SPEAKER'S KIT FOR
AYO HANDY-KENDI
Stock Photos, Bio, Recent Clients
for
AYO HANDY-KENDI, the Breath Sekou
Currently booking Corporations, On-line Groups, Universities,
PRESENTATIONS, TRAININGS, BREATHSHOPS & PLAYSHOPS
....Let Sekou Ayo Help You Re-Learn how to Breathe
so YOU can Breathe Better to Live Better!
Optimize Your Breath to Optimize Your Life & PositivEnergy
STOCK PHOTOS OF AYO HANDY-KENDI
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SHORT PROFILE OF
AYO HANDY-KENDI
THE BREATH SEKOU, AKA MAMA AYO THE STORYTELLER
50= years of experience in breath study/practice, wholistic health, culture & social justice activisim
AYO HANDY-KENDI
THE BREATH SEKOU, AKA MAMA AYO THE STORYTELLER
50= years of experience in breath study/practice, wholistic health, culture & social justice activisim
- CERTIFIED as:
- Optimum Life Breatholgist, Transformational Facilitator, Reiki Master 3, Laughter Yoga Teacher/Leader, Chi Gong I & II; RaSekhi II; Diversity trainer;
- B.A. in Human Services,Counseling; A.A., Community Organizing
- Skilled Speaker, Storyteller/ Re-enactor, Author, Stress Manager, Sound healer, Rituals facilitator, Entrepreneur, Life Coach
- CEO: PositivEnergyWorks, Founder, Optimum Life Breathology (O.L.B.)
- Founder: African American Holiday Association (AAHA)
- Founder: Black Love Day, Feb. 13 & Ritual of Reconciliation, Optimum Life Breathology, Transcendence Breathwork, Relearn How to Breathe, Breath Circles to Heal the Divides, Women Breathe Through Trauma, Breathe and Stop Smoking/Withdraw Naturally, the Art of Self-Pleasure, Breathercizering;
FULL BIO
AYO HANDY-KENDI is reknown as the Breath Sekou (Master Teacher) demonstrating over 50+ years of experience as a Breathologists, Laughter Yoga Teacher, Sound Healer, Wholistic Practitioner/Stress Manager, Community Organizer/Entrepreneur, Life Coach/Counselor, Speaker/Author, Storyteller/Re-enactor, Show Host and Producer, inspiring countless people in their growth and development. As CEO of PositivEnergyWorks,™ She offers a wellness service facilitating and training others in a system she developed, Optimum Life Breatholgy. She has “breathed” with billions on radio, t.v., in print, on stage, in private practice and on-line. She also connects culture with health in her non-profit organization, African American Holiday Association (AAHA), incorporated since 1989, which stewards the holiday she inspired, Black Love Day, Feb. 13th and the Black Love Movement.
CONSIDERED AN AUTHORITY IN THE FIELD OF BREATH PRACTICE
She is considered an authority in the field of breath training, practice and trans personal growth due to broad training and experience. In 1970 she started her first, personal breath training through classes taught through the Maharishi Mashesh Yogi in Transcendental Meditation (TM). .She further earned Certifications in energy-balancing relaxation practices that use Breath, including Reiki I, II, III, becoming a Reiki Master 3; Ra Sekhi I, II, Shiatsu and Qi Gong I, II. In 1996, she trained to become a Certified Transformational Facilitator (CTF) from the International Breath Institute (IBI) of Boulder, Colorado, created by Drs. Tom and Amy Goode.. As one of only a handful of African Americans who has credentials in this breathwork technique, she has maintained a private practice since that time facilitating countless clients. She has been featured in numerous Breath Festivals including The Shift Network, World Breathing Day of the International Breath Foundation and The Breath Festival. She is co-facilitator of International Breath Day, Nov. 22 with its founder, Baaba Pa-Ur and is a 5 year working group member of IBF's World Breathing Day, April 11, presenting internationally, each year.
DEFINED THE TERM BREATHOLOGY AND IS CERTIFYING BREATHOLOGISTS in her own System
In 2004, she defined the term, “Breathology” and by 2010 began certifying other Breathogists in the desire to expand a “breath movement”. She is the founder of Optimum Life Breathology™, a 16 hour certification course in the art and science of Breath awareness, breath mechanics and 12 foundational breath techniques that impact Spirit, Mind and Body. She has certified over 250 Breathologists in 7 states. She is a current member of the International Breath Foundation (IBF) and have made O.L.B. presentations internationally in Joshua Tree, U.S.A., France, Austria, South Africa, The Canary Islands, Liberia , Benin, West Africa and Kenya, East Africa..
DEVELOPER OF SIGNATURE BREATH TECHNIQUES AFTER EXTENSIVE TRAINING WITH BREATH MASTERS .
Starting in 1991, she received training from several Breath Masters, such as Rebirther/Breathwork founder, Leonard Orr; Transformational Breath founder, Dr. Judith Kravitz; Senior Yoga Movement from Jana Long; along with training from The Art of Living; Vispassana; Breath; Mindfulness and Diversity training. Sekou Ayo developed the training concept, "Relearn How to Breathe" in 1999 and has breathed with countless.
She developed a system in 2004, called Optimum Life Breathology™ (OLB) which includes modalities, practices, systems and coursework signatures such as “Relearn How-to Breathe”, " "It's a Playshop - Connect Breathe, Play", "Power of the Breath", " Breath "n' Sound Experiences and Breath Storytelling.
In 2015, she evolved and developed a new technique for sub-conscious release of stuck emotions and stress release, called Transcendence Breathwork™ which combines conscious connected breath, deep breathing and joy breath with movement, drumming, cartharting and other relaxation techniques. In 2020, she developed Breath Circles to Heal the Divides tm that uses breathwork/breathology techniques to heal unconscious bias and the stress that is created from environments of polarization.
.
SPECIALIST IN WHOLISTIC RELAXATION PRACTICES
She had studied Laugh Therapy and gained certifications as a Laughter Yoga Leader (CLYL) in 2011 and then as a Laughter Yoga Teacher (CLYT), trained by the founder of this technique, Dr. Madan Kataria in 2015.
Further she has studied and facilitates other relaxation transformative practices such as Senior Yoga Movement, Meditation, Jin Shin Tara, Visualization, Stress-Busters, Aroma Therapy, Life Coaching, Toning and Sound Healing..
HAS PRESENTED THE POWER OF THE BREATH and RELEARN HOW TO BREATHE TO MILLIONS VIA THE MEDIA
Truly passionate about sharing and teaching the Ancient technique of Breath because it changed her life, she has witnessed the impact of the “power of the breath” while coaching "relearn how to breathe techniques" to millions on radio, t.v, in print, in presentations, workshops and in her private practice, helping others transform their lives. Notable media appearances have been made on Steve Harvey’s Morning Show, Verizon’s Internet Profiles, The Washington Post, Retirement T.V., Radio One. In 2024, she was interviewed by the New York Times and featured in a production hosted by the Boris Henson Foundation, sponsored by actress, Taraji P. Henson.
USED BREATH TECHNIQUES TO OVERCOME ADVERSITIES
Holding a BA in Community Organizing from Antioch College; AA in Human Services and Counseling from Washington Technical Institute, she is also spiritually degreed in using Breath techniques to overcome her own life challenges of childhood sexual abuse, domestic violence, homelessness, addiction, her mother’s cancer, the violent death of her teenage son and close together deaths of many family members.
INCORPORATED HER SLOGAN INTO A BUSINESS -PositivEnergyWorks
In 2005, she incorporated PositivEnergyWorks™ as a health and wellness service specializing in Breathology and Relaxation Transformative practices offering personal and group facilitations, presentations, workshops (breathshops), events, broadcasts and products for optimal Spirit, Mind and Body. P.E.W.’s wholistic practice, compliments Breathology and Life Coaching services, and derives from Sekou Ayo’s experience as a 50 year+ Vegetarian/Vegan Nutritional and Herb studies; Aroma therapy, Reflexology, Acupressure, EFT training and Sound Healing. P.E.W’s Life Coaching/Racial Healing employs her skills gained through certifications as a Counselor and Drug Treatment/Prevention Practitioner; as a Diversity Trainer certified by NCBI, FECES and Certified as a Re-Evaluation Counselor from NMCI. with years of service in the Mental health field.
Her commitment to help others “relearn how to breathe for better life, health, work and logevity™” re-ignited her 1982 concept of PositivEnergy™. This “can-do” attitude focuses our attention on what we want instead of what we don’t want. Today, she weaves this empowerment concept into all of her inspirational presentations, workshops, performances and entitles the core message as the “7 Principles of PositivEnergy™”
FOUNDED THE AFRICAN AMERICAN HOLIDAY programs in 1982,
In 1982, Sekou Ayo founded the African American Holiday Expo (later called the MarketPlace Festival). This event, which continued for 26 years, spawned a host of replicates, as Ayo offered consultation to many groups and individuals on how to use a cultural event to empower and organize communities. The success of the Expo’s youth services, prompted her in 1989 to create the African American Holiday Association. (AAHA), a national, non-profit, 501-C-3, membership organization which perpetuates and preserves culture through traditional and non-traditional holidays, celebrations and rituals. To date, she continues to serve as AAHA’s director.. In 1994, she founded the Youth Entrepreneur Project (YEP) which served over 1500 youth within 5 years, offering them, a learning and earning experience.
Through AAHA, she has been featured in many media appearances locally, nationally and globally as a recognized authority on African American cultural holidays and “holiday stress syndrome” another concept she coined. She has gained international recognition as the founder of the commemorative wholyday, Black Love Day – Feb. 13th, in addition to a new tradition, “The Ritual of Reconciliation”. She further supports and produces programming and storytelling for Kwanzaa, Grandparents Day, International Breath Day, D.C. Emancipation Day and Juneteenth
AAHA schedules Sekou Ayo’s presentations as a Joll (storyteller) and cultural/rituals presentor and she is renown as “Mama Ayo, the Kwanzaa Griot”. In this role, she has presented lectures, workshops, cultural performances, officiated at rituals and ceremonies before hundreds of 1,000’s.. AAHA has also harnessed her expertise as an organizer, entrepreneur, special events and public relations coordinator to benefit numerous community organizations and individuals develop their business and cultural efforts through her motivational lectures, workshops and consultations.
She has helped organize over 30 marches, demonstrations and events, notably Black Expo USA, the 40th Anniversary March on Washington, Black Voices for Peace, Million Man March, Million Family March, Atlanta Million Youth March, served as Washington/ Metro Regional Coordinator for the ’97 Million Woman’s March, the Million Mom’s March, the 20th Anniversary of the Million Man March and the annual Black Love Relationship Ceremony since 1993. Of notable pride, is her co-organizing and advocacy work to help make Martin Luther King's birthday, a national holiday.
DIVERSITY/RACIAL HEALING PRACTICE and ADVOCACY
Sekou Ayo recognized as a child, the history that years later she would study as a Community Organizer/ Activist for social justice, civil rights and equality. Fascinated by slavery and the Civil War then, she would later learn that the vestiges of 15TH and 16TH century enslavement continued to show up in modern times, as racism and inequality. She started speaking out in 1970, as she experienced racism's ugly head, on the U.S.A. military occupied island of Okinawa, where she had ventured to travel to in order to marry her high school sweet heart, The roots of the desire to right the wrongs and repair the damages of history, has been her passion, every since.
Returning stateside, she became involved as an activist with the D.C. Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression and multi-cultural activism with issues such as anti-war, housing rights, police brutality, anti-apartheid, political prisoners and women's equality/anti-rape issues. She would later help co-coordinate, Black Voices for Peace in response to anti-war and environmental issues.
To address racism and equality concerns that kept showing up in her multi-cultural organizing, as well as in her inner city work with Black folk, she created on May 1, 1982, a wholyday called UNITY IN DIVERSITY DAY and organized the first and second year on the National Mall, Washington D.C.. She further organized PEACE WALKS in her Shaw inner-city community, in addition to the more than 30 or more marches, demonstrations, and events for peace and justice.
After establishing BLACK LOVE DAY in 1993, she received spiritual messages in 1994, inspiring her to create the RITUAL OF RECONCILIATION, a practice of forgiveness, atonement, and reconciliation to heal all relationships.
In the 90's, she studied and became a Diversity Trainer certified by NCBI, FECES and Certified as a Re-Evaluation Counselor from NMCI. She also co-coordinated the Durben Conference Against Xenophobia and coordinated the healing of activist trauma at the 3 national gatherings for the U.S. Social Forum.
In 2004, she conceived of a new way to to support the reconciliation process, and created a practice called BREATH CIRCLES OF RACIAL, DIVERSITY & GENDER HEALING (now renamed Breath Circles to Heal the DividesO
In 2006, Sekou Ayo was honored in receiving a personal invitation from President Kirikou of Benin West, Africa, to facilitate the Ritual of Reconciliation at the Roots and Gospel Festival in Benin, as part of his international initiative to atone from his countries involvement in the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.
As a storyteller, she has presented several story performances to creatively express racial healing and identify, along with storytelling for wellness and asthma maintenance.
AUTHOR, DIGITAL MEDIA PRODUCER, PUBLISHER AND RADIO HOST
As an Author and Digital Media producer, she has created DVD health and cultural productions, most recently “Applied Breathology”, and “Relaxation Moments”. With her husband John, they collaborated on “A Show of Unity”, as an independent T.V. production, aired on D.C.T.V, and several other documentaries they produced which were aired, of which DVD’s are still being distributed: “How a Family Celebrates Kwanzaa”, “Keepers of the Culture – Kwanzaa’s Beginnings in D.C.”, “A Home Coming to Benin, West Africa”, :”Ms. Loretta Carter Hanes – Reviver of D.C. Emancipation Day”, and “Mama Ayo’s Kwanzaa Story”.
Sekou Ayo has authored and self-published, " Applied Breathology", “The Power of the Breath” now in its 4th edition,, “Why the Breath Has So Much Power with Asthma Guide for Parents”, “The Black Love Book” and “Positive Energy - Motivational Messages from a Sister in the Struggle”. She has written several pamphlets “Stop Smoking Naturally”, “Breathercize”, and “Holiday Stress Syndrome”;
She has also written and produced two plays, “A Day of Withdrawal”, and “A Struggle for Dignity – a play on human rights” Ahead of her time, she founded the “Positive Energy Newsletter”, published from 1981- 1990, as a cultural, health conscious, community publication, distributed originally in Washington, D.C. then globally.
She has published articles in “The Ultimate Stress Blog”, Pathways Magazine, The Washington Informer, the Afro-American Newspaper, Black Psychiatrist Review and more.
She took a hiatus as Host/Producer of “The Sage-ing Baby Boomers Show” (SBBS),which ran from 2011 - 2016, broadcasting weekly on Inner Light Radio on the world-wide net, but in 2018, started a new webcast, for the SBBS, and included a 2nd webcast, "BreathShops On-Line". In 2020, the webcast morphed into "PositivEnergy Wednesdays", produced from Ayo"s PositivEnergy Center (her home).
COMPOSER, SOUND HEALER AND PERFORMER/MANAGER OF EARTH LOVE TUNE-UP CREW
Earth Love Tune-Up Crew features Sekou Ayo Handy-Kendi and her husband, John Davies 3, both renown for creating “tune-up music” that accompanies their breathology sessions, visualizations. and healing performances “Tune up” music is a fusion of African-centered and natural sound instruments that gently stimulates the chakras (energy-centers in the body) while calming the mind of mental chatter and relaxing the nerves for stress reduction.
She and her husband John have co-produced 4 relaxation CD”s, “Earth Song”, “Sea Breeze”, “Circle Dance”, “Dawn to Dusk:.. They have also produced a CD “Time to Celebrate - cultural music for African-centered holidays, celebrations and rituals”, They have performed at healing ceremonies, community events, pre-peace demonstrations and notably opened for the international healer Dr. Sebi in his long-awaited presentations in Washington, D. C and in Philadelphia, in 2014.
RECIEPIENT OF NUMEROUS COMMUNITY AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS, Notably:
2020, Volunteer Appreciation Award, Town of Capitol Heights Communiity Health & Environment Committee
2018, Recognition for Support, Maryland Parks and Planning
2018: Mayoral Recognition, Town of Capitol Heights for Black Love Day, first in Maryland
2015, Nation of Islam, Award of Appreciation, Million Man March, 20th Anniversary
2014 United Negro Improvement Assoc. (UNIA) Community Service Award
2013 National Black Love Festival, “Fannie Lou Hamer” Community Activist Award,
.2010 Grassroots Activist Award, Washington Peace Center
. Elected Senior Representative for Dept of Health “Live Healthy D.C.” Collaborative
. Requested by the President of Benin to represent U.S.A. at the 2006-07 Roots & Gospel Festival
. Lifetime Achievement Award, Jamii Africa- Reconciliation Pilgrimage to Benin, West Africa
. Ambassador For Peace Award, Interreligious and International Federation for World Peace
. Anheuser-Busch Companies “Outstanding Achievement Award”,
Profiles in Excellence. KOOL Achievers Award Nominee
. D.C. Women’s Hall of Fame, D. C. Commission for Women, D.C. Government
. Psi Epsilon Omega - Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (AKA ) Certificate of Appreciation, Holistic Alternative Health Conference
D.C. Mayoral Proclamations and City Council Resolutions awarded for Black Love Day, African American Holiday Expo; Unity in Diversity Day; and D. C. Emancipation Day – April 16th
. Les Brown, Speaking for Profit Recognition; Willie Jolly,
Letter of Recognition for organizing work in the making of the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday
PHILOSOPHY
Ayo Handy-Kendi champions the belief that health and wellness prevention is wholistic with “the breath” being the foundational tool for self-care and deep healing on the sub-conscious level enabling us to heal what we don't actually feel. Optimal breathing, water drinking, good nutrition, sleep and exercise are important, as well as, spirituality, stress management, natural alternative practices, cultural identity, community empowerment, conflict resolution, violence reduction and addiction/recovery maintenance. Wholistic is the sum total of Spirit, Mind and Body, and must be considered when assisting marginalized people in a racist society and poor people around the globe, who are falling ill and dying disproportionately to other groups, due to holding our breath due to systemic racism and oppression. The Breath is the connection between Spirit, Mind and Body with a total wellness package using the simplest tool available to us 24/7, free and accessible right under our noses, that makes the greatest impact providing us “minute to minute Yoga”™. She quotes often,. “If you are tired of the stress, tired of the pain, ready to heal, ready to change, then live life to the fullest, re-connect to the “Power of the Breath. Relearn how to breathe for better life, health, work and longevity tm”.
She walks her talk as a grandmother of 22, great-grandmother of 9 and was part of the family caretaking team for her Mom who transitioned at age 92, in October, 2017.
AYO HANDY-KENDI is reknown as the Breath Sekou (Master Teacher) demonstrating over 50+ years of experience as a Breathologists, Laughter Yoga Teacher, Sound Healer, Wholistic Practitioner/Stress Manager, Community Organizer/Entrepreneur, Life Coach/Counselor, Speaker/Author, Storyteller/Re-enactor, Show Host and Producer, inspiring countless people in their growth and development. As CEO of PositivEnergyWorks,™ She offers a wellness service facilitating and training others in a system she developed, Optimum Life Breatholgy. She has “breathed” with billions on radio, t.v., in print, on stage, in private practice and on-line. She also connects culture with health in her non-profit organization, African American Holiday Association (AAHA), incorporated since 1989, which stewards the holiday she inspired, Black Love Day, Feb. 13th and the Black Love Movement.
CONSIDERED AN AUTHORITY IN THE FIELD OF BREATH PRACTICE
She is considered an authority in the field of breath training, practice and trans personal growth due to broad training and experience. In 1970 she started her first, personal breath training through classes taught through the Maharishi Mashesh Yogi in Transcendental Meditation (TM). .She further earned Certifications in energy-balancing relaxation practices that use Breath, including Reiki I, II, III, becoming a Reiki Master 3; Ra Sekhi I, II, Shiatsu and Qi Gong I, II. In 1996, she trained to become a Certified Transformational Facilitator (CTF) from the International Breath Institute (IBI) of Boulder, Colorado, created by Drs. Tom and Amy Goode.. As one of only a handful of African Americans who has credentials in this breathwork technique, she has maintained a private practice since that time facilitating countless clients. She has been featured in numerous Breath Festivals including The Shift Network, World Breathing Day of the International Breath Foundation and The Breath Festival. She is co-facilitator of International Breath Day, Nov. 22 with its founder, Baaba Pa-Ur and is a 5 year working group member of IBF's World Breathing Day, April 11, presenting internationally, each year.
DEFINED THE TERM BREATHOLOGY AND IS CERTIFYING BREATHOLOGISTS in her own System
In 2004, she defined the term, “Breathology” and by 2010 began certifying other Breathogists in the desire to expand a “breath movement”. She is the founder of Optimum Life Breathology™, a 16 hour certification course in the art and science of Breath awareness, breath mechanics and 12 foundational breath techniques that impact Spirit, Mind and Body. She has certified over 250 Breathologists in 7 states. She is a current member of the International Breath Foundation (IBF) and have made O.L.B. presentations internationally in Joshua Tree, U.S.A., France, Austria, South Africa, The Canary Islands, Liberia , Benin, West Africa and Kenya, East Africa..
DEVELOPER OF SIGNATURE BREATH TECHNIQUES AFTER EXTENSIVE TRAINING WITH BREATH MASTERS .
Starting in 1991, she received training from several Breath Masters, such as Rebirther/Breathwork founder, Leonard Orr; Transformational Breath founder, Dr. Judith Kravitz; Senior Yoga Movement from Jana Long; along with training from The Art of Living; Vispassana; Breath; Mindfulness and Diversity training. Sekou Ayo developed the training concept, "Relearn How to Breathe" in 1999 and has breathed with countless.
She developed a system in 2004, called Optimum Life Breathology™ (OLB) which includes modalities, practices, systems and coursework signatures such as “Relearn How-to Breathe”, " "It's a Playshop - Connect Breathe, Play", "Power of the Breath", " Breath "n' Sound Experiences and Breath Storytelling.
In 2015, she evolved and developed a new technique for sub-conscious release of stuck emotions and stress release, called Transcendence Breathwork™ which combines conscious connected breath, deep breathing and joy breath with movement, drumming, cartharting and other relaxation techniques. In 2020, she developed Breath Circles to Heal the Divides tm that uses breathwork/breathology techniques to heal unconscious bias and the stress that is created from environments of polarization.
.
SPECIALIST IN WHOLISTIC RELAXATION PRACTICES
She had studied Laugh Therapy and gained certifications as a Laughter Yoga Leader (CLYL) in 2011 and then as a Laughter Yoga Teacher (CLYT), trained by the founder of this technique, Dr. Madan Kataria in 2015.
Further she has studied and facilitates other relaxation transformative practices such as Senior Yoga Movement, Meditation, Jin Shin Tara, Visualization, Stress-Busters, Aroma Therapy, Life Coaching, Toning and Sound Healing..
HAS PRESENTED THE POWER OF THE BREATH and RELEARN HOW TO BREATHE TO MILLIONS VIA THE MEDIA
Truly passionate about sharing and teaching the Ancient technique of Breath because it changed her life, she has witnessed the impact of the “power of the breath” while coaching "relearn how to breathe techniques" to millions on radio, t.v, in print, in presentations, workshops and in her private practice, helping others transform their lives. Notable media appearances have been made on Steve Harvey’s Morning Show, Verizon’s Internet Profiles, The Washington Post, Retirement T.V., Radio One. In 2024, she was interviewed by the New York Times and featured in a production hosted by the Boris Henson Foundation, sponsored by actress, Taraji P. Henson.
USED BREATH TECHNIQUES TO OVERCOME ADVERSITIES
Holding a BA in Community Organizing from Antioch College; AA in Human Services and Counseling from Washington Technical Institute, she is also spiritually degreed in using Breath techniques to overcome her own life challenges of childhood sexual abuse, domestic violence, homelessness, addiction, her mother’s cancer, the violent death of her teenage son and close together deaths of many family members.
INCORPORATED HER SLOGAN INTO A BUSINESS -PositivEnergyWorks
In 2005, she incorporated PositivEnergyWorks™ as a health and wellness service specializing in Breathology and Relaxation Transformative practices offering personal and group facilitations, presentations, workshops (breathshops), events, broadcasts and products for optimal Spirit, Mind and Body. P.E.W.’s wholistic practice, compliments Breathology and Life Coaching services, and derives from Sekou Ayo’s experience as a 50 year+ Vegetarian/Vegan Nutritional and Herb studies; Aroma therapy, Reflexology, Acupressure, EFT training and Sound Healing. P.E.W’s Life Coaching/Racial Healing employs her skills gained through certifications as a Counselor and Drug Treatment/Prevention Practitioner; as a Diversity Trainer certified by NCBI, FECES and Certified as a Re-Evaluation Counselor from NMCI. with years of service in the Mental health field.
Her commitment to help others “relearn how to breathe for better life, health, work and logevity™” re-ignited her 1982 concept of PositivEnergy™. This “can-do” attitude focuses our attention on what we want instead of what we don’t want. Today, she weaves this empowerment concept into all of her inspirational presentations, workshops, performances and entitles the core message as the “7 Principles of PositivEnergy™”
FOUNDED THE AFRICAN AMERICAN HOLIDAY programs in 1982,
In 1982, Sekou Ayo founded the African American Holiday Expo (later called the MarketPlace Festival). This event, which continued for 26 years, spawned a host of replicates, as Ayo offered consultation to many groups and individuals on how to use a cultural event to empower and organize communities. The success of the Expo’s youth services, prompted her in 1989 to create the African American Holiday Association. (AAHA), a national, non-profit, 501-C-3, membership organization which perpetuates and preserves culture through traditional and non-traditional holidays, celebrations and rituals. To date, she continues to serve as AAHA’s director.. In 1994, she founded the Youth Entrepreneur Project (YEP) which served over 1500 youth within 5 years, offering them, a learning and earning experience.
Through AAHA, she has been featured in many media appearances locally, nationally and globally as a recognized authority on African American cultural holidays and “holiday stress syndrome” another concept she coined. She has gained international recognition as the founder of the commemorative wholyday, Black Love Day – Feb. 13th, in addition to a new tradition, “The Ritual of Reconciliation”. She further supports and produces programming and storytelling for Kwanzaa, Grandparents Day, International Breath Day, D.C. Emancipation Day and Juneteenth
AAHA schedules Sekou Ayo’s presentations as a Joll (storyteller) and cultural/rituals presentor and she is renown as “Mama Ayo, the Kwanzaa Griot”. In this role, she has presented lectures, workshops, cultural performances, officiated at rituals and ceremonies before hundreds of 1,000’s.. AAHA has also harnessed her expertise as an organizer, entrepreneur, special events and public relations coordinator to benefit numerous community organizations and individuals develop their business and cultural efforts through her motivational lectures, workshops and consultations.
She has helped organize over 30 marches, demonstrations and events, notably Black Expo USA, the 40th Anniversary March on Washington, Black Voices for Peace, Million Man March, Million Family March, Atlanta Million Youth March, served as Washington/ Metro Regional Coordinator for the ’97 Million Woman’s March, the Million Mom’s March, the 20th Anniversary of the Million Man March and the annual Black Love Relationship Ceremony since 1993. Of notable pride, is her co-organizing and advocacy work to help make Martin Luther King's birthday, a national holiday.
DIVERSITY/RACIAL HEALING PRACTICE and ADVOCACY
Sekou Ayo recognized as a child, the history that years later she would study as a Community Organizer/ Activist for social justice, civil rights and equality. Fascinated by slavery and the Civil War then, she would later learn that the vestiges of 15TH and 16TH century enslavement continued to show up in modern times, as racism and inequality. She started speaking out in 1970, as she experienced racism's ugly head, on the U.S.A. military occupied island of Okinawa, where she had ventured to travel to in order to marry her high school sweet heart, The roots of the desire to right the wrongs and repair the damages of history, has been her passion, every since.
Returning stateside, she became involved as an activist with the D.C. Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression and multi-cultural activism with issues such as anti-war, housing rights, police brutality, anti-apartheid, political prisoners and women's equality/anti-rape issues. She would later help co-coordinate, Black Voices for Peace in response to anti-war and environmental issues.
To address racism and equality concerns that kept showing up in her multi-cultural organizing, as well as in her inner city work with Black folk, she created on May 1, 1982, a wholyday called UNITY IN DIVERSITY DAY and organized the first and second year on the National Mall, Washington D.C.. She further organized PEACE WALKS in her Shaw inner-city community, in addition to the more than 30 or more marches, demonstrations, and events for peace and justice.
After establishing BLACK LOVE DAY in 1993, she received spiritual messages in 1994, inspiring her to create the RITUAL OF RECONCILIATION, a practice of forgiveness, atonement, and reconciliation to heal all relationships.
In the 90's, she studied and became a Diversity Trainer certified by NCBI, FECES and Certified as a Re-Evaluation Counselor from NMCI. She also co-coordinated the Durben Conference Against Xenophobia and coordinated the healing of activist trauma at the 3 national gatherings for the U.S. Social Forum.
In 2004, she conceived of a new way to to support the reconciliation process, and created a practice called BREATH CIRCLES OF RACIAL, DIVERSITY & GENDER HEALING (now renamed Breath Circles to Heal the DividesO
In 2006, Sekou Ayo was honored in receiving a personal invitation from President Kirikou of Benin West, Africa, to facilitate the Ritual of Reconciliation at the Roots and Gospel Festival in Benin, as part of his international initiative to atone from his countries involvement in the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.
As a storyteller, she has presented several story performances to creatively express racial healing and identify, along with storytelling for wellness and asthma maintenance.
AUTHOR, DIGITAL MEDIA PRODUCER, PUBLISHER AND RADIO HOST
As an Author and Digital Media producer, she has created DVD health and cultural productions, most recently “Applied Breathology”, and “Relaxation Moments”. With her husband John, they collaborated on “A Show of Unity”, as an independent T.V. production, aired on D.C.T.V, and several other documentaries they produced which were aired, of which DVD’s are still being distributed: “How a Family Celebrates Kwanzaa”, “Keepers of the Culture – Kwanzaa’s Beginnings in D.C.”, “A Home Coming to Benin, West Africa”, :”Ms. Loretta Carter Hanes – Reviver of D.C. Emancipation Day”, and “Mama Ayo’s Kwanzaa Story”.
Sekou Ayo has authored and self-published, " Applied Breathology", “The Power of the Breath” now in its 4th edition,, “Why the Breath Has So Much Power with Asthma Guide for Parents”, “The Black Love Book” and “Positive Energy - Motivational Messages from a Sister in the Struggle”. She has written several pamphlets “Stop Smoking Naturally”, “Breathercize”, and “Holiday Stress Syndrome”;
She has also written and produced two plays, “A Day of Withdrawal”, and “A Struggle for Dignity – a play on human rights” Ahead of her time, she founded the “Positive Energy Newsletter”, published from 1981- 1990, as a cultural, health conscious, community publication, distributed originally in Washington, D.C. then globally.
She has published articles in “The Ultimate Stress Blog”, Pathways Magazine, The Washington Informer, the Afro-American Newspaper, Black Psychiatrist Review and more.
She took a hiatus as Host/Producer of “The Sage-ing Baby Boomers Show” (SBBS),which ran from 2011 - 2016, broadcasting weekly on Inner Light Radio on the world-wide net, but in 2018, started a new webcast, for the SBBS, and included a 2nd webcast, "BreathShops On-Line". In 2020, the webcast morphed into "PositivEnergy Wednesdays", produced from Ayo"s PositivEnergy Center (her home).
COMPOSER, SOUND HEALER AND PERFORMER/MANAGER OF EARTH LOVE TUNE-UP CREW
Earth Love Tune-Up Crew features Sekou Ayo Handy-Kendi and her husband, John Davies 3, both renown for creating “tune-up music” that accompanies their breathology sessions, visualizations. and healing performances “Tune up” music is a fusion of African-centered and natural sound instruments that gently stimulates the chakras (energy-centers in the body) while calming the mind of mental chatter and relaxing the nerves for stress reduction.
She and her husband John have co-produced 4 relaxation CD”s, “Earth Song”, “Sea Breeze”, “Circle Dance”, “Dawn to Dusk:.. They have also produced a CD “Time to Celebrate - cultural music for African-centered holidays, celebrations and rituals”, They have performed at healing ceremonies, community events, pre-peace demonstrations and notably opened for the international healer Dr. Sebi in his long-awaited presentations in Washington, D. C and in Philadelphia, in 2014.
RECIEPIENT OF NUMEROUS COMMUNITY AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS, Notably:
2020, Volunteer Appreciation Award, Town of Capitol Heights Communiity Health & Environment Committee
2018, Recognition for Support, Maryland Parks and Planning
2018: Mayoral Recognition, Town of Capitol Heights for Black Love Day, first in Maryland
2015, Nation of Islam, Award of Appreciation, Million Man March, 20th Anniversary
2014 United Negro Improvement Assoc. (UNIA) Community Service Award
2013 National Black Love Festival, “Fannie Lou Hamer” Community Activist Award,
.2010 Grassroots Activist Award, Washington Peace Center
. Elected Senior Representative for Dept of Health “Live Healthy D.C.” Collaborative
. Requested by the President of Benin to represent U.S.A. at the 2006-07 Roots & Gospel Festival
. Lifetime Achievement Award, Jamii Africa- Reconciliation Pilgrimage to Benin, West Africa
. Ambassador For Peace Award, Interreligious and International Federation for World Peace
. Anheuser-Busch Companies “Outstanding Achievement Award”,
Profiles in Excellence. KOOL Achievers Award Nominee
. D.C. Women’s Hall of Fame, D. C. Commission for Women, D.C. Government
. Psi Epsilon Omega - Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (AKA ) Certificate of Appreciation, Holistic Alternative Health Conference
D.C. Mayoral Proclamations and City Council Resolutions awarded for Black Love Day, African American Holiday Expo; Unity in Diversity Day; and D. C. Emancipation Day – April 16th
. Les Brown, Speaking for Profit Recognition; Willie Jolly,
Letter of Recognition for organizing work in the making of the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday
PHILOSOPHY
Ayo Handy-Kendi champions the belief that health and wellness prevention is wholistic with “the breath” being the foundational tool for self-care and deep healing on the sub-conscious level enabling us to heal what we don't actually feel. Optimal breathing, water drinking, good nutrition, sleep and exercise are important, as well as, spirituality, stress management, natural alternative practices, cultural identity, community empowerment, conflict resolution, violence reduction and addiction/recovery maintenance. Wholistic is the sum total of Spirit, Mind and Body, and must be considered when assisting marginalized people in a racist society and poor people around the globe, who are falling ill and dying disproportionately to other groups, due to holding our breath due to systemic racism and oppression. The Breath is the connection between Spirit, Mind and Body with a total wellness package using the simplest tool available to us 24/7, free and accessible right under our noses, that makes the greatest impact providing us “minute to minute Yoga”™. She quotes often,. “If you are tired of the stress, tired of the pain, ready to heal, ready to change, then live life to the fullest, re-connect to the “Power of the Breath. Relearn how to breathe for better life, health, work and longevity tm”.
She walks her talk as a grandmother of 22, great-grandmother of 9 and was part of the family caretaking team for her Mom who transitioned at age 92, in October, 2017.
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RECENT Virtual 2021/2024 ClIENTS and APPEARANCES
THE ANNUAL WORLD BREATHING DAY, APRIL 11THincluded 16 North American and 16 European Breath presenters, and Ayo Handy-Kendi presented for the 5th year, facilitating a demo on "Breathe Deeply to Heal the Divides". See her up-coming certification program, "BREATH CIRCLES TO HEAL THE DIVIDES" COMING IN MAY 24-26, 2024 AND ON-GOING.
www.positivenergyworks.com/breath-circles2-heal-the-divides.html
www.positivenergyworks.com/breath-circles2-heal-the-divides.html
On Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at 10:13:12 AM EDT, Monica Harris <[email protected]> wrote
Ms. Kendi,
You lite the entire place up with your amazing energy!!!! My team said you used your 5-minute segment with so much excitement and vigor! Thank you for participating and we look forward to learning more about breathing correctly we will see you next year.
Be well and Thank you for everything,
Monica Harris, Community Relations Specialist
Ms. Kendi,
You lite the entire place up with your amazing energy!!!! My team said you used your 5-minute segment with so much excitement and vigor! Thank you for participating and we look forward to learning more about breathing correctly we will see you next year.
Be well and Thank you for everything,
Monica Harris, Community Relations Specialist
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Boris Lawrence Henson FoundationBoris Lawrence Henson Foundation 502 followers502 followers 2mo
Join us for "Elevate Love: A Black History Month Virtual Hangout," curated to celebrate hashtag#BlackLoveDay and promote wellness and unity. This hangout is all about celebrating our unique identities, nurturing our mental health, and fostering an unbreakable sense of community. 👉 See the REPLAY on YouTube to enjoy the experience: : https://lnkd.in/d8Q--gcb Black Love Day founder Mama Ayo Handy-Kendi will share insights on fostering healthy relationships and self-love. Engage in yoga, mental wellness discussions, and sound bowl therapy for a holistic approach to well-being. Don't miss out on this enriching experience! hashtag#BlackHistoryMonth hashtag#BlackLoveDay hashtag#MentalWellness hashtag#JoyIsOurNorthStar hashtag#BLHF hashtag#BorisLawrenceHensonFoundation |
