Our Events

The Village x CAYC London x Kendra Blake:
Connection, Calm & Community – an afternoon to restore & refill your cup

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

Event Details

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

The Village has teamed up with CAYC London & Kendra Blake to bring you an afternoon of restoration for mothers. Come and enjoy the tranquillity of the CAYC studios in Earlsfield for an afternoon of education, exploration, movement & community. Whatever stage of motherhood you’re at, the afternoon aims to shift the focus back onto YOU – creating a little bit of time & space for you to nourish your mind & body, hopefully refilling your cup a little bit before jumping into the inevitably fast-paced Christmas period!

The afternoon will combine a focus on mind & body through two practitioner-curated sessions:

‘Managing Motherhood’: We’ll be joined by Kendra Blake – therapist & matrescence coach who supports women to navigate their individual experiences of motherhood, helping grow self-awareness, self-compassion and empower women in motherhood.

Kendra will lead a 45minute group session covering the following themes:

  • Understanding identity changes in motherhood
  • Challenging & conflicting emotions in motherhood
  • Expectations vs realities of motherhood and related emotional wellbeing
  • Practical strategies to help us manage emotions that can feel all-consuming at times

‘Mindful Movement’: CAYC Founder and Head Yogi, Immy May, will lead the group through a 45 minute slow-flow yoga session. This mindful movement will create time for inner reflection & digestion of the themes surfaced in the earlier discussion as well as intention setting going forward.

Community + Cake: Delicious treats will be on offer at the end of the afternoon along with bubbles/tea/coffee and the opportunity to socialise with the other women attending.

Expert Speakers

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.

Online Resources:

  • Mentor Mums
    • Match mums returning to work with mums who have done it all before for mentoring support – completely free
  • The Springback Guide
    • Digital coaching resource & support
  • Carifit +
    • 360 support to enhance your wellbeing as you think about the next phase of motherhood & return to work
  • Careers After Babies
    • 2023 Report documenting landmark research into what happens to women’s careers after they have children
  • Pregnant then screwed
    • For support / guidance on employer or workplace issues related to your maternity leave/returning from maternity leave etc
  • Mother Pukka
    • Flex Appeal

Books:

  • The mother of all jobs – Christine Armstrong
    • How to have children, and a career, and stay sane(ish)
  • The Squiggly career – Helen Tupper & Sarah Ellis
    • Ditch the Ladder, Discover Opportunity, Design Your Career
  • Burnout – Emily & Amelia Nagoski
    • Solve your stress cycle
  • The Blend – Tobi Asare
    • How to successfully manage a career and a family

Podcasts:

Phone:

  • Working families hotline
    • Monday – Friday, 11am – 2pm, 0300 012 0312
    • Independent charity offering free legal advice on employment rights for parents and carers and in-work benefits for families

Social media accounts (IG):

Details

When: Wednesday 22nd January 2025; 14.00 – 16.30

Where: CAYC London Studios, Earlsfield SW18

Schedule:

  • 14.00: Introduction – The Village
  • 14.15: Managing Motherhood – Kendra Blake
  • 15.00: Break
  • 15.15: Mindful Movement – Immy
  • 16.00: Community & Cake
  • 16.30: END

Purchase your ticket

In-person event ticket: £45

Includes:

  • Expert practitioner-led group discussion & coaching
  • Expert-led mindful movement yoga class
  • Cake, tea, coffee & bubbles
  • The Village Goody bag
  • The Village Community Card – giving you access to a whole host of promotions & discounts
  • Childcare onsite – to help you focus on YOU whilst knowing your baby is nearby & safe

Instagram: @the.v.illage