Table of Contents
Reading time: 8 minutes | Last Updated: June 6, 2025
Quick Facts
- What It Is: Ancient Tibetan tantric position where partners sit face-to-face in meditation, creating divine masculine-feminine union through conscious breathing and energy exchange
- Also Known As: Father-Mother position, Divine Union pose, Tantric meditation position, Sacred sexuality position, Tibetan union practice
- Difficulty: Intermediate (requires hip flexibility, emotional openness, and patience for energy work)
- Best For: Couples seeking consciousness expansion, spiritual connection, transcendent experiences, and deep soul-level intimacy
- Why It’s Amazing: Activates energy centers throughout your body, creates full-body energetic orgasms, dissolves ego boundaries, and generates states of bliss that last for hours
- Common Challenge: Maintaining meditative focus while experiencing intense energy surges and staying comfortable in seated position for extended periods
- Perfect Pairing: Wand vibrators (like Magic Wand) for external stimulation during practice, meditation cushions for comfort, couples’ vibrating rings for enhanced sensation, and high-quality personal lubricant for longer sessions
When Sex Becomes a Portal to Something Extraordinary
Picture this: you’re locked in your partner’s gaze, breathing as one, feeling energy spiral between your bodies in ways that make your skin tingle and your soul recognize something ancient. This isn’t your typical Saturday night encounter — this is Yab Yum, and it’s about to change everything you thought you knew about intimate connection.
Ancient Tibetan masters weren’t messing around when they developed this practice. They discovered that when two people unite with proper intention and technique, something extraordinary happens. You access states of consciousness that make regular pleasure feel like shallow ripples compared to oceanic waves.
The name literally translates to “Father-Mother” in Tibetan, representing the sacred dance of masculine and feminine energies that creates… well, everything. When you nail this position correctly, you’re not just getting it on — you’re tapping into the same force that creates stars and awakens souls.
Here’s what I’ve learned from years of exploring tantric practices: most people think they’re having great sex when they’re barely scratching the surface. Yab Yum is like discovering there’s a whole ocean of pleasure and connection beneath what you thought was your limit.
At Best Sexy Positions, we’ve guided couples through this transformational journey, and the experiences consistently show why ancient practitioners guarded these secrets so carefully. We’re talking about experiences where time stops, boundaries dissolve, and you understand what “making love” actually means.
If you’re new to tantric positions in general, Yab Yum represents the pinnacle of conscious sexuality practices.
Ready to discover why this position has been whispered about in sacred circles for over a thousand years?
The Ancient Secret That Changes Everything
Deep in the mountains of Tibet, spiritual masters made a discovery that would revolutionize how we understand the connection between sexuality and consciousness. They realized that your body isn’t just flesh and bone — it’s a living map of cosmic energy. When two people connect at exactly the right points with exactly the right intention, fireworks happen.
But not the kind of fireworks you’re thinking of. We’re talking about the kind that light up your entire energy system and give you access to states of bliss that make regular orgasms feel like gentle ripples.
Yab Yum emerged from this profound understanding as the ultimate practice for consciousness expansion through intimate union. Unlike other positions designed for physical pleasure, this one was crafted specifically to activate what the Tibetans called your “subtle body” — the energetic version of yourself that most people never even realize exists.
The masters who developed this weren’t weekend warriors playing around with trendy techniques. These were people who dedicated their entire lives to understanding consciousness, and they considered Yab Yum their secret weapon for rapid awakening.
Yab Yum vs. Your Regular Intimate Positions: Night and Day Difference
I need to be crystal clear about something: Yab Yum might look similar to other face-to-face positions, but comparing them is like comparing a candle to the sun.
Your typical intimate positions (like our gorgeous Lotus Position) are all about:

- Creating romantic connection and emotional bonding
- Enhancing physical pleasure and stimulation
- Comfortable positioning for longer intimate sessions
- Building trust and intimacy between partners
Yab Yum practice operates on a completely different level:
- Expanding consciousness beyond ordinary experience
- Activating energy centers throughout your body
- Creating unity that dissolves the boundaries between you
- Accessing transcendent states that most people only read about
Think of it this way: regular positions connect you with your partner’s body and personality. Yab Yum connects you with their eternal essence — the part of them that existed before they were born and will continue after they’re gone.
Both approaches are beautiful and have their place, but they open entirely different doorways. One feeds your body and emotions; the other feeds your soul.
Setting the Stage for Sacred Union
Here’s where most people go wrong: they try to dive into Yab Yum like it’s a casual Tuesday night hookup. This practice demands respect, preparation, and the kind of intention you’d bring to a sacred ceremony.
Your bedroom needs to become a temple. You need to approach this like the profound spiritual practice it is.
Creating Your Sacred Sanctuary
Transform your space into something that supports expanded consciousness:
Clear the energy: Get rid of clutter, turn off those buzzing electronics, and remove anything that screams “mundane Tuesday night.”
Sacred lighting: Candles, salt lamps, or dimmed lights that create an otherworldly glow. Harsh overhead lighting is the enemy of transcendent experiences.
Meaningful touches: Whether it’s crystals, spiritual artwork, or objects that represent the sacred to you, surround yourself with things that elevate your consciousness.
Comfort is key: Cushions, pillows, soft blankets — you’ll be here a while, and physical discomfort is consciousness kryptonite.
Privacy sanctuary: Phone off, door locked, roommates warned. The outside world doesn’t exist for the next hour or two.
Preparing Your Bodies and Souls
Both of you need to show up fully present and energetically clean:
Cleanse together: A shared shower or bath isn’t just about hygiene — it’s about washing away the day’s stress and stepping into sacred space together.
Clear your minds: Even five minutes of quiet breathing together helps you drop out of your everyday headspace into something more receptive.
Set your intentions: This isn’t just “let’s try something new.” This is “we’re about to explore the deepest connection possible between two human beings.”
The 15-Minute Energy Prep That Changes Everything
I learned this sequence from a tantric teacher who could make your chakras sing just by looking at you:
- Breathe as one: Sit facing each other and match your breathing rhythms. Feel your individual energy fields start to merge.
- Soul gazing: Look into each other’s eyes — not that intense stare that makes people uncomfortable, but the soft, receptive gaze that lets you see beyond the surface.
- Heart bridge: Place hands on each other’s hearts. Feel the actual warmth, the rhythm, the life force pulsing under your palm.
- Sacred commitment: Tell each other what you’re bringing to this practice and what you hope to discover together.
This preparation shifts your consciousness and prepares you for experiences that most couples never access. Now you’re ready to enter the sacred space of Yab Yum itself.
The Sacred Art of Yab Yum: Step by Step

Now we get to the heart of it. Move slowly, breathe deeply, and remember — every single movement is part of the meditation.
Getting Into Sacred Position
The foundation: Whoever has less flexible hips sits cross-legged on a comfortable cushion. You’re creating the stable base that everything else builds on.
The embrace: Your partner straddles your lap gently, wrapping their legs around your waist. Take your time with this — rushing kills the magic.
Spine connection: Both of you sit tall, spines straight. Imagine golden threads pulling you up from the crown of your head, creating perfect channels for energy to flow.
Heart to heart: Press your heart centers together. This isn’t just physical contact — you’re literally aligning the energy centers that generate love and connection.
Sacred union: If you choose penetration, let it happen organically and gently. The physical joining supports the energetic union, but the real fireworks happen in your consciousness.
Finding Your Sacred Rhythm
Here’s where Yab Yum becomes fascinating. This isn’t about thrusting or grinding — it’s about finding stillness within subtle movement:
Micro-movements: Tiny shifts, gentle rocking, subtle adjustments that maintain your connection without breaking the meditative trance you’re building.
Breathing as one: Your individual breathing patterns merge into one shared rhythm. It’s like your bodies remember they’re part of the same organism.
Energy spirals: Visualize golden energy spiraling between you, up your spines, radiating from your hearts. Some people feel this as actual sensations — tingling, warmth, electric currents running through their skin like liquid lightning.
Present moment worship: Stay completely present to each breath, each heartbeat, each wave of sensation or energy as it moves through you.
The Power of Sacred Gazing
Eye contact in Yab Yum becomes a direct highway between souls:
Receive, don’t stare: Look into your partner’s left eye with a soft, receptive gaze. You’re not trying to penetrate their defenses — you’re creating space for their essence to reveal itself.
See beyond the mask: As you soften your focus, you start seeing past their familiar face into something timeless and eternal.
Vulnerable transparency: Let yourself be completely seen. This openness is where the real magic happens — when you stop hiding, you start transforming.
Riding the intensity: When it gets overwhelming (and it will), take a breath, soften your gaze, and trust what’s unfolding. These intense moments often become gateways to breakthrough experiences.
Breathing Your Way to Transcendence
Your breath becomes the bridge between the physical and spiritual realms. Master these techniques, and you’ll unlock dimensions of pleasure and connection you didn’t know existed.
The Unity Breath That Merges Souls
This is your foundation technique — learn it well:
- Find your shared rhythm: Start breathing together at whatever pace feels natural and sustainable.
- Belly breathing: Breathe deep into your lower belly, expanding your entire pelvic area. This activates your foundational energy centers.
- Heart expansion: Feel each breath opening your heart space wider, creating more room for love to flow.
- Crown opening: Visualize breath flowing up your spine and fountaining out through the top of your head like golden light.
- Love exchange: Imagine breathing in your partner’s divine essence while breathing out pure love to them.
The first time I experienced true unity breathing with a partner, I understood why ancient texts talk about “two becoming one.” You literally feel your individual life forces merging into something larger than both of you.
Advanced Energy Circulation (When You’re Ready for More)
Once unity breathing feels effortless, try this more advanced technique:
The ascending spiral: Visualize golden serpent energy rising from your base, spiraling up through your spine to your crown.
The crown pause: Hold your breath briefly while energy radiates from the top of your head like a fountain of light.
The descending cascade: Let energy flow down your front body, through your heart, returning to your base in a continuous circuit.
The figure-8 exchange: Visualize this energy flowing into your partner’s system while you receive theirs, creating an infinity symbol of energy circulation.
When you nail this technique, some couples experience what can only be described as energetic orgasms — waves of bliss that ripple through your entire energy system rather than just your genitals.

For those ready to explore more tantric consciousness work, the Hot Seat position offers similar energy activation with different physical positioning.
The Transcendence Breath for Peak Experiences
For those moments when you want to push the boundaries of ordinary consciousness:
Extended inhales: Take 8-12 second inhales, drawing in not just oxygen but cosmic energy itself.
Sacred pause: Hold for 4-6 seconds, feeling energy building and intensifying in your core.
Releasing exhales: 8-12 second exhales where you let go of everything that isn’t pure love and presence.
Merged breathing: With practice, your individual breathing patterns disappear entirely, and you breathe as one unified being.
Activating Your Energy Centers
Yab Yum naturally lights up your entire energy system like a Christmas tree. Understanding how this works amplifies the experience exponentially.
Your Seven Sacred Centers
Root: Deep red light connecting your pelvic areas, grounding you both in earthly pleasure and safety.
Sacral: Vibrant orange light igniting creative and sexual energy — not just for genital pleasure, but for the creative force that births new consciousness.
Heart: The star of the show. Emerald green or rose pink light flowing between your hearts creates the energetic bridge that makes everything else possible.
Throat: Blue light opening your capacity for authentic expression and those spontaneous sounds that escape when pleasure gets too intense to contain.
Third Eye: Indigo light activating your ability to see your partner’s divine nature beyond their human personality.
Crown: Violet or pure white light connecting you both to something infinitely larger than yourselves.
Making It Real
- See the colors: As you breathe together, actually visualize each energy center lighting up.
- Feel the sensations: Notice warmth, tingling, expansion, electric currents, or waves of energy.
- Sound it out: Let whatever sounds want to come out naturally.
- Circulate the energy: Visualize light flowing up your spine, connecting with your partner’s energy centers.
When all centers are activated and aligned, you enter territory that most people only experience in altered states.

Advanced practitioners often combine Yab Yum with other tantric consciousness positions like the Arch Position to create even deeper heart opening experiences.
Safety and Sacred Boundaries
Yab Yum generates powerful experiences that require clear communication and proper boundaries.
Communication That Keeps You Connected
Check in regularly: “How are you feeling?” “Should we continue?” These aren’t mood killers — they’re connection deepeners.
Create clear signals: Establish words that mean “pause,” “slow down,” or “stop.”
Emotional safety net: Agree to support each other through intense emotions without trying to fix anything.
Physical boundaries: Discuss any limitations or health concerns before you begin.
When NOT to Practice Yab Yum
Avoid this practice if:
- Either partner has active mental health crises
- Recent trauma that hasn’t been processed
- Under the influence of substances
- Feeling pressured or coerced
- Physical injuries that sitting would aggravate
- Late pregnancy without healthcare provider approval
Medical professionals at Mayo Clinic emphasize that sexual practices should always prioritize both partners’ physical and emotional well-being, especially when exploring more intensive techniques.
Energy Management 101
Clear your space afterward: Visualize white light surrounding you or imagine excess energy flowing into the earth.
Integration time: Eat something light, take a nature walk, or do gentle activity to help your system integrate.
Keep it sacred: These intimate experiences are meant to be treasured between you.
Pace yourselves: Build intensity gradually over multiple sessions.
What to Expect After Practice
Immediate effects (first few hours):
- Heightened sensitivity to touch and energy
- Feeling unusually connected to your partner
- Potential emotional processing or releases
- Physical sensations continuing to flow
Integration period (24-48 hours):
- Dreams may be more vivid or significant
- Increased intuitive awareness
- Feeling more emotionally open than usual
- Physical energy levels may fluctuate
This is completely normal. Your system is integrating new levels of connection and awareness.
Getting Started: Your First Yab Yum Journey
Beginning requires patience, realistic expectations, and willingness to learn gradually.
Baby Steps to Transcendence
Master the basics first: Get comfortable with synchronized breathing and eye gazing before attempting the full position.
Start small: 10-15 minute sessions are perfect for building comfort with the energy intensity.
Focus on connection: Prioritize heart connection and presence over achieving specific fireworks.
Embrace the learning curve: This takes practice to feel natural.
Your First Session Game Plan
- Set the scene: Create your sacred space with intention and care.
- Prepare together: Cleanse, clear your minds, and set shared intentions.
- Begin with basics: Sit facing each other, breathe together, gaze into each other’s eyes.
- Move into position slowly: Take your time getting comfortable and connected.
- Stay present: Focus on breath, heart connection, and whatever you’re experiencing moment by moment.
- End mindfully: Don’t rush out of the position. Take time to appreciate what you’ve shared.
Common First-Time Experiences
“Nothing dramatic happened”: Perfect! Subtle experiences are often more profound than fireworks.
“I felt really emotional”: Totally normal. Heart opening can trigger unexpected feelings.
“My mind wouldn’t stop chattering”: Welcome to meditation! The mental noise settles with practice.
“I felt energy moving”: Congratulations — you’re accessing subtle sensations most people never notice.
“It felt awkward at first”: Like learning to dance, the initial awkwardness gives way to flow.
Equipment and Setup for Success
The right setup can make the difference between struggling with discomfort and surrendering to transcendence.
Must-Have Items
Quality cushions: Meditation zafus or firm pillows for stable, comfortable seating.
Soft blankets: For warmth, energy containment, and that cozy feeling.
Adjustable lighting: Candles, dimmers, or salt lamps that create soft, sacred atmosphere.
Gentle timer: Something with soft chimes that won’t jar you out of expanded states.
Nice-to-Have Enhancements
Sacred scents: Sandalwood, rose, or frankincense can help shift your consciousness.
Crystals: Rose quartz for heart opening, clear quartz for energy amplification.
Soft music: Instrumental or nature sounds played at whisper volume.
Room Prep Checklist
- Comfortable temperature for minimal clothing
- All devices silenced and tucked away
- Complete privacy assured
- Water within reach for post-session hydration
- Comfortable, easy-to-remove clothing
Making Yab Yum Part of Your Love Life

Yab Yum works best when it’s part of a broader commitment to conscious loving.
Building Your Practice
Weekly sacred dates: Dedicated time each week for extended practice.
Daily micro-connections: Brief morning or evening eye gazing and synchronized breathing.
Monthly intensives: Longer retreat-style sessions for deeper exploration.
Learn together: Read tantric texts or explore related consciousness practices as a team.
Frequency Guidelines
Beginners: Once weekly maximum for the first month, then increase as comfortable.
Intermediate: 2-3 times weekly with one longer monthly session.
Experienced: Daily brief connections with weekly extended practices.
The couples who make Yab Yum a regular practice often report that it transforms their entire approach to love, conflict resolution, and spiritual growth.
Research published in the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy demonstrates that couples practicing mindful intimacy techniques report significantly higher relationship satisfaction and deeper emotional connection compared to those using conventional approaches.
The Real Deal About Yab Yum
Yab Yum isn’t just another position to add to your repertoire — it’s a doorway to experiencing the sacred through intimate union. This ancient Tibetan practice transforms ordinary lovers into spiritual partners exploring consciousness together.
While it might look deceptively simple, the awareness and energy work involved make this one of the most advanced practices in sacred sexuality. When approached with proper respect, preparation, and patience, Yab Yum unlocks experiences of unity and transcendence that change how you understand love itself.
There’s a reason I keep coming back to this practice after years of exploring different tantric techniques. It consistently delivers experiences that feel genuinely sacred, genuinely transformative, and genuinely worth the effort it takes to master.
BSP Certified: We don’t just write about these practices from books and imagination. Our team has studied with qualified tantric teachers and explored these techniques extensively to ensure we’re offering authentic, tested guidance.
Ready to discover what Tibetan masters spent lifetimes perfecting? Your journey into sacred sexuality starts with a single breath taken together. Everything else unfolds from there.
Your Yab Yum Questions Answered
How is Yab Yum different from regular Lotus position sex?
While they might look similar, they’re worlds apart in purpose and experience. Lotus position is all about physical pleasure, romantic connection, and incredible orgasms — it’s designed to make your bodies sing together. Yab Yum is a consciousness practice that uses intimate connection as a doorway to spiritual experiences that can literally alter your state of awareness. Different breathing techniques, different intentions, completely different outcomes. Think of Lotus as making love to your partner’s body, Yab Yum as making love to their eternal soul.
Can beginners actually handle the intensity of Yab Yum practice?
Absolutely, but ease into it like you’re learning to swim in deep water. Start with just 10-15 minutes of the breathing and eye gazing components before attempting the full position. The energy can be surprisingly intense — we’re talking about practices that can trigger altered states of consciousness. If you’re completely new to any kind of spiritual work, try some basic meditation first to get comfortable with expanded awareness. The key is building gradually rather than diving into the deep end and getting overwhelmed.
What if nothing dramatic happens during our Yab Yum sessions?
Perfect! Not every session needs to be a cosmic explosion of consciousness. Often the most profound transformations happen subtly over time, like a slow-burn fire that eventually consumes everything. Stay consistent with your practice, drop expectations about what “should” happen, and trust the process. Sometimes the most powerful sessions feel peaceful and simple rather than dramatically intense. The real magic often shows up in how you relate to each other outside the bedroom.
Do we actually need penetration for Yab Yum to work its magic?
Nope, penetration is completely optional and many practitioners focus entirely on the energetic and consciousness aspects without any genital contact. The spiritual union and energy circulation provide the main transformational benefits. The physical connection can enhance the experience, but it’s not required for accessing expanded states. Do whatever feels right and sacred for you both — the consciousness work is what creates the real breakthroughs.
What if my partner thinks this tantric stuff is too spiritual or weird?
Yab Yum really requires both people to be genuinely interested in the consciousness work — you can’t drag someone into transcendence against their will! If your partner isn’t ready for this level of spiritual intimacy, work on building trust and connection through other practices first. You might start with our Lotus Position which creates deep intimacy without requiring spiritual commitment, then gradually introduce tantric elements as they become more comfortable with conscious sexuality practices. When they’re ready for the full tantric experience, they’ll let you know.