Let’s Change the way we speak about the things that bring us Joy.
You may be thinking, why CAYC?
‘Cake & Yoga Club’ the words hastily scribbled down in a notepad one idle Tuesday evening, initially a book idea. The inspiration was to write about how these two seemingly juxtaposing passions of cake and yoga actually go very well together. Unknowingly at the time, this moment was the start of our story.
Whilst teaching yoga classes across London, I soon realised there was something missing. I couldn’t quite find a community I truly aligned with. Feeling disheartened when the frequently asked question would be about calories burnt in class, and the way that the experience often felt cold and transactional, coming and going from your mat without speaking to another soul.
The way we treated and spoke about ourselves needed to shift, our connection to community and safe, friendly spaces was in need of nurturing. This quote from B.K.S Iyengar articulated this perfectly…
“Practitioners of the asana (poses) alone often forget that yoga is for cultivating the head and the heart. Patanjali talked about friendliness, compassion, gladness and joy. Friendliness and grace are two qualities that are essential for the yoga student. In yoga class, students often look so serious and separate from each other. Where is the friendliness? Where is the compassion? Where is the joy? Without these, we have not achieved the true yoga of Patanjali.”
After some encouragement from friends, it was time to bring the idea of CAYC to life.
The first summer of pop up gatherings in 2019 sparked a small movement. A humble picnic table in the park, yoga, an array of homemade bakes, conversation, old friends, new friends= and prosecco. It was a celebration of all things joyful, a nourishing blend of rituals that bring people together.
Our community continued to flourish as we popped up in various pop up spaces across London, one of those being virtual throughout the pandemic, then we landed in Earlsfield ready to put down roots. This started in Earlsfield Primary School hall, then in 2022 my dream of our very own brick and mortar studio came true.
Creating a safe, welcoming space that encourages community within every detail and serves as a happy place for so many has been my greatest achievement and passion. It brings enormous joy to nurture an environment that has formed friendships, helped many connect with their body and mind in a truly nourishing way and made our corner of London a more warm, friendly place to be.
The beauty of our journey is that whilst our ethos of ‘Cake & Yoga Club’ remains the same, we now offer so much more. CAYC is a joyful wellness studio with many offerings that all hold the same values of warmth, friendliness and comfort.
Though there aren’t cakes on offer at every class (mainly our events), CAYC represents the very heart of our ethos. Inclusive of all, warm, delicious.
A note from our founder, Immy
To me, cake is the purest representation of celebration, happiness, and community.
Cake brings people together. The ritual of baking recipes passed down through generations sparking nostalgic memories. We gather round a cake to sing Happy Birthday, share slices amongst friends, bake for loved ones when they need support.
The practice of yoga came into my life as a way to aid my scoliosis. However, it wasn’t until my early 20’s that I learnt how yoga filters into every aspect of life. Regular run-ins with anxiety and panic attacks completely altered my perspective on the practice of yoga. Rather than being simply a physical sequence of poses, it became an opportunity to connect with myself, relish in the flow of breath, movement and choosing to dedicate time to truly nourish.
Throughout my teens I struggled with body image and saw movement as a tool to change myself. Foods labelled as ‘good’ or ‘bad’, my fitness pal, growing up in the 00’s steeped in diet culture, this warped way of thinking followed me into my early twenties.
In awe of how much yoga enriched my life, I embarked on my teacher training in 2018 and took a deep dive into this fascinating, vast practice. During one of our many classes, I had an epiphany. An influx of complete and total love for my body, a union between my mind and this brilliant, smart, strong vessel I get to experience life with. It was so profound and shaped who I am as a yoga teacher.
Cake is often seen as ‘bad’ or a ‘guilty pleasure’ that we ‘indulge’ in, therefore we move our bodies almost as if it was punishment for being ‘naughty’. In that moment during class, something in me switched. I felt so determined to change the way we speak about the things that connect us, with each other and with ourselves.
The journey of CAYC has been one of passion, dedication and a lot of optimism. Most days I am reminded of why I do this. From conversations with students, messages we receive and watching friendships form - it is the loving, supportive environment I always dreamt of and I can’t wait to see where it takes us next.
Meet out Studio Manager, Molly
Molly is our Studio Manager at CAYC. Often described as the ‘studio fairy’, she is a friendly face that helps keep the club magical, fresh and ready to welcome you. From planning events to community gatherings, Molly sprinkles all round TLC on the CAYC experience.
Yoga was introduced to Molly by a friend many years ago, and she has never looked back after experiencing the mental health and physical benefits it offers. After arriving in Earlsfield, she found CAYC and fell in love with the treehouse charm you find at the studio; it has become her safe space - as it is for so many people.
Molly is an advocate for nourishment and self care, having taken years to understand what her body and mind needs in order to feel it’s happiest. When she isn’t practicing yoga, pilates or barre at the club, you’ll find Molly exploring the woods with her Whippet and cooking delicious, wholesome meals to fuel her body.
Meet our Teaching crew
Hover over the photo to learn more about your CAYC instructor!
The CAYC Values