Facesitting
PracticesAlso known as: face sitting, sitting on the face, queening
In facesitting one person sits on their partner’s face: in BDSM it’s a gesture of dominance, but it also exists as an intimate practice outside BDSM.
Facesitting literally means “sitting on the face”. One person settles over the face of their partner, who lies underneath. Outside BDSM it’s simply one intimate position among many. In BDSM it becomes a symbol of power: the person sitting usually has the dominant role, often a Mistress, and the one underneath the submissive role. It’s also known as queening.
Variations
The practice can be fully clothed, almost theatrical, or intimate. It can last a few moments, as a gesture of supremacy, or be part of a longer moment of worship. It’s often combined with other elements of dominance, such as orders, positions or small agreed humiliations.
Why people enjoy it
For the person on top it’s a position of obvious control and great self-assurance. For the person underneath it’s an experience of devotion and complete trust, in which the world shrinks to the partner.
Safety and consent
- Breathing must always remain free: never put your full weight down and never cover both nose and mouth.
- Frequent breaks, checking that the person underneath is breathing comfortably.
- With the face covered the safeword can’t be said: agree on a clear non-verbal signal, such as tapping the partner’s thigh, and try it out beforehand.
- At the signal, get up immediately, without hesitation.
- Watch the neck of the person underneath, which must not be bent in a forced position.
Facesitting must never turn into breath play: that is a different practice, which we advise against because it’s dangerous.