Some spaces are built from ambition. Others are built from survival, devotion, and a long commitment to inner work.

In this episode, Leah Santa Cruz shares the deeply personal journey that shaped her role as a founder of The In Movement. From early experiences with chaos and instability to burnout, meditation, motherhood, and leadership, Leah reflects on how lived experience becomes the foundation for meaningful community.

Rather than offering polished answers, Leah speaks honestly about discipline, healing, and the responsibility that comes with creating a space meant to hold others. She explores why depth matters now more than ever, how belonging is cultivated rather than assumed, and what it means to lead without repeating old patterns of self sacrifice.

This conversation is not about quick fixes or feel good moments. It is about building something that lasts and what it asks of the people creating it.

Episode Chapters:

00:00 – The season of building and what feels real now

01:48 – Three life chapters that shaped Leah’s path

02:52 – Growing up in chaos and learning self responsibility

04:35 – Burnout, anxiety, and the body as messenger

05:55 – Meditation as a turning point

06:47 – Commitment, trust, and moving to Bali

08:02 – From inspiration to structured transformation

09:52 – Why depth and human connection matter now

13:45 – Community shifts and what feels missing

15:53 – Creating spaces for belonging beyond class

17:23 – Collaboration, friction, and leadership growth

22:30 – Partnership, parenting, and boundaries

25:14 – When this project almost did not happen

28:45 – Feeling seen, belonging, and activation

31:49 – What this space is asking of Leah now

33:27 – Sustainability, trust, and nervous system regulation

Mentions & Resources:

• Michael Henri’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelyoga.pt/

• Leah’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lesant/

• The IN Movement Instagram: https://www.instagram/com/the_in_movement/

  
  

Tags: The In Movement, founders journey, embodiment, meditation, healing and discipline, community building, conscious leadership, yoga philosophy, belonging, personal transformation