TEAM TALK: LEAH MICHAEL
Leah Michael, Design Partner and Facilitator at Synergy, has been part of the Synergy journey since the very beginning, joining us for our first gathering in Ibiza. A familiar face within the community, Leah has helped shape the Synergy experience over the years, bringing her warmth, insight and thoughtful approach to every event.
Q. What drew you to Synergy and excites you most about your role?
Shaping the world of retreats. I specialize in a facilitation methodology called The Xchange Approach, which helps groups unlock their collective wisdom. This approach aligns beautifully with how Synergy fosters collaboration, meaningful partnerships and innovation within the retreat and wellness industry.
Q. What value or daily practice do you bring to your work?
Coffee. Seriously though, creating spaces where people feel safe enough to be honest, connect and collaborate is something I try to bring to every conversation.
Q. What kind of traveller are you?
This question brings up a lot for me. I'd love to say I'm an adventure traveller, and I certainly have been. These days, most of my travel is for leading events, so I suppose that makes me a business traveller. But there's still a part of me longing for the days when all I needed was a one-way ticket to somewhere I'd never been before and the willingness to let spirit guide the way. That carefree traveller is still very much alive.
Q. Favourite country that you have travelled to?
Today, my answer is Zimbabwe.
Q. Do you have a favourite hotel or property?
Casa Alternavida in Puerto Rico. It is a home away from home.
Q. What’s something about you that people might not guess at first glance?
That I'm an introverted, surprisingly strong hippie with a vivid imagination. (My boyfriend and his son helped me answer this one!)
Q. What keeps you grounded and centred?
Nature. My connection to earth and being inside her beauty. Q. A travel moment that changed you?
There have been many life-changing travel moments, but the one that's most alive for me happened in Bangkok. I followed a very attractive man down the street, and it turned into an unforgettable love story. Plane tickets were torn up, an unexpected moved to Australia happened. Life has a funny way of surprising us.
Q. What do you love about experiencing places through wellness and connection?
I'm continually reminded how naturally healing becomes when we prioritize our well-being. Creating space for connection, with ourselves, others, and the places we visit, has a way of bringing us home to ourselves.
Q. What’s most shaped your approach to wellbeing and personal growth?
Learning about nutrition completely changed my life. I grew up eating highly processed foods without realizing how much they affected my health. A 28-day ONVO challenge introduced me to whole foods, reading ingredient labels, honoring my hunger, and simplifying my relationship with food. That experience became the foundation for nearly everything I practice in wellbeing today.
Q. What practice or teacher has impacted you in your life?
Yancy Wright, founder of Alternavida Lifestyle and Casa Alternavida. Before attending one of his retreats, I knew very little about personal development, healing, or cultivating a relationship with nature. His teachings opened the door to an entirely new way of living, and they've profoundly shaped who I am today.
Q. Your top three travel essentials?
Toothbrush, swim suit, Badger Balm aka chapstick
Q. What is your favourite book?
Lessons in Chemistry is one of my favorite reads. I'm not sure I could choose just one favorite book, but it's certainly near the top of the list.
Q. Where do you want to go next, and what’s the first thing you’d do there?
South America is calling me. It's one part of the world I haven't explored yet, and I'm captivated by its landscapes, cultures, and biodiversity. The first thing I'd do? Wander, without much of a plan, and let the place reveal itself to me.