Dr. Leonard Cruz (PhD in Urban Education with a focus on the Performing and Creative Arts) was born in Pampanga, the Philippines and raised as a military brat in San Antonio, Texas. He received his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts Degree in Dance from U.C.L.A., and later obtained his Master of Fine Arts in Performance/Choreography in 2009. He successfully defended his PhD dissertation on, “Laban Movement Analysis as a Methodology for Promoting Creativity and the Arts Across the Curriculum,” in 2013 from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Cruz has been practicing Yoga since his college years and received his 200 E-RYT at Evolve Yoga in 2013. He has taught Dance and Yoga at St. Mary’s College of Maryland from 2012-2016 as well as at Evolve Yoga Wellness. He presently is the Health Promotion Expert and Mindfulness Health Coach at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen, Germany. Leonard is happy to return to Evolve Yoga as a practitioner and instructor. He is gratefull for Ann Hunt and her mentoring as he trains under her wings in obtaining his 500 E-RYT. Cruz specializes in Beginner Flow, Self-Awakening, Yin Yoga, Hatha Yoga, and Mindfulness Meditation.