View Pictures/Video     Other Instructors     Jonathan Knipping     Jennifer O'Hara     Angela Kesting   A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer | Certified Ohashiatsu Graduate Certified Aerobox Instructor | Creator of Meridian Touchtm Yoga Born in Chicago and raised in Brooklyn, Darryl Aiken-Afam has over 20 years experience in the fitness, movement, and martial arts worlds. His earliest formal training began in the art of Tae Kwon Do at the age of 10, and throughout his high school years he was on both the track and footballs teams. In his early 20’s he began studying Shotokan Karate and then Muay Thai kickboxing training to be an amateur fighter. During this time he became an ACE certified trainer while also studying Capoeira, Kali (Stick fighting), and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. While studying the martial arts he also became a practitioner of the healing arts, becoming certified in Shiatsu and studying Holistic bodywork and Oriental Medicine in the US and Japan. Darryl is the creator of Meridian Touchtm Effortless Yoga and Meridian Touchtm Sports Yoga. The later being currently used by Big TEN varsity teams at Northwestern University. He is an active lecturer and has lectured on Oriental Medicine & movement and Meridian Exercise theory at both Northwestern University and at the University of Illinois Chicago’s Kinesiology Department, and at various training and dance centers in the US and abroad.       Current Project     Northwestern University Training Big TEN Varsity teams in Meridian Touchtm Sports Yoga (Football, Women’s Basketball, Men’s Soccer, Women’s Fencing, Men’s Crew for 08-09’ school year.)   Oriental Sports Medicine Workshops Oriental Sports Medicine workshops, lectures and Meridian Touchtm Master classes in Chicago and NYC- Oval Fitness, Chelsea Piers, Evanston Athletic Club, Gleason’s Gym, Fitness Guru, Fitness Collective, & Northwestern University.   Meridian Touchtm DVD and Book Completion of both in 2009   Movement / Fitness Experience     I have done or continue to presently do personal training, group fitness, and Master classes at;     Holmes Place – Chicago, Equinox - NYC/Chicago, Crunch – NYC/Chicago, David Barton Gym – NYC, Profile Women’s Fitness – NYC, Chelsea Piers – NYC, Body By Berle - Long Island, NY, Duomo Gym – NYC, Plus One Fitness – NYC, Evanston Athletic Club – Chicago, Revolution Studio – NYC, Peak Performance – NYC, Reebok – NYC, Exhale Spa – Chicago, Athletic & Swim Club – NYC, and more.   Revolution Studio, NYC Served as director of Martial Arts   NY Presbyterian Hospital Served as Exercise Specialist   Former member of team Body Bar & Presenter for team Body Bar at 2000 DCAC   Martial Arts Experience   Member of the Chicago Fight Team- Full contact MMA/Vale Tudo under Roberto Ramirez, Chicago   Shotokan Karate Brown belt under sensei George Ashkcar of Kyodai Karate-Do & Toyotaro Miyazaki of Miyazaki Shotokai, NYC   Muay Thai Kicking Amateur fighter level under Blue Iida of New York Kickboxing Association. Student of Kru Phil Nurse of the Wat, NYC   Brazilian Jiu Jitsu White belt under Fabio Tuscanno of Alliance Jiu Jitsu, NYC   Systema Mano Corto Kali Gold level under Jesus Vasquez and Vic Valez, NYC   Abada Capoeira White cord under Mestranda Edna Lima, NYC   Bodywork and Oriental Medicine Training:   Graduate of the Ohashi Institute, New York City 2006 Iokai Shiatsu Headquarters Tokyo, Japan 2002, and 2004 Personal Tutoring under Master Instructors Stephen Brown, L. Ac. TJM, and Tony Zayner, L.Ac TCM, 2003-Present