Los Angeles – When veteran entertainment industry publicist Makeda Smith began pole dancing as a fitness hobby, over 12 years ago, she had no idea it would morph into a life-changing journey.  The 63-year-old grandmother, who has received international notoriety for her dance flow movement practice, Flying Over 50, has announced a brand expansion during Women’s History Month.  Makeda is releasing her first book, “Flying Over 50 at Any Age, A 30-Day Self Journal for Speeding Past Limitations” on April 5, National Self Care Day.  In addition, she has also launched an online wellness portal, The Makeda Method, offering healing breathwork sessions, deep stretch yoga classes, and dance flow movement lessons, all targeted for maturing seniors.

“Flying Over 50 at Any Age, A 30-Day Self Journal for Speeding Past Limitations” is an encouraging guide for navigating through life’s many holding patterns.  The author offers daily motivation and wisdom through introspection about her life while prompting the reader to write and reflect on their own journey.  By the end of the book, readers will hopefully find themselves renewed, invigorated, and ready to ‘Fly Over 50,’ soaring past societal and self-imposed speed limits.

“When I turned 50 over a decade ago, I was at one of the lowest points in my life.  The market had crashed, and I literally lost everything – but through it all, I found myself. I discovered that life doesn’t end at 50, but it does take on new responsibility.  Diving into fitness not only saved my life, but it also positioned me in the current pro-aging movement and garnered me the profound understanding that aging is one of the most powerful celebrations of living a long life,” expresses Makeda. “My book, ‘Flying Over 50 at Any Age’ and my new wellness portal, The Makeda Method, are my support systems for adults who are being challenged with the many effects of what we call ‘growing old.’   Aging is a natural process, but the secret is mastering practices for mitigating the daily stress that comes with it.” 

‘The Makeda Method’ is a culmination of wellness offerings for everyone, all ages, but particularly for individuals struggling with the anxiety of aging.  As a certified breath and stretch coach, Makeda created the online portal to help others establish their own personal routines for health and wellness. Layered with the grace of her private coaching, breathwork is taught as a mindful tool for eliminating tension and unease, while deep stretch classes enhance flexibility and mobility in the body and work to calm the mind as well.  

“Embracing senior citizenship can be overwhelming.  That’s where finding a coach comes into play.  A coach can guide you with the training and tools you need to initially get started and hold you accountable for your daily practice. Eventually it all becomes secondhand and then you are fine on your own.  I’m still a busy publicist with my own PR agency, but coaching has always been a passion point for me. Now with the release of my book and wellness portal, I’m hoping to further spread the news that growing older is a divine blessing when approached with attentive self-care!” explains Makeda.

Secure your copy of “Flying Over 50 at Any Age, A 30-Day Self Journal for Speeding Past Limitations” on Amazon.com and check out The Makeda Method at www.themakedamethod.com. 

FlyingOver50, has once again teamed with Christina Villegas and Jeff Mercer, the owners of MercVille Productions, to create a mesmerizing pole dance music video. Filmed as part of the production company’s ongoing “Goddesses In Motion: A Pop Up Pole Video Shoot”series and produced by Flying Curves Dance Studio, the release catapults FlyingOver50’s continued quest to encourage ‘mature’ women to reclaim their femininity through dance, fitness and the art of simply moving their bodies. Directed by Villegas, the 57-year-old pole dancing granny fluidly rotates around a pole in nine-inch heel Pleaser Shoes while lusciously combining pole tricks with dance movement.

The Pole Dancing Chronicles.”  Sponsored and co-produced by Mighty Grip Inc., a leading worldwide sporting goods manufacturer, “The Pole Dancing Chronicles” showcases people and events from within the pole and aerial community in an effort to dispel myths and misconceptions around the growing art form. The working couple created the “Goddesses In Motion” pop-up video series as a platform for amateur pole dancers to experience being professionally filmed while performing to a song selection of their choice. The mini-productions result in a two-minute music video feature that the dancers can share across social media and with friends and family.

Hollywood, CA – “It’s important to acknowledge the journey. Expressing appreciation for everyone and every thing along the path is part of the celebration. All of it has brought me here, with ‘here’ being the operative word because ‘I Am still Here’,” cites Makeda Smith, agency owner of Jazzmyne Public Relations. “And for that I Am thankful.”

The boutique styled publicity firm celebrates 25 years this month, providing a distinctly unique approach to publicity, branding, social marketing, management consulting, and crisis and scandal control. With offices in Los Angeles, and a satellite operation in Atlanta spearheaded by Edrea Davis, Jazzmyne Public Relations is recognized as a solid contender in a continually evolving field.

“I remember when fax machines were the fastest way to get out breaking news and we mailed albums and cassettes out to media. Today its emails and mp3’s via the computer,” recollects Makeda. “Twenty five years is a very long time. I’ve seen things come and then go. I’ve witnessed career births, explosions and collapses. And I’ve been around long enough to know that even though things change, the important things remain the same, like integrity, passion and dedication to the energy of a strong work ethic.”

Jazzmyne Public Relations was started in 1988 when Gwendolyn “Makeda” Smith resigned her position as Associate Director of West Coast Publicity at Hervey & Company, a public relations firm headed by industry veteran, Ramon Hervey. With no savings or financial backing, it was a single press release that launched her firm, Jazzmyne Public Relations, named for her oldest daughter.

The agency specializes in urban entertainment and has successfully secured media exposure for celebrities, films, non-profit organizations, businesses, authors, artists, activists and even former crime figures. Clients over the 25 years have included a diverse list of names, events and organizations in entertainment and beyond including former Tonight Show bandleader Kevin Eubanks, comedian and actor Jamie Foxx, comedian/actress Mo’Nique, singer/actress Cheryl Pepsii Riley, radio personality Michael Baisden, Playboy TV, the Little Miss African American Scholarship Pageant and the Black Men’s Xchange.

Under the auspices of Edrea Davis, the agency has represented several U. S. delegations to the United Nations World Conferences in South Africa, Copenhagen, Switzerland and Amsterdam; coordinated publicity efforts for civil rights icon Reverend Joseph Lowery and Melanie L. Campbell, president and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and convener of the Black Women’s Roundtable Public Policy Network; and overall media coordination for the massive UNITY voter registration and get the vote out campaign which comprised nearly 100 of nation’s most prestigious organizations and contributed to the historic black voter turnout and election of President Obama.

“Jazzmyne Public Relations is one of the best avenues for anyone with a message to get their voice out there,” offers Dr. Boogie, a celebrity client and hairstylist to stars like Vivica A. Fox and Kym Whitley. “It may seem like media is much more accessible in this day and age but gaining access with professionalism and savvy still requires an acquired and honed skill.”

Dr. Boogie, the owner of a clip-on hair line and a natural hair product company, continues, “I’ve watched Makeda create and launch some of the biggest careers out there as well as finesse her way around some of Hollywood’s most notorious insider scandals! Jazzmyne Public Relations is an important part of the Dr. Boogie team and brand and we congratulate her on her longevity in the game!”

Contact Jazzmyne Public Relations at www.jazzmynepr.com, via email at jazzmynepr@gmail.com, @makedaqueen on Twitter and “Like” the agency on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jazzmyne-Public-Relations.