Katie Reynolds: Restoring Calm and Confidence Through Yoga and Maternal Well-Being

Katie Reynolds has joined The emPOWER Breakfast community as a yoga teacher, maternal well-being specialist, and founder of MamaLove, a thriving community supporting mothers and their partners through pregnancy and early parenthood. With a background in the fast-paced world of television and advertising, Katie brings a unique combination of professional insight and personal empathy to her work, helping participants restore calm, confidence, and clarity in both body and mind.

Katie’s career began as a producer in some of the UK’s leading agencies, including BBH, where she managed high-pressure projects while also introducing colleagues to yoga classes she hosted in the office. These sessions provided much-needed pauses for mindfulness and restoration in the middle of demanding schedules. Over time, Katie realised that she had a deep calling, in supporting women and families more directly, prompting her to reduce her hours in the industry to focus on her community initiatives and teaching, while still working within the industry in her current role of New Business Consultant for production company You Are Here.

This transition gave birth to Mama Love Yoga and Birth, Katie’s pre-and postnatal yoga workshops designed to soothe the nervous system, restore energy, and empower mothers through the profound transitions of pregnancy and early parenthood. Her classes are deeply restorative, blending gentle flows, pranayama (breathing techniques), sound therapy, restorative yoga, and Yoga Nidra, guided meditation designed to allow the mind and body to fully relax while lying down. Katie’s approach is informed by the concept of matrescence, a term coined by author Lucy Jones to describe the physical, emotional, and psychological transformation that occurs during motherhood. Through this lens, Katie helps mothers navigate the challenges, joys, and profound changes of this life stage with confidence and grace and is deeply holistic in her support of her community.

For emPOWER, Katie will focus on nervous system resets, deep relaxation sessions, and seasonal themed women’s sharing circles, giving participants safe spaces to reconnect with themselves, share experiences, and support one another. Additionally, she is developing special pregnancy retreats, offering targeted practices for expectant mothers. Participants interested in these workshops are encouraged to submit their due dates and express interest by filling out this form.

Katie’s work is informed not only by over a decade of yoga teaching experience but also by her own journey as a mother of two young children. She understands the delicate balance of parenting, career pressures, and self-care, and she brings warmth, empathy, and practical strategies to every session she leads.

Her unique blend of professional insight, yoga expertise, and maternal understanding ensures that whether you are navigating pregnancy, early parenthood, or simply seeking a space to reset and restore, Katie’s sessions provide a grounding, empowering, and deeply restorative experience.

What inspired you to pivot from a career in TV production to focus on yoga, maternal health, and community support?

I studied yoga and did my teacher training in Goa in 2010, when I took a sabbatical at BBH. I didn’t necessarily want to teach but wanted to deepen my practice, following a healing path I was on after multiple losses, health diagnosis and burn out. It was quite clear after learning and experiencing all I did in India that it was something I wanted to share with others. 

It wasn’t until years later, before having children that I was fascinated with the transformation of a woman when they become pregnant, and all that comes with birth and beyond. I furthered my training in pregnancy yoga with LushTums, and once I had my first child I realised how needed it was to support mothers postnatally. Completing my postnatal mum and baby yoga training really gave me the inspiration and passion to start my business in overall women’s health and support. It’s so needed in this time that we have less support from families and friends nearby, and with crazy working hours and expectations in the work place, that aren’t supportive of raising mentally and physically strong mothers.

How did your experience teaching yoga at BBH shape your approach to workplace wellness and stress management?

It was fun, it started off me just inviting friends along, so I could practice in a different environment. And quickly it spread to the rest of the agency. They say teaching friends is more nerve racking than teaching strangers when you start out, and that was definitely true! Especially as a young AP when you have the hierarchy of people above you coming along. The fact the agency was busy and people were dedicated to coming each week by moving meetings around, blocking diaries out etc, it gave me the drive to build on this outside work. 

Can you tell us about the creation of MamaLove and what motivated you to start this community?

My mother. And not having my mother. Losing my world at 20 years old to breast cancer, just as I was becoming an adult was painful and destroying. But I never knew what was to come when I became a mother myself. If you are lucky enough to have a supportive mum, there is nobody else like it to support you through the ride that is pregnancy and motherhood. It’s an unexplainable understanding, and embodiment of absolute trust and selfless nurture like no one else on the planet. This limitless love that your mother can gift you over and over again through the most beautiful and difficult journey of being a mother yourself, is the feeling I want to empower my community with, conjuring themselves. 

How does the concept of matrescence influence your pre- and postnatal classes?

There are so many amazing exercise classes out there for pre and postnatal mothers. I think my classes are different in that I encourage the ladies to come to the mat each week and observe and share what’s coming up for them. To guide them through this journey, and see everything that they are experiencing as normal and completely valid - both scientifically and personally - is something I wish someone had given to me.  I think we’ve all been to classes where we feel judged, or compared to, or at least we feel like we are comparing ourselves/our babies to them and theirs. But this is just a safe and caring space for you to come just as you are.

What do you hope participants gain from your nervous system reset sessions at emPOWER?

Hopefully a little more understanding of themselves, their bodies, and what their nervous system needs to function optimally.

Oh, and a bit more light and compassion for themselves!

Can you explain the role of women’s sharing circles in supporting emotional well-being?

In daily life we speak, but aren’t necessarily listened to. Sitting in a circle of women where often no one knows one another, something powerful happens. I can’t really explain the energy that is felt in the room. The vulnerability of the women that share is contagious. It’s emotional but ecstatic. You have a chance to speak on whatever subject, without judgement from others, without advice given and without silencing through body language, hugs or being overspoken. I’m certainly not a therapist, but holding the space for others to share and be inspired by other shares in the group, can be incredibly transformative and freeing. It’s something about being heard amongst a group, that can leave you feeling secure in your feelings.

How do you tailor your yoga and meditation practices for different stages of motherhood or life challenges?

So all of them have a similar itinerary:

1. We share

2. We breathe

3. We move

4. Soundwork

5. We lie down and practice Yoga Nidra (specific Indian deep guided relaxation)

I try to keep the classes different each week, depending on what I feel is needed from the shares. 

In pregnancy we work much more on physically opening and preparing the body for birth through movement. Movement will always support common pregnancy symptoms and ailments, and support the changes through the weeks. I include lots of antenatal education, breathing techniques for birth, mantras, and little tools for the toolbox when the day comes. The 20 min relaxation at the end of the class is the most nourishing, as scientifically, Yoga Nidra allows the cells supporting the nervous system to repair and regenerate. And we can also deliver positive affirmations and visualisations during Nidra which is said to change neural pathways if mothers are struggling with anxiety around birth, baby etc. 

In Postnatal, we are ‘closing the bones’ physically through movement and supporting the mother and baby through a flux of hormones and emotions. We safely bring awareness and strength to the core and pelvic floor and keep building this body awareness until they are ready to go back to their regular exercise. There is no rush with getting back to regular exercise. The body has been through so much with carrying and having a baby, so it’s advised to come to a bespoke class like this to see where you’re at and do your gentle healing from the inside out. 

Even though I include lots of singing, some massage with the baby, and some ‘baby yoga’ poses, honestly some weeks are just spent feeding, changing nappies and cuddling (which is nice too!). However, the ladies say they aren’t necessarily bothered if they haven’t been able to get involved in much of the movement, because being in a safe space without comparison or judgement, is the tonic they need each week to build confidence. 

What are the most common stressors you see for mothers and parents, and how do your workshops address them?

I’m no expert, but I would say, comparison to others. Especially social media endlessly pushing the dream of the perfect parenting journey. There is so much noise around material ‘stuff’ to buy for the baby, the need to ‘keep up’ with all the latest research on parenting styles, sleep training, feeding options, it becomes very who’s right and who’s wrong. I suppose all that really matters is building love and bond for your baby. That's all they need. And my dream is to support mums, find out if they are struggling, and to remind them how brilliant a job they are doing. Also for parents to believe and trust in what feels right for them. To inform them with all the knowledge around birth and beyond, acquired by my training and lived experience, so they can be empowered to make their own choices. Pregnancy and postpartum is such a vulnerable time, it’s easy to lose trust in ourselves, and our instincts. But we are the only ones that truly know what’s best for ourselves and our babies. Unfortunately it’s a never ending practice to calm our nervous systems, so we can make conscious choices. 

How does combining yoga, breathwork, sound therapy, and restorative techniques help participants restore balance in daily life?

There are 8 limbs of yoga, and interestingly Asana (yoga postures), Pranayama (breathwork) & Dhyana (meditation) are only 3 of them. I suppose if we can start small with these 3 aspects, we can keep building and practicing until we are ready to integrate some of the others. These limbs form the "Ashtanga" or eight-limbed path described by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras, offering a holistic guide for achieving clarity and inner peace. If you’re interested in the other 5, this is on the list for a workshop! You’ll be surprised that you’re probably practicing at least one of these limbs of yoga in your daily life without knowing it!

What advice would you give someone who wants to reconnect with themselves, regain confidence, or simply find space to rest amid a busy life?

Stop what you're doing. Take a walk in nature where you are FULLY invested in enjoying this little stroll and all the gems mother nature can offer you - without stimulation from phones (and kids!). 

If you want to go further, try a yoga class where they include a mix of breathwork, movement and relaxation, and watch what's coming up. Frustration, busy mind, emotion, judgement etc?… Try to follow the teachers' cues and see if you can fully surrender in order to watch yourself. Like an observer of your own self. You’re just noticing, not necessarily acting on it, so you can become a little more conscious of thoughts and feelings or a pattern that’s occurring. And also in your body, if it’s trying to speak to us and tell us something to prioritise, amid the busy mind off the mat. There’s a reason why busy minded people find some yoga frustrating or ‘not for them’ because we have to look at ourselves, and sometimes the voice is so loud, it’s not bearable, and we shut it off. But if you’re interested in shifting some heavy stuff, or just declutter, keep trying it, and it can be so rewarding. 

To learn more about how you can integrate sessions with Katie within the workplace contact athene@theempowerbreakfast.co.uk.

Information on women's sharing circles and classes with Katie to follow. 

Team emPOWER