How my journey begins…
Welcome to LéAké Moves, where I will be sharing my journey of self discovery and personal growth with movement, health & wellness, integrating mind - body - spirit. Here we will move, make nutritious/delicious food, and practice mindfulness and playfulness. I hope to inspire and be inspired by you, and would love to have you join me.
I am Jesse Leake. I grew up in the Bay Area and am based in San Francisco. I am a visual storyteller, an athlete, a life-long student and a continual creator. I played soccer (football) my first 2 years of college, snowboarded competitively and appreciate all forms of movement, particularly in nature. I majored in Cinema and have been a professional photographer for the past 20 years. I always come back to these roots.
While I live a positive and healthy lifestyle now, I’ve pushed through difficult and sometimes dark periods, and found my way back through movement, nature and beauty. I’ve been inspired by Wim Hof (The Ice Man) and now embrace cold water as therapy along with a daily breath work practice.
There are days that I don’t feel like getting up and I’m sure you have those as well, but I always feel better after I move. The connection between mind, body and spirit have been so true for me. I will share how I stay motivated through regular routines of movement and breath work, with a bit of fun and playfulness. I hope my stories benefit you in some way and I’m happy to have you join me.
"If you can learn how to use your mind, anything is possible" - Wim Hof
What People Are Saying
“Jesse Leake is a dedicated and skilled coach, and his LéAké Moves program has motivated me to implement significant positive changes in my approach to fitness and nutrition.
As Jesse has shared his experience and skills with me over the past six months, he has encouraged me to view my diet and exercise program as a vehicle for creativity, nourishment, healing, and fun.
Whether through the rituals of daily breath work, cold water immersion, body weight strength training, a plant-based and athlete-focused diet, or spending time in nature, Jesse’s enthusiasm for and commitment to exercising and nurturing one’s whole self is inspiring. His attention to detail and observational skills also make him an intuitive coach, one who is able to understand and adapt to the needs of others with different ability levels.
In particular, LéAké Moves’ focus on functional exercises has improved my athletic performance by increasing my speed and endurance and has helped strengthen my previously weak (and injury prone) areas. Working with LéAké Moves has also given me the tools to thrive in other areas of my life by encouraging me to adopt a mindful approach to all aspects of health and wellness, including sleep and mental focus.”
— Louisa Swain
“Before I began working with LéAké Moves I was unhealthy, unhappy, and headed into my fifties overweight.
I hated ‘working out’. I loved playing tennis, basketball, soccer, but hadn’t touched a ball in ages. Whenever friends would talk about their exercise I would say all the reasons I didn’t want to do those things. Running? Boring. Hurts my knees. Swimming? My goodness, being stuck in my head paddling back and forth in a chlorinated pool? No thanks!
Then I started meeting Jesse at unexpected locations. The gym? Nah, let’s do the beach instead. Go for a run at the track? No thanks, but a fast hike through the hills of San Francisco sounds fun. Or sprinting on the beach playing soccer, that certainly clears the lungs and the mind.
Ok, let’s build some muscle. Weights? Or….calisthenics on the beach? Yeah, that sounds more like it.
With LéAké Moves getting fit is different. It’s building health for the body and the mind. Exercise is the beginning. Healthful living, stretching, meditation, incredible nutrition because eating so well has never been so delicious.
One year later I am down 25 pounds, my joints don’t ache, my tennis elbow is gone, my body looks better than it ever has, better than my days as an athlete in school. I’m happier, I am a better partner in my marriage, and a better dad for my kids.
LéAké Moves changed my life. Jesse can do the same for you!”
— Seth Brookshire
I met Senór LéAké in high school. We became fast friends. We were housemates for a time during college. 15 years later he photographed my wedding and then life happened and we only saw each other intermittently throughout the next decade.
Fast forward to March 2020 with both of my small businesses shuttered by the pandemic. No one knew what was coming next, but it was very scary.
Jesse reached out and invited me to play tennis. Since then we get together every week for exercise, breath-work, a healthful meal and an occasional cold water swim in the San Francisco Bay. He is an inspiration and my life is better for knowing him.
Thanks for offering this old friend a one day a week respite from the Netflix and chill sedentary life I might have without the weekly dose of awesomeness.
— Bodhi Freedom
Jesse is a wonderful instructor and motivator. Over this past year, he has worked with me on breathing sessions as well as ice bath immersion, both of which were incredibly inspiring to me.
Jesse has a confident, reassuring presence, supportive and encouraging, especially at times when the work can feel quite tough. He is very attuned to his clients’ breathing and body language and instinctively knows how to best help them explore these amazing healing modalities. I would highly recommend Jesse as a breath work facilitator, a highly accomplished health & wellness instructor, and an all-around encouraging motivator in all aspects of his business."
— Antoinette O’Gorman
