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RSS Feed What happens when you stop hustling and start listening—to your breath, your body, and yourself? On this episode of WeAreLATech, we’re joined by Lihi Benisty, a celebrated breathwork, movement, and somatic practitioner who went from teaching jam-packed classes in LA to redefining her own boundaries and path on the beaches of Kauai. Lihi shares how a journey through heartbreak, burnout, and even a harrowing run-in with wild bears helped her reclaim what matters most: self-trust, authentic presence, and living with integrity. We explore the realities of building in the tech world—how our drive for achievement can sometimes breed self-abandonment, and why real productivity, creativity, and community all begin with honest self-connection. Lihi unpacks the science and soul of breathwork, demystifies somatic practices, and rejects the “fix-it” culture of gurus and quick-fixes. Whether you’re scaling a startup or simply trying to show up for yourself and your team, this episode will inspire you to make space for rest, find strength in vulnerability, and impact others—simply by being you.
In this heartfelt episode, we're joined by Lihi Be, a pioneering breathwork, movement, and somatic practitioner whose journey traverses the worlds of mindfulness, tech hustle, and the realities of reclaiming self-worth. Lihi unpacks what it means to truly be in a culture defined by output, shares the radical importance of rest and vulnerability (especially in the LA tech scene), and tells raw stories of heartbreak, transformation, and surviving a near-death experience in the wild. If you're a driven LA tech builder ready to reconnect with your own humanity, this one will hit home.
Key Topics & Highlights
The Cost of Hustle: Why driven people in tech so often abandon their own well-being for productivity, and how reclaiming self-connection actually increases clarity and output 01:16.
Defining Breathwork: Lihi Benisty shares her transition from yoga to breathwork as a pillar of life and healing 04:17.
Reframing Healing: Ditching the "guru" complex and why real transformation is about reclaiming your autonomy—not outsourcing it to a healer 16:18.
Vulnerability in Tech: Why showing up honestly, even with anxiety or heartbreak, is a strength—not a weakness—for leaders and builders 46:40.
The Power of Boundaries: The liberating effect of saying "no," practicing somatic awareness, and communicating personal needs—even when it feels risky 49:01; 01:05:10.
How to Rest Without Guilt: Rest is not a reward for burnout but a necessity for creativity and productivity. Get three-breath practices to reset before high-stress moments 01:01:21.
Lihi’s Own Reclamation Journey: From depression to a near-fatal encounter with bears, a breakup, and finding new life on Kauai, Lihi keeps it transparent about growth, loss, and realignment 26:00.
Building Community & Integrity: Tips for identifying who’s really “for you” in your network or team—and the value of friends who just sit in the mud with you 55:13.
Leadership: How founders and tech leaders can integrate breathwork, self-inquiry, and community values into their startups for healthier, more effective teams 01:02:08.
Featured Guest
Lihi Benisty aka "Lihi Be"
Breathwork, movement, and somatic practitioner
Retreat leader, poet, and Substack creator
Former founding teacher at Open (Venice, CA); now based in Kauai
Find her: lihibe.com | Instagram: @lihi_be
Poetry book: The Self Reframed in the Realm of Raw (Amazon)
Resources & Recommendations
Book: Sum by David Eagleman — Short stories with a creative take on the afterlife 01:06:08
Poetry Inspiration: David Whyte
Upcoming Retreats: Esalen in Southern California, Omega Institute in New York, Brazil
Virtual Workshops: Regularly offered — sign up via Lihi’s site or Instagram DM
Advice
Every “no” is one step closer to a “yes.”
The truest autonomy is saying no without excuses 01:05:10.
Three conscious breaths can shift your state before any high-stakes meeting or tough conversation 01:02:03.
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"Be Excellent To Each Other"
All love always,
Espree
aka "the girl who gets it done"
