Positions/Plate IX
Nadu
Also called: Open kneel, open kneeling, knees apart
Kneeling, knees spread wide, palms up on your thighs: a deliberate openness.
How to take it
Kneel on a cushion and sit back on your heels, then spread your knees wide, as far as your hips allow without forcing. Lay your hands on your thighs, palms turned up. Your back is straight, shoulders back, chest open. Tilt your head down, eyes on the floor in front of you.
What it says
It expresses openness and availability. The name comes from John Norman’s Gor series, fantasy novels published from 1966 onwards and criticised for their sexism; you can take the position without adopting that world. In Norman’s books, the palms face down and the head stays high, whereas general BDSM lists describe it palms up: both uses coexist.
Variants
- Gorean form: palms down on the thighs, head high, eyes straight ahead.
- Knees hip-width apart, when your groin or your knees protest.
- Wrists crossed behind your back instead of hands on your thighs.
The call“Nadu”, or a word of your own if this one bothers you.