Meet Marla Renee Stewart: Sexologist | Sex Coach | Sex Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Marla Renee Stewart and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marla Renee, would you say you are following and pursuing your passion?
I’m always pursuing my passion of educating folks around sex and sexuality. There’s nothing else I’d rather be doing. If we all were to embrace our sexuality and be full with ourselves and confident with who we are, we’d all be in a better place. I honestly believe that if folks had more love and intimacy in this world, it would be a lot more calmer and kinder. I believe seduction is the ability to mitigate hate and embrace love on a variety of levels.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I’m one of the few people in the South that does what I do. I actually work with clients on aspects of sexuality that involve how to touch people and really be able to connect on a different level. Because I am a sex coach, my approach is a combination of sex therapy, somatic therapy, and comprehensive sexuality education. Although I’m not a psychotherapist, I do make connections and talk through sexual functions, sexual feelings, and intimacy with individuals and couples, which is quite similar to the actions of sex therapists. With regards to somatic therapy, I use breathwork, vocal work, movement, touch, and massage. The comprehensive sexuality education that I use includes giving young people and adults knowledge about sex and sexuality, reflections on what a healthy attitude looks like, develop their personal awareness and sex skills, and help them recognize their life and sexual values so that they can make healthy and appropriate choices for their sex lives. My own personal practical curriculum that I’ve formulated over the years is a reflection of these strategies and aforementioned theoretical approaches. Because it is an integrative approach, it has allowed me to see the issues from different angles, as well as problem-solve the issues quickly to enrich the relationships of my individuals with themselves and for my couples with themselves and with each other.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Of course, we would have to do all things that have to do with sex and sexuality! We would definitely have to hit up the sex clubs, The Loft and Trapeze. We would have to do a strip club tour, which would include Magic City, Onyx and Strokers and everything in between. We would definitely have a tour of Tokyo Valentino on Cheshire Bridge and then head up towards the red light district. My favorite queer joints are MSR – My Sister’s Room, Joe’s on Juniper, Henry’s, and FROGS. I love seafood, so my favorite places would be at Cirque for their all-you-can-eat crab legs and then head to the amazing The Optimist later on in the week. And of course, I can’t forget about my favorite (and longest running feminist bookstore in the South), Charis Books & More. We would end at the best spot in the city, The Clermont Lounge, to go and visit my favorite dancers.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My mother will always get the recognition when it comes to how I’ve been able to manifest my sex-positive career. She has always been supportive of me and who I am and did an amazing job as a parent to keep me well-educated and informed about sex, sexuality, and sexual responsibility.