8 Easy Sex Positions for Tired Nights and Sore Backs. The Pillow Does the Holding, So You Don't Have To…

You both lie on your sides, close, like you're about to fall asleep. The laziest start there is.

Effort: lowest.

Pillow: under her hips and waist as she lies on her side.

What it saves: no arms, no knees, no weight on anyone. The foam holds the tilt.

Made for: half-asleep nights when you still want to be close. One note from back researcher Natalie Sidorkewicz, who led a University of Waterloo study: "sex positions that are suitable for one type of back pain are not appropriate for another kind of pain." If side-lying bothers your back, skip to #3.

Same lazy idea, turned toward each other. Eye contact, almost zero effort.

Effort: lowest.

Pillow: under her hips and waist while you lie on your sides, facing each other.

What it saves: the lift brings her hips closer to his height. Nobody has to scoot or hold themselves up.

Made for: nights when you want to talk, kiss and take it slow.

He leans back. She's on top. Nobody strains their neck to kiss.

Effort: low for him, medium for her.

Pillow: behind his back, like the back of a chair.

What it saves: he's propped up instead of lying flat, so his neck and shoulders rest. She can rest her hands on his chest to take weight off her legs.

Made for: nights when she wants to set a slow, gentle pace.

She lies flat and lets the bed do the work. No hands and knees.

Effort: lowest for her.

Pillow: under her hips and belly while she lies face down.

What it saves: no weight on her wrists or knees. She can fully relax into the foam.

Made for: nights when her wrists, knees or shoulders are sore.

The face-to-face classic with one small change. Just a gentle lift.

Effort: low.

Pillow: low under her hips, with her legs relaxed.

What it saves: her lower back rests on firm foam instead of arching. He keeps his weight on his knees, so his arms don't tire.

Made for: nights when you want something familiar that feels a little better.

Nobody kneels. A gift for sore knees.

Effort: low.

Pillow: on the edge of the mattress under her hips, with her feet on the floor.

What it saves: he stands, so his knees get a break. The lift brings her hips up to his height, so he doesn't hunch over.

Made for: nights when knees ache. The silicone grip base keeps the pillow from sliding off the edge.

Some nights he's the tired one. He lies back, the foam does the lifting.

Effort: lowest for him.

Pillow: under his hips while he lies on his back.

What it saves: the foam holds his hips up, so his lower back doesn't have to. She sets the pace.

Made for: nights after a long shift, a hard workout or a day of lifting.

The slowest, coziest one. Wrapped up together.

Effort: low.

Pillow: behind his back as he sits up on the bed.

What it saves: he leans back on foam instead of holding himself upright. She sits in his lap, facing him. Nobody lies on anybody.

Made for: nights when you want to hold each other more than anything else.