ABOUT US

At the table with…

Nina Elegba, our founder

Define Recess…

Creating time and prioritising time for rest, in all its forms. There’s power in the pause. We need it to recharge and come back to ourselves. You can’t pour from an empty cup. 

What inspired you to start Recess Living?

I worked in the TV industry for almost two decades, it was relentless, competitive and burnout was often around the corner. I knew something needed to change. Craft became my version of mindfulness. I realised that busying the hands can steady the mind, and I wanted to share this with others. 

Why art?

Art is another language we can use to express ourselves. When we can’t put our feelings into words, it’s amazing what our hands can instinctively do to communicate them. Making art is giving yourself permission. To lose yourself, find yourself, explore the inbetween. It’s therapeutic in so many ways. 

What’s next?

The conversation around wellbeing is only getting started. We’re on a mission to make more space at the table and invite new, alternative ways of self-care beyond the cliches. We want to change the narrative on mental health, art, and access to both. And to do this through joy, We all need more joy in our lives. 

our manifesto

At Recess Living

1- We think:

Joy is the currency we’re all dealing with

• Joy, is a continuous practice, not a destination. It’s a conscious permission we can grant ourselves. It’s something to be shared. 

• Together, we invite joy into the subject of mental health: using craft and food as vehicles for connection, celebration, empathy and support. We’re in this to lift people up!

2- We believe:

There’s more space at the table

• We partner with charities and community groups to equip vulnerable and disadvantaged communities with creative wellbeing tools. Rallying for better education and access to mental health support. 

• We vow to be a catalyst for change. Using our corporate wellness events, creative mindfulness workshops and supper clubs to make art, break bread and lead inclusive conversations. 

4- We practise:

community care as self-care

• To us, connection comes first. That means creating a space where conversations can be had and experiences can be shared. 

• Our events foster community. Where big joy allows for big release, so that we can let that light (and each other) in. 

5- We stand:

Against single-minded wellness

• How? By practising creative mindfulness. There’s music, creative play and deep-belly giggles. We call it Meditation For Doers.

• At our events, you are free from the pressures of “the wellness world”. At Recess Living, there are no gurus, hacks, gains or clichés. Your wellbeing, like your art, is personal.