Our Events

The Village x CAYC London x Kendra Blake:
Community, Calm, and Connection an afternoon focused on ‘refilling the cup’

Wednesday 22nd January, 14.00 – 16.30, CAYC London Studios, Earlsfield SW18

Topics Covered

  • Matrescence
  • Identity changes & conflicting emotions in motherhood
  • Expectations vs realities of motherhood
  • Wearing multiple hats in motherhood & pressures of the juggle
  • Career ambition & motherhood

Event Overview

One word to describe our Community, Calm & Connection event – HYGGE!…..the Danish word describing a ‘cozy, contented mood evoked by comfort and friendliness’ feels spot on for our afternoon with 13 amazing women and their babes. The warmth and energy created by a community of women coming together and connecting over shared experiences of motherhood was the perfect tonic to a cold and blustery January afternoon!

This was a new type of event for The Village, teaming-up with matrescence coach and perinatal therapist Kendra Blake and Cake & Yoga Club Founder and Yoga instructor, Immy May, to host an afternoon intended to nourish both mind & body. The idea was to create time & space for women at all stages of motherhood to shift focus onto themselves and to help refill the cup – something that can often get squeezed-out in the busy of motherhood!

Kendra led the group in a talking circle to explore and share our experiences of motherhood – we talked about the tensions and conflicts we can feel within ourselves, being pulled in different directions and needing to wear so many different hats once we have children – mother, partner, friend, professional….; we talked about shifts in our values & priorities and the importance of recognising and accepting these shifts in order to better align how we spend our energy & time without self-recrimination; we talked about career & ambition and how these parts of us can sit alongside our roles as mothers & nurturers; and we talked about societal pressure to ‘have it all’ and how this can harm our views of ourselves when we feel we’re falling short in some way…and critically the importance of being kinder to ourselves.

Immy then led us through a slow flow yoga session focusing on nourishing poses to help stretch & restore. Slowing down and taking time to be quiet and reflect is something that can be hard to navigate in the happy chaos of motherhood so this session felt particularly restorative and valuable for connecting mind and body. We had the wonderful Ella & Rachael from Rose Nannies with us for the afternoon looking after the smalls in the room – they were jedis at calming and keeping happy the little people so their mammas could focus on themselves with the comfort of knowing their babies were safe and close by.

And then we ate cake & drank fizz! Warming chai spiced loaf cake & fruity carrot cake eaten sitting cross-legged on the floor whilst chatting amongst each other and making new connections. It was a warm, open & inspiring afternoon – our ladies left each holding something they’d taken from the conversation, inspired by the other women in the room, and keen to stay connected with each other as they navigate the next phase of motherhood.

A huge thank you to Immy & Kendra, Ella & Rachael for helping make this happen, and to all the wonderful women who shared in the afternoon with us!

‘Motherhood takes a Village’ – we want to help build that Village through connecting women with the resources, support & community they need to thrive in motherhood.

Expert Practitioners

Kendra Blake

Perinatal Therapist & Matrescence Coach

Immy May

CAYC London Founder & Yoga Instructor

Kendra Blake

Perinatal Therapist & Matrescence Coach

Immy May

CAYC London Founder & Yoga Instructor

Kendra Blake is an integrative perinatal therapist and matrescence coach who has been working therapeutically for nearly a decade within clinics, hospitals and the private sector supporting women through all stages of their lives.  Over the years her passion has evolved, and just prior to becoming a mother herself, she stumbled across the theory of Matrescence (a word used to describe the transition and evolution of a woman becoming a mother). She has since undertaken additional training in perinatal mental health, matrescence and motherhood sociology to better support mothers through postpartum and beyond. She is the owner of MamaThrive and offers motherhood therapy, motherhood circles, online courses and a fortnightly podcast (called MamaThrive) to best support women navigating motherhood.

The practice of yoga came into Immy’s life as a way to aid her scoliosis. However, it wasn’t until her early 20’s that she learnt how yoga filters into every aspect of life. Regular run-ins with anxiety and panic attacks completely altered her perspective on the practice of yoga. Rather than being simply a physical sequence of poses, it became an opportunity to connect with herself, relish in the flow of breath, movement and choosing to dedicate time to truly nourish.  In awe of how much yoga enriched her life, Immy embarked on teacher training in 2018 and took a deep dive into this fascinating, vast practice. From a summer of pop-up gatherings in 2019 bringing cake and the practice of yoga together in different spaces across London to a bricks & mortar studio in Earlsfield in 2022, Immy has created in CAYC a safe & welcoming space that encourages community in every detail. CAYC London is a joyful wellness studio with many offerings that all hold the same values of warmth, friendliness and comfort.

Feedback – hear what people are saying about our event

“It felt powerful having so many intelligent women in one room all discussing the struggle together”

“Absolutely perfect”

“Ah such a lovely event and a really nice bunch of ladies – thank you!”

“That was just the most fun! Already told a few mates who are keen to join… what a great bunch of heroes”

“Well done for yesterday it was such a lovely event!”

“It was a warm, no-stress, inviting event – so good for one of my first events post-baby!”

Supporters

  • Childcare – We were lucky to have the wonderful Rose Nannies with us helping to manage the smalls so that our mammas could engage in the sessions and have some hands-free time
  • Goody bags – our ladies all took away goody bags filled with bits aimed at helping our mammas feel a little bit indulged… a big thank you to all the wonderful brands who contributed to helping our mammas feel special.
  • Community Card – Everyone went home with their very own Community Card fob, unlocking a host of promotions & discounts from amazing businesses & brands signed-up to be part of The Village, including:
    • Westminster Women’s Clinic, The Spring Back Guide, CAYC London, Kendra Blake, Hot Tea Mama, Guinot Earlsfield, and many more…
    • Sign-up here to access the ‘village of support’ now.

Suggested Resources

matrescene and managing motherhood-open
navigating career and motherhood open

Books:

  • The mother of all jobs – How to have children, and a career, and stay sane(ish), Christine Armb

  • The Blend – how to successfully manage a career & family, Tobi Asare

  • Mothers Work!how to get a grip on guilt & make a smooth return to work, Jessica Chivers

Podcasts:

Instagram:

Gallery

Instagram: @the.v.illage