Malik A. Willoughby is an award-winning and recognized leader with over 30 years of experience as a practitioner of mindfulness, movement, fitness and performing artistry. Malik’s career of nearly 25 years in recreation and wellness administration, management and programming has solidified him as a pillar in the Central Ohio community. With demonstrated gifts as a yogi, dancer, writer, community leader and visionary of the M.B.U.B.É. (pronounced EM boo-bay) Institute, Malik dreams of a unified collective and desires to nourish souls. His newly founded organization, the Mind, Body and Universal Balance Empowerment Institute (M.B.U.B.E.), is a multi-tiered business that designs and oversees wellness and resilience strategies across the lifecycle of individuals. His subject matter expertise is in designing and coaching wellness strategies for vulnerable populations as well as applying culturally competent components to the principles of holistic wellness.
Malik believes we are one with the universe and that balance is the key to life. He hopes to use meditation through breathing and movement to change generational narratives. He is co-founder of the vegan soulfood catering company, Willowbeez SoulVeg as well as the Mansa Men mentoring program for youth and young men of color. Expanding his wheelhouse of wellness, Malik completed his 200-hour Vinyasa Flow training with Seven Studio in 2018. He currently leads yoga classes, mindfulness and meditation sessions in prisons, school classrooms, at community events and for Replenish, an urban day-spa in Columbus, Ohio. Malik’s specialization is an energy vinyasa flow class which offers a dynamic sequencing of postures designed to build a continuous flow of heat in the body – to sweat – to move energy – tiring the body out so that the mind begins to rest.
Malik’s own experiences in trauma and resiliency – with family tragedies including but not limited to abuse, addiction, and incarceration – inspired him to pursue a life dedicated to holistic wellness. Malik received his bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management from Ashford University and for over 20 years, has served the Central Ohio community as a Recreation and Parks Administrator. He is a Board and Foundation Member of the Ohio Parks & Recreation Association. He is co-founder of the vegan soulfood catering company, Willowbeez SoulVeg as well as the Mansa Men mentoring program for youth and young men of color. Expanding his wheelhouse of wellness, Malik became a licensed yogi in 2018. He currently leads yoga classes and meditation sessions in prisons, school classrooms, at community events and for Replenish, an urban day-spa.