Let Your Light Shine

How Mindfulness Can Empower Children and Rebuild Communities

By: Ali Smith, Atman Smith, Andres Gonzalez, Bessel van der Kolk - foreword

Narrated by: Ali Smith, Atman Smith, Andres Gonzalez, Sean Pratt

Length: 9 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

This story of three men's work helping traumatized kids in one of America’s most underserved cities reveals how mindfulness tools can help children and communities not only survive but thrive.

In this inspiring book, founders of The Holistic Life Foundation Ali Smith, Atman Smith, and Andres Gonzalez describe how they have spent the past twenty years teaching yoga, meditation, and breathwork to thousands of at-risk kids in Baltimore schools helping them to develop deep reserves of patience, empathy, resolve, and—when needed—the righteous anger that fuels deep structural change. Their work has received wide national attention due to their remarkable results: The schools that have participated in their programs have seen suspension rates plummet and graduation rates go through the roof.

Ali and Atman discovered as young children the power of mindfulness practices to sustain them through the challenges of growing up in a neighborhood in Baltimore that was struggling with poverty and violence—a community they now serve. The Holistic Life Foundation’s mission is to empower kids to find this same stillness and light within themselves and to let it shine out to help change the world. In this book, Ali, Atman and Andres share hands-on mindfulness and meditation tools listeners can teach kids that will empower them to do this same work in their own communities. Let Your Light Shine is essential listening for parents, educators, activists, and anyone looking to make a difference in the lives of young people.

©2022 Ali Smith, Atman Smith, Andres Gonzales (P)2022 Penguin Audio

Excellent

Great book. Gives current and historical context to the community they work with and why. I love that it explains trauma and behaviors in a ways that people may overlook when it comes to children. Gives techniques and explanations that are well thought out. Excellent audiobook .

Love this book!!

The work that the authors are doing is so inspirational. I think their techniques should be taught in every school. Kids need this, we all need this and we need to let our light shine so we can light this mf up.

highly recommend

Informative, engaging breathing techniques and lessons, effective results, narrators have calm, understanding tones, wonderful experiences, great audible

SEEDING CHANGE

A beautiful book. How might I support this cause? Inspirational and empowering. Sharing with others.

There's a path to peace here

I loved this book. There's an epidemic of trauma that seems to get worse every day. This book is a road map through trauma to peace by showing kids and adults how to manage their own feelings through yoga, meditation, self love and kindness. Then become a teacher to share these methods with others. Truly inspiring.

YES! You need this read!

No prior knowledge about mindfulness and yoga going into this book is needed but it helps, these real life stories about how this practice can transform young lives growing up in the toughest circumstances is incredibly inspiring and eye opening. This is a book for anyone who embraces growth and wants to make the world a better for ourselves and all younger generations.

Third-eye-opening, harrowing, and inspiring

A must-read for anyone who serves traumatized children and communities. The Baltimore yogis share their life living on one of the roughest blocks in Baltimore and therefore one of the roughest blocks in America. They share the lessons they learned from their Uncle Will, a black panther, jazz enthusiast, and yogi reminiscent of Yoda.

The Baltimore yogis share their inspiring personal stories about how they came to teach mindfulness and yoga in after school programs and how they ultimately founded the Holistic Life Foundation.

They share harrowing depictions of the realities of racism, intergenerational trauma, violence, and broken communities.

They combine the power of ancient spiritual practices with the knowledge of modern neuroscience to rebuild communities and empower young leaders. Their book demonstrates how love can heal trauma and restore communities.

A Must Read!

A must read! Timeless information! Covers various critical typics. Read by the three authors.

Powerful Beyond Words

These three are the most wonderful people I've had the chance of meeting and it was an honor to listen to the knowledge that lives inside them. This book teaches us that the greatest thing we can do for humanity is to love ourselves and spread that love to others. It gives practical tools for meditation and mindfulness, as well as teaching it to our greatest assets - children in our community. Thank you Ali, Atman, and Andres!