Darryl Aiken-Afam

Darryl Aiken-Afam is a martial artist and a practitioner of the Taoist healing and meditation arts, Meridian Cleansing Qigong, Zen Shiatsu and Taoist psychology. Darryl created his own system of Chi energy based yoga called Meridian Touch back in 2000, derived from Chinese Tao-In exercises and blended with Zen Shiatsu, Athletic Training, and Martial Arts philosophy. He is the CEO of the Afam Consulting Group and has taught this unique and effortless form of healing yoga to collegiate, professional and Olympic athletes, and has had notable clients likes Ahimir “Questlove” Thompson, Curtis Granderson of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Craig Robinson (older brother to Michelle Obama).

Darryl is also very active in the world of social justice. His “Contact & Conversation” events, designed to help everyday people to converse deeply and successfully about race, uses mindfulness meditation, yoga, human touch, and social psychology to bridge the gulf of pain and emotion associated with discussing race. Darryl is also an ACE Certified Personal Trainer, holds a Masters Degree in Leadership Psychology from Penn State University, and played keyboards on tour for the funk group Cameo back in the 90’s!


Past Olios with Darryl Aiken-Afam


Eastern Medicine for the Western Mind & Body: Taoism & The Five Elements

Over the past 10 years the term “Self-Care” has become ubiquitous in almost everyone's daily conversations as we all are feeling the weight of the times, places and spaces we occupy. Join us for this unique chance to learn and experience through our 6 week course, some of the basic functional foundations of the Taoist way of Self-Care and healing through engendering, activating and using the mind, movement, and human touch.

Venue: None

Teacher: Darryl Aiken-Afam

April 15, 2021, 7 p.m.

Where is My "Self"? A Dialogue between East and West

Eastern and Western philosophers Darryl and Jeanne, will meet for the first time to discuss how consciousness, awareness, personal identity and agency can be explored and understood in radically different ways. They'll discuss concepts like self-care, narcissism, and personal identity during this hour long forum and leave plenty of time for audience questions.

Venue: None

Teacher: Darryl Aiken-Afam

March 23, 2021, 6 p.m.

Seeing the Subconscious: Mindfulness and the Road to Healing Racism

What can ancient Taoist and Buddhist mindfulness practices and western Social Psychology teach us about the process of undoing racism in our subconscious? This is a chance to tap into the deep and unconscious patterns of thought around race that have been embedded in our society and begin the process of having real and authentic conversations about race with people of other racial groups. **Proceeds go to Black Lives Matter**

Venue: None

Teacher: Darryl Aiken-Afam

Aug. 2, 2020, 7 p.m.

The Way of Virtue: Studying the Tao Te Ching

Join Darryl Aiken-Afam as we explore a single chapter from The 'Tao Te Ching' to consider and discuss its contents and its application to our daily life situations. In addition, we will have a movement or somatic piece that features body integration of the principles of Yin and Yang through either Qigong, Zen Shiatsu, Meridian Touch Yoga or Sotai.

Venue: None

Teacher: Darryl Aiken-Afam

May 20, 2020, 6 p.m.

Self Care & The Way of Virtue

Join Darryl Aiken-Afam as we explore a single chapter from The 'Tao Te Ching' to consider and discuss its contents and its application to our daily life situations. In addition, we will have a movement or somatic piece that features body integration of the principles of Yin and Yang through either Qigong, Zen Shiatsu, Meridian Touch Yoga or Sotai.

Venue: None

Teacher: Darryl Aiken-Afam

April 24, 2020, 7 p.m.

Taoism and Self-Care

Join Darryl Aiken-Afam as we explore a single chapter from 'The Way of Virtue' to consider and discuss its contents and its application to our daily life situations. In addition, we will have a movement or somatic piece that features body integration of the principles of Yin and Yang through either Qigong, Zen Shiatsu, Meridian Touch Yoga or Sotai.

Venue: None

Teacher: Darryl Aiken-Afam

April 18, 2020, 6 p.m.

Playing in the Tao

Join Darryl Aiken-Afam for the first in our monthly Olio Path dedicated to the Tao Te Ching. We will explore a single chapter from 'The Book of Changes' to consider and discuss its contents and its application to our daily life situations. In addition, we will have a movement or somatic piece that features body integration of the principles of Yin and Yang through either Qigong, Zen Shiatsu, Meridian Touch Yoga or Sotai.

Venue: None

Teacher: Darryl Aiken-Afam

March 1, 2020, 7:30 p.m.

Eastern Philosophy and Relationships: The Interplay of Yin & Yang

By exploring the ancient Taoist concepts of yin and yang and the 5 elements, we are going to learn how to loosen up our western conditioned minds to accept a more fluid, dynamic and hopeful approach to navigating the waters of all types of relationships in our lives.

Venue: Strand Bookstore

Teacher: Darryl Aiken-Afam

Feb. 14, 2020, 7 p.m.

Eastern Philosophy and Relationships: The Interplay of Yin & Yang

By exploring the ancient Taoist concepts of yin and yang and the 5 elements, we are going to learn how to loosen up our western conditioned minds to accept a more fluid, dynamic and hopeful approach to navigating the waters of all types of relationships in our lives.

Venue: None

Teacher: Darryl Aiken-Afam

Feb. 14, 2020, 7:30 p.m.

Yin-Yang, Stress, & the Western Mind

Join us at the Strand as Taoist practitioner, Darryl Aiken-Afam, explores with us some ways to loosen up our western conditioned minds to accept a more fluid, dynamic and hopeful approach to navigating the waters of ​stress​ in our lives.

Venue: Strand Bookstore

Teacher: Darryl Aiken-Afam

Dec. 9, 2019, 7 p.m.

Ancient Healing for Modern Anxiety: Qigong Workshop

Darryl Aiken-Afam guides us through a hands on workshop exploring the ancient healing art of qigong that we can introduce into our lives to alleviate and flow with everyday anxiety.

Venue: St John's Episcopal Church

Teacher: Darryl Aiken-Afam

Nov. 13, 2019, 7:30 p.m.

*SOLD OUT* Eastern Philosophy and Relationships: The Interplay of Yin & Yang

By exploring the ancient Taoist concepts of yin and yang and the 5 elements, we are going to learn how to loosen up our western conditioned minds to accept a more fluid, dynamic and hopeful approach to navigating the waters of all types of relationships in our lives.

Venue: The Assemblage | NoMad

Teacher: Darryl Aiken-Afam

Aug. 28, 2019, 7 p.m.

Seeing the Subconscious: Mindfulness, Psychology, and the Road to Healing Racism

What can ancient Taoist and Buddhist mindfulness practices and western Social Psychology teach us about the process of undoing racism in our subconscious?

Venue: Living Room

Teacher: Darryl Aiken-Afam

June 26, 2019, 7:30 p.m.


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Olio: A miscellaneous collection of art and literature.