Meet Anara Lani of Holistic Sex Education in Lower Highlands

Today we’d like to introduce you to Anara Lani.

Anara, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I came to this industry in a somewhat roundabout way. I became a hairdresser as a young woman. This unsuspecting industry gave me a rare glimpse into people’s inner world; what they cared about, lamented over, and longed for. It was a fantastic opportunity to learn the skills of deep listening, patience, and authentic connection. I got into the industry because of my desire to support and uplift people, and that inspiration continues.

A few years into my adult life, I recognized that I needed some personal healing work and began practicing Kundalini Yoga. My journey of transformation is what catapulted my movement into the healing arts. I studied and practiced for several years before becoming a teacher, and experienced first hand how connecting with the body and breath could transform lives.

Yoga introduced me to bodywork, movement, and Tantra. Before long, I was teaching small groups of women about receptivity and how to feel more pleasure. I studied everything I could about connection, communication, and intimacy without ever realizing that there was a budding industry called Somatic Sex Education. My dear friend, now a business partner, introduced me to the modality and a group of women in Boulder doing revolutionary work with an embodiment, personal sovereignty, and sexuality. Exploring with them inspired me to get serious about my passions and help co-create this new industry called Integrative Erotic Intelligence. We currently offer women’s workshops and are planning to launch a certification program in 2020.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been varied. Somatic or Holistic Sex Education is not a mainstream modality, so much of what I do is educating people about what it is. When most people hear the word sex, they either get curious, subtly recoil, or do both. It’s seen as a private thing and something that happens between two people. Though both of those things are true, it also starts with the individual. It’s about how we feel about our body, our comfort with self-expression, and vulnerability. These are the messy parts that many people skip over; these are also the parts that are informing the quality of intimacy we have with ourselves, the world, and our partners. The work I do encompasses the whole spectrum of what it means to be a relational being living in a body. I include sexuality but am not limited to it. Because it is such a full spectrum and nuanced field, it can be difficult for some to understand.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Holistic Sex Education with Anara Lani – what should we know?
I am first and foremost in private practice. I have an office in Lower Highlands where I work with people to navigate the challenges of personal and interpersonal relating. I often focus on communication, self-awareness, consent, intimacy, and body image & function. I am proud of the work I do because it works. People tend to come to me after they’ve tried everything else. I work from a trauma-informed lens that considers the whole person. I guide people through a journey of self-inquiry and help them to decipher their body cues, behavior patterns, and natural wisdom.

I am a co-founder of a project called New School Sex Ed, and we offer monthly classes in hilltop that are open to all adults. We offer straight forward communication about bodies, intimacy, and connection. Our focus is on the often missed elements of successful relating that so many of us never learned. It is more of a life skills class that happens to help your sex life.

I am also a founding member of the Verdant Collective. We offer four-month in-depth courses for women that explore eros, sexuality, authentic embodiment, and a form of transparency and connection that reframes women’s culture.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
PRESENCE! My goodness! Our world is moving at what I think of as a non-sustainable pace. The bulk of what I teach is how to s-l-o-w-w-a-y-d-o-w-n and pay attention to everything you can feel noticed, and sense.