Hakim was born and raised in the Pioneer Valley. He attended college in Bar Harbor, Maine, at College of the Atlantic where he received a transdisciplinary degree in Human Ecology, exploring the relationship between humans and their environments. His senior thesis took him to the Brazilian Amazon, where he studied a shamanic religious movement called Santo Daime. Upon returning to the U.S., Hakim remained in Bar Harbor where he attended Acadia School of Massage, and earned his title as Licensed Massage Therapist. Hakim has always been called to serve others and brings a range of experiences to his healing practice. He has worked one-one-one with brain trauma survivors at Volunteers of America, taught English in Guatemala, organized and run a TEDx event, spoke on behalf of Bernie Sanders in the 2016 Maine primary caucuses, has worked at farms, and is a Whitewater Raft Guide on the Deerfield River.