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IF YOU'RE curious about trying the Butter Churner sex position, let us make one thing clear right off the bat: Yes, it is as complicated as it sounds.

The position rose to prominence thanks to Love Island UK, after contestant Callum shared that the Butter Churner was his all-time favorite sex position. While complex sex positions don't always equate to pleasurable sex positions, this can be a fun position if you're someone who enjoys pushing themselves physically—and has a real talent for yoga.

That's because the Butter Churner requires the receiver to get into a literal shoulder stand while being penetrated. “You are the bucket, and the penetrating partner ‘churns’ you with their thrust,” explains Julieta Chiaramonte, a kink instructor and sex expert.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Butter Churner and how to actually pull it off, we have all the information you need.

What exactly is the Butter Churner?

“This next-level sex position is where the person getting penetrated lays on their back and lifts up their butt and legs all while stabilizing themself with their neck, arms, and torso,” explains certified sex educator, Linnea Marie. “They cross their legs in front of their partner and the partner dips down and penetrates them.” (FYI, the position works for vaginal and anal penetration.)

If you're currently scratching your head, it's meant to look like this:

If you keep up with your physically-challenging sex positions, you might be asking: isn't this similar to the Piledriver? Yes, but the difference is mostly in leg placement. The Piledriver involves the inserting partner squatting over the receiver, whose legs are pulled behind their head, whereas the Butter Churner has the receiver's legs crossed in front of them, elevated in more of a full shoulder stand.

Is the Butter Churner position even doable?

The short answer is yes.

The long answer is that it may take some maneuvering (and balance) for both the giver and the receiver to pull off. If you're the giver, “the dick, dildo, or device will be bent downward, [and this] might be a new angle, so it may take some tries to get used to this feeling," Linnea Marie says, adding that some people might find this uncomfortable.

If you're the receiver, you'll need to be able to hold a shoulder stand for a prolonged period of time. It takes a lot of core stabilization and coordination to achieve, especially on an uneven surface like a bed. If you lack stability in this position, “you can use a wall or a front of the couch or edge of the bed to hold you steady,” says Taylor Sparks, an intimacy educator and founder of Organic Loven.

But keep in mind: “If you struggle with flexibility or general bodily strength, being almost upside down, or don't like being compressed into a weird shape, [then] the Butter Churner isn't for you,” Chiaramonte says.

What are the perks of the Butter Churner?

The Butter Churner does have merit, even if experts can agree that this position is quite difficult to execute.

A big appeal of the Butter Churner: Deep penetration. "This position is fabulous for deep penetration, as well as G-Spot or P-Spot stimulation,” Chiaramonte says. “Get experimental with your partner [by] rotating your legs in a circle, or while pulling yourself vertically up and down to manipulate penetration.”

If you’re the receiver, you get the benefit of holding still and letting your partner do the work, Sparks explains. “Due to limited movement of the one being penetrated, you get to just enjoy the ‘churning,’” she says.

Gravity can aid in pumping up the experience. “The person laying on their back is going to have a rush of blood flow to the brain, which can be pleasurable and exhilarating,” Linnea Marie says. Of course, this can also lead to feeling nauseated or light-headed, so always be mindful of how you're feeling and communicate with your partner if you’re feeling unwell. Sex is all about pleasure, and there's never a need to push through discomfort.

But possibly the most noteworthy reason for doing the Butter Churner is this: Being able to say you came; you saw; you conquered. Chiaramonte agrees, telling us that if you and your partner are athletic enough to make this position happen, the adventurousness of giving it a go can be a huge turn-on. “Even the most intense of sex positions exist for a reason,” she says.

Try these variations if the Butter Churner isn't your jam:

The Plow

The receiver lies on their back, with their legs open like in missionary position. “Prop a large, firm pillow or cushion underneath your hips, and let your legs hang over your body like the plow position in yoga,” Chiaramonte says. “This way you are still open-sesame for your partner, but not depending on the strength of your back and shoulders to hold you up.”

The Kneeling Butter Churner

Linnea Marie suggests trying a kneeling variation of the Butter Churner for the standing partner. “[This allows] for better control and wouldn’t require that much elevation of the back and torso of the person experiencing penetration,” she explains. “This also free[s] up some mental space for more enjoyment and pleasure instead of worrying about falling, painful pressure points, and balancing.”

The Piledriver

And for those receivers who are bendy AF, but can’t hold a shoulder stand: Give the Piledriver a go. Get into the Butter Churner, but instead of trying a gravity defying balancing act from hell, “your legs can be straight out past your head, parallel to the floor. If you are very flexible, you can let your legs fall over your head, knees on either side of your ears,” Sparks says.

A final word on the Butter Churner:

Lastly, don’t feel pressured to make the Butter Churner happen. It’s basically an Olympic-level sex position. And while this can be fun, it is rarely the most pleasurable of situations. What’s most important is that you enjoy yourself during any and all sexual experiences.