Vivé creates space for women to move, connect and recharge

For many ambitious women, the calendar is filled with meetings, deadlines, family responsibilities and endless to-do lists, but finding time for themselves can prove far more difficult.

Anika Lake Francis is hoping to change that narrative by making wellness something women look forward to rather than another obligation squeezed into an already packed schedule.

That philosophy came to life on Sunday at the Constant Spring Golf Club in st Andrew, where the Jamaican Women’s Golf Network (JWGN) and Vivé Social & Wellness Club hosted Smash & Golf, bringing women together for an afternoon of golf, pickleball, movement and social connection.

Vivé is the latest initiative from Lake Francis, founder of the JWGN, and was launched on March 29 with its signature tennis and Pilates event to provide career-minded women with a more intentional way to connect while enjoying experiences beyond their professional lives.

“I felt there was a gap in Jamaica for a community that brought together wellness, movement, dining, culture and lifestyle in one space,” Lake Francis said.

The idea grew partly from what she witnessed through JWGN. Women initially came together to learn golf, but soon began forming friendships and making plans beyond the course. It showed Lake Francis that sport could serve as the starting point for a much wider community.

Rather than the business cards and formal introductions typically associated with networking, Vivé places shared experiences at the centre. Lake Francis believes connections develop more naturally when women are doing something together, allowing conversations and friendships to unfold without the transactional feel that can accompany traditional networking.

Making movement enjoyable

Smash & Golf demonstrated that approach, particularly for women stepping into unfamiliar sporting territory. For Danielle O’Neil, a data protection officer, the outing began simply as a girls’ day after an invitation from her cousin. It quickly became an introduction to two new sports.

“It was the very first time trying any of these sports,” O’Neil said. Golf, however, proved surprisingly familiar. Having previously played field hockey, she recognised similarities in the stance and swing. “The golf was actually pretty fun,” she shared, rating the experience an eight out of 10 and confirming that she would return.

Laura Robinson was also experiencing pickleball for the first time and credited the instructors with making the experience an enjoyable one. “It was really fun. It’s my first time ever trying pickleball, and the instructors were really helpful,” Robinson said. By the end of the session, she was already considering making the sport part of her regular fitness routine.

That willingness to try new things is precisely what Lake Francis wants to encourage. Vivé experiences are structured so beginners can arrive without equipment or previous knowledge, with professional coaches helping to remove some of the intimidation that can surround unfamiliar sports, particularly golf.

Wellness beyond working out

For Lake Francis, however, wellness extends beyond physical activity. “For me, wellness means balance,” she said, pointing to rest, movement, friendship and enjoyment as important parts of a fulfilling life. “Being productive cannot be the only measure of whether life is going well. I want to build things I am proud of, but I also want to enjoy the life I am building.”

That balance can become particularly difficult for women managing careers, businesses, families and other responsibilities. Lake Francis has observed that personal time is often the easiest thing to postpone, which is why she wants wellness experiences to feel less like another task and more like recreation.

The vision for Vivé, therefore, stretches well beyond Smash & Golf. Lake Francis hopes to build a broader women’s wellness and lifestyle community encompassing physical and emotional well-being, travel, personal growth, career, finances and self-care.

And for the woman convinced that her schedule simply has no room for herself, Lake Francis offers a different perspective: “We make space for work, family and everything else because we see them as important. I think we need to give our own well-being and enjoyment that same importance too.”

nyokamanning@gleanerjm.com