The Story of Ummi & Kabsue

Greetings!

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Two vintage photographs on a film strip. The top photo shows three children and one adult outside, with the children holding flowers. The bottom photo shows three children standing in front of an adult, all smiling.

My name is Ummi Uqdah. I was born in the late ’70s in sunny Los Angeles, where I spent my early years in the San Fernando Valley. It was a time of adventure, music, and strong family connections. I was the youngest of five—until, years later, my little sister arrived. My older siblings, Kaamilya (Crystal), Amin, Basim, and Shakir, were my world. I followed them like a baby duckling, always watching, always learning.

Our family had a strong foundation, but life wasn’t without its struggles. We moved often—first from the Valley to Long Beach, then to Rancho Cucamonga. At one point, we found ourselves in a women’s shelter, not because my mother was abused, but because she made the difficult decision to leave my father after he hurt my sister. I was only six at the time, but the experience shaped me. It taught me resilience, deepened my empathy, and instilled in me the ability to observe and listen—skills that would become invaluable in my work today.

As I grew, so did my curiosity about the human body and mind. I was drawn to holistic healing, thanks to my mother, who introduced me to alternative wellness from a young age. She encouraged my love for yoga, meditation, and sound healing—practices that would later become cornerstones of my career.

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Educational & Professional Training

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Over the years, I pursued formal education and professional training in the wellness field:

  • A.A. Degree from Mt. San Antonio College (1999)

  • A.A.S. Degree in Massage Therapy from Pacific College of Health & Science (2013)

  • Certified Life Coach from Life Purpose Institute (2021)

  • CEU in Mindfulness & Meditation through ABMP (2022)

  • B.A. in Sociology from Cal Poly Humboldt (2023)

  • Life Agent (2024)

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I worked as a massage therapist for a variety of companies, including:

  • Cal-a-Vie Health Spa

  • Dang Good Yoga

  • Chiropractic clinics in North County San Diego

  • Private practice with my own clients

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Profound Change

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In 2013, my life changed in profound ways. I became a mother, balancing the demands of my growing family with my passion for healing. In 2016, my mother moved in with us due to serious heart complications. Caring for her was both challenging and deeply rewarding. Our relationship blossomed as we practiced meditation together, listened to sound bowls, and embraced the healing practices she had introduced me to as a child.

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The Dream of Kabsue

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Our mother’s passing in 2019 was devastating. It shook my family to its core; yet through grief, I found purpose. My mother had always dreamed of creating a family business that honored our bond as siblings. She envisioned a name that would represent all of her children—a name that carried the essence of our family’s love and strength. That dream became Kabsue, an acronym made up of the first letter of each sibling’s name:

K for Kaamilya

A for Amin

B for Basim

S for Shakir

U for Ummi

E for Enyo

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Four people smiling outdoors on a sunny day, with clear blue sky.

The name Kabsue is more than just a business. It’s a tribute to my mother’s vision, a symbol of the unbreakable bond between my siblings and me, and a living embodiment of the strength we carry forward. It represents resilience, love, and the power of healing—values that guide everything I do.

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Mindfulness & Meditation

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The COVID pandemic was another turning point. With the world in chaos and the wellness industry on pause, I returned to school to complete my sociology degree. My studies deepened my understanding of human behavior, social structures, and the impact of trauma. When it came time to write my thesis, I chose a subject close to my heart: Mindfulness.

I had no idea just how powerful mindfulness was—not just in spiritual circles, but in scientific research. Studies have shown its ability to help with anxiety, depression, PTSD, and trauma in both children and adults. Inspired by this, I developed my own approach, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Awareness Therapy (MBCAT), integrating mindfulness with sensory awareness.

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This work has led me to teaching mindfulness in schools, where students are learning how to slow down, listen to their own thoughts, and acknowledge their emotions in a healthy way. Seeing their transformation has reinforced my mission: to teach one million people—children and adults alike—the tools to navigate life’s internal struggles through mindfulness.

Comments from Kiddos

  • Handwritten survey responses from a person, including questions about their favorite activity, takeaway, something they learned about themselves, and challenges, with some answers crossed out or faint.
  • A handwritten student questionnaire with questions about practicing meditation, favorite activities, and learnings about oneself, answered in blue and black ink.
  • A handwritten page with a quick poll about food preferences, including questions about favorite food, least favorite, and what was learned about oneself.
  • Handwritten responses to a survey printed on paper, including questions about personal preferences and self-awareness, with some answers written in orange pen.
  • A handwritten questionnaire with responses about a person's experiences and feelings, mentioning activities like eating, breathing, and managing anxiety.
  • A handwritten survey with questions about a child's favorite parts of a performance, practicing, learning about themselves, and their dislikes. The child's handwriting describes their favorite part as the eating part, least favorite as breathing, and things they learned about themselves.
  • A handwritten survey showing responses to questions about favorite activities, least favorite activities, and self-discoveries. Questions include 'What did you love the most?', 'Least favorite?', 'Was there anything that was unclear?', 'Any takeaways?', 'Anything you'll be more aware of?', and 'What did you learn about yourself?'.
  • A handwritten response to a quick poll about what was loved most, with some additional questions and answers, on a printed worksheet.
  • A handwritten questionnaire with questions about personal preferences and experiences, filled in with blue ink. The questions cover favorite things, challenges, and self-awareness.
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“Thank you for visiting my site and taking the time to learn about my journey. I look forward to supporting you on yours.”
— Ummi
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