexual repertoire can help you both in the bedroom and also break down some of the communication barriers many couples face.
6. Use more than your tongue
There are several suggested techniques, such as gently rubbing or kissing the anus, using your mouth or tongue in small circles, up-and-down, or side-to-side motions, but to add extra spice and sensation to your anal exploration, why not add some sex toys into the mix?
There are plenty of vibrating toys that add even more stimulation to the nerve endings in the anus, and also others that replicate the motion and sensations of rimming for those who'd like to practice flying solo.
For those new to anal stimulation, butt plugs are a fun way to introduce toys to your anal exploration, providing the vibrating sensations that excite the anus and helping prepare you for penetration from bigger toys.
7. Explore the surrounding areas
The anus might be packed with pleasurable nerve endings, but there are several other erogenous zones around the buttocks and genitals. Whether you explore the area between the anus and the genitals, the inner thighs, or give your partner's ass cheeks a nice healthy slap, there are plenty of sensitive areas you can play with to enhance your partner's rimming experience.
8. Consider shaving
When it comes to a man's anus, despite how careful they might be, there can be those awkward occasions where something untoward is clinging to the hairs surrounding it. As an added hygiene practice, some penis owners choose to shave the hair from their bottoms to ensure the ultimate cleanliness and smooth sensitive surface.
Summary
Despite the cautious nature of many about exploring the sensations they can get from their butts, many of those who do find it to be an excellent and exciting addition to their sex play.
We hope you feel inspired by our selection of rimming positions and our advice on how to take them a step further to upgrade and intensify your experience.
If you remember to follow a good hygiene practice and carry out clear and open communication with your partner, there's no reason why any couple shouldn't get to experience the excitement of something a little less vanilla and the heightened orgasms a great rimjob can bring to the bedroom.