Spreadeagle (position)

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Use of spread eagle during sky diving

Jeffrey Buttle does an inside spread eagle at the 2004 Four Continents Championships in Hamilton

The spreadeagle (also spelled spread eagle or spread-eagle) is the position in which a person has their arms outstretched and legs apart, figuratively resembling an eagle with wings spread. It is a style that appears commonly in nature and geometry. In human style it is represented by the letter "X".

A spreadeagle is a common position in various fields. It is commonly used in dance routines, especially at the conclusion, in figure skating and at the beginning of sky diving.

Sex position

The spreadeagle is also used as a sex position in which one partner lies on their back facing up (supine) with arms and legs spread wide apart. It is a variant of the missionary position that allows for deep sexual penetration.^[1] This position is also popular for oral sex^[2] and manual stimulation^[3] such as erotic massage.

The reverse spreadeagle position^[3] is a less common version in which the lower partner lies facing down (prone). It is a variant of the doggy style position.^[4] Another variation is for the receiving partner's legs to be closed, and the penetrating partner's to be wide apart. This variation is said to be better for stimulating the G-spot and the prostate gland and is sometimes called the peace sign position.

The standing spreadeagle position adapts it to a vertical position. Typically the partner whose legs are spread is either pinned against a wall or stands on one leg and spreads the other. A variant exists that is easier for partners of different heights: one partner rests on the edge of a counter or bed with their legs spread while the other stands and penetrates them. Another vertical adaptation making use of furniture is the sofa spreadeagle: one partner stands on the edge of a bed or sofa or balances on two chairs and squats to allow for standing penetration.^[3]

These positions are classic ingredients in sexual roleplay.

BDSM

The spread eagle position is also employed as a bondage position in BDSM play, with the submissive fastened to a bed or a specially constructed table,^[5] sometimes face down.^[4] Alternatively spreader bars can be used to keep the wearer's legs or arms a set distance apart^[6] and produce a spread eagle position.^[7] An X-cross, a stationary bondage frame in the shape of an X which is often found in BDSM dungeons, is designed to position and restrain a submissive in a spreadeagle position.^[8] X-crosses are typically vertical if wall-mounted or lean back at a slight angle if freestanding,^[9] and hence they restrain the subject in a standing spread eagle position.^[10] A standing or hanging position can also be achieved with spreader bars or using ropes or chains attached to different endpoints.

Unrestrained submissives are sometimes commanded to assume a spreadeagle position.^[11] As a humiliation technique it is popular for forcing the subject to display their genitals. It also provides unhindered access to the crotch, groin and sometimes anal region for sexual play and torture, such as cock and ball torture or pussy torture.

See also

• Limb restraint

References

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