Ali Smith (he/him), coauthor of Let Your Light Shine: How Mindfulness Can Empower Children and Rebuild Communities, teaches yoga, pranayama, and meditation internationally. He cofounded the Holistic Life Foundation and served as executive director for more than 20 years. The Holistic Life Foundation has brought yoga and mindfulness programs to more than 100,000 youth and adults, focusing on underserved communities. 

The Holistic Life Foundation has authored and piloted a yoga and mindfulness-based curriculum that was studied in the first randomized controlled trail on the effectiveness of yoga and mindfulness on urban youth. Their programs have been featured on NBC Nightly News, CBS Morning News, Good Morning America, as well as in O Magazine and on UpWorthy.

Ali started his journey with contemplative practices in childhood, learning meditation from his father and attending the SRF-based Divine Life Church of Monism run by Swami Shankarananda. He deepened his practice as a young adult, learning yoga from his teacher and godfather Will Joyner.

Ali is also co-owner of the Involution Group and co-host of the Involution podcast.