Ali Smith co-founded the Holistic Life Foundation in 2001, where he currently serves as Executive Director. He is a native of Baltimore, Maryland and graduate of the Friends School of Baltimore and the University of Maryland, College Park, receiving a BS in Environmental Science and Policy with a Biodiversity specialization. He has over 15 years of experience teaching yoga and mindfulness to diverse populations. Through his work at the Holistic Life Foundation he has helped develop and pilot yoga and mindfulness programs at public and private schools, drug treatment centers, juvenile detention centers, mental crisis facilities, and retreat centers, nationally and internationally. Ali has authored a series of children’s books, and co-authored several yoga and mindfulness based curriculum’s, as well as developed numerous workshops and training’s. His work with the Holistic Life Foundation has been featured on Making a Difference on the NBC Nightly News, CNN, and CBS, as well as O the Oprah Magazine, The Washington Post, Upworthy, Mindful Magazine, Yoga Journal, Shambala Sun, and many other publications.

In this episode:

Ali’s story about growing up, learning meditation, and starting a movement of bringing meditation and yoga into schools in Baltimore
How Ali thinks about influencing and connecting with people
How meditation, and connecting with oneself can foster hope and inspire people to dream
The origin story of the Holistic Life Foundation, from humble beginnings in the basement of one school to teaching contemplative practices to students around the world
The transformative effects of meditation and yoga programs in schools including large scale reductions in fights, detentions, and suspensions
Moving from reaction to choice through learning meditation and yoga practices
And more!

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Show notes can be found at www.joshuasteinfeldt.com/podcast

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