Ali Smith, Atman Smith, & Andrés González, Holistic Life Foundation

In this lecture, learn about trauma-informed mindfulness strategies that empower youth by reshaping trauma reactions. The three co-founders of the Holistic Life Foundation, Ali Smith, Atman Smith, and Andrés González, will discuss how accessible mindfulness and yoga have proven benefits in reducing stress, enhancing feelings of self-worth and self-love, and create a sense of resilience and optimism. Explore the impacts of the pandemic in the post-pandemic era and how the brain processes stress, intrusive thoughts, and negative self-talk. Participants will come away with a deeper understanding of mindfulness and yoga for addressing trauma and supporting positive mental health in youth.

About the Holistic Life Foundation: 
The Holistic Life Foundation is a Baltimore-based nonprofit that is committed to nurturing the wellness of children and adults in underserved communities. The Foundation was created in 2001 and since then has served more than 100,000+ youth and adults through yoga, mindfulness, environmental-based programs, and trauma-informed training. Currently, the foundation works with 44 sites and approximately 10,000 youth and adults to reduce stress, hypervigilance, and aggression while promoting focus, positive peer interaction, and self-esteem. 

About the Presenters:
Andres Gonzalez is one of the Co-Founders of the Holistic Life Foundation. For twenty years, he has taught yoga to diverse populations throughout the world, including Baltimore City Public School students, drug treatment centers, mental crisis facilities, homeless shelters, wellness centers, colleges, private schools, and other various venues throughout the nation. He has partnered with John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Health and Penn State’s Prevention Research Center on a Stress and Relaxation Study and is a published author in the Journal of Children’s Services. 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. Andres is a certified Health Coach through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, maintains a B.S. in Marketing from the University of Maryland, College Park, and an MBA from the University of Maryland, University College.

Altman Smith is one of the Co-founders of the Holistic Life Foundation. Since 2001, he has been teaching yoga and mindfulness to a diverse population, including underserved and high-risk youth in Baltimore City Public Schools, drug treatment centers, wellness centers, and colleges. A native of Baltimore, Atman attended the University of Maryland, College Park where he was a letter award winner for the University’s men’s basketball team. He graduated with a B.A. in Criminology and Criminal Justice. 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.

Ali Smith was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. He graduated from the Friends School of Baltimore and the University of Maryland, College Park, where he received a BS in Environmental Science and Policy with a Biodiversity specialization. Ali began his journey with contemplative practices as a small child, learning meditation from his father and attending the Kriya Yoga based Divine Life Church of Absolute Oneness run by Swami Shankarananda. He deepened his practice as a young adult, learning yoga, meditation, mindfulness, and breathwork from his teacher and godfather Will Joyner. With almost 20 years of experience teaching yoga, mindfulness, and meditation internationally to a broad demographic spectrum that includes schools, retreat centers, wellness centers, mental crisis facilities, detention centers, drug treatment centers, the corporate setting, as well as private one-on-one sessions, Ali has co-founded the Holistic Life Foundation in 2001. As the Executive Director, his leadership helped guide HLF to grow an organization that employed over 50 people and served communities worldwide. Ali is a published author, has written several curriculums, and is a pioneer in the fields of yoga and mindfulness in education, as well as trauma-informed yoga and mindfulness, developing best practices that are used around the world. He has taught in seven countries on three continents and his work has been featured on CBS News, CNN, NBC Nightly News, PBS, as well as in Oprah Magazine and Forbes. In addition to his work with HLF, Ali is also a co-host of the Look Again Podcast and Co-Owner of the Involution Group.