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Hakim Tafari

Hakim Tafari

Hakim Tafari is a multifaceted creator and teacher, seamlessly blending art, movement, and mindfulness in everything he does. His journey into mindful living began in the mid-90s after an injury forced him to rethink his approach to health. That turning point led him to martial arts, herbal medicine, and a nutrition-focused lifestyle—practices that not only healed him physically but also transformed his entire outlook on life. 

With over 30 years of martial arts experience, Hakim is a Tai Chi and Qi Gong teacher, a graduate of UCLA’s Mindfulness Awareness Research Center, and a participant in the Spirit Rock Community Dharma Leaders program. Drawing inspiration from both Eastern and African traditions, his work is infused with themes of interconnectedness and harmony—whether he’s leading a class, spinning records as a DJ, or creating art, especially his powerful Ensō paintings.

In his 10-part audio series, “Living Mindfully with Meditation,” Hakim gives a down-to-earth approach on how to deepen your understanding of meditation and create lasting mindfulness habits. 

Get to Know Hakim

I feel for one that it’s a great honor to be the first of hopefully many in this new tradition of the exploring mindfulness in an audio experience, and I would say why audio is so powerful is for many reasons.

It gives accessibility to folks who may have trouble trying to access their own mindfulness by listening to someone guiding them in cultivating being aware of their body as well as their breath, sometimes we have trouble going into silence and our minds wander and race but with a little guidance from a very friendly voice we can find some time settle in our bodies, thus gaining some calmness to our minds.

Also some folks might not have access to a community, or maybe to intimated by the idea going somewhere to learn about the practice, so by listening to it through your headphones or bluetooth speaker, you can be in a safe and comfortable area where you can just be you and listen observe and feel what arises in your mind and body within the confines of your own space without any judgement to yourself or others.

I just really love the accessibility having audio wherever and whenever you may need it the most, whether you are at home, or a hotel, in the car at lunch or on top of a mountain, you can follow these exercises to bring you some mindfulness and insight.

I have to say the mediation practice I always come back to over and over again is the Gratitude practice.

For me I have encountered so much in my life, good, bad and not so pretty and to be in the spaces and places that I have been, to watch my family grow, to grow old with my friends, to travel the world doing what I love …. I hold a lot of gratitude to folks who got me here, who believed in me, my ancestors who paved the way for me to be in the position that I am in, and lastly gratitude for myself for doing the work to here and continuing to do the work.

So for anyone who loves and thrives on giving and sharing gratitude, you will love this.

Yes!!! I love me some Gratitude practice.

I had to go to my many playlists and seek what track spoke to me.

With that being said I would say Astral traveling by Lonnie Liston Smith and the Cosmic Echoes.

It is really a masterpiece of Spiritual Jazz that will end up transporting your heart/mind somewhere magical and mysterious. Such a beautiful track!