Meet Lauren Pincay of Playceful

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Pincay.

Hi Lauren, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a South Bay native, and for about twelve years before becoming a mom, I taught yoga and led retreats around the world. I loved creating spaces where people could slow down, reconnect with themselves, and feel part of something. Community has always been at the heart of my work.

Then last year my son was born, and I fell completely into motherhood. For those first six months, I wasn’t thinking about my career at all. I just wanted to be with my baby, fully present for every feeding, every nap, every tiny new expression. Somewhere in there, though, I started to feel a little lost. I loved being his mom more than anything, but I wasn’t sure who I was beyond that anymore. It took time to realize I wasn’t losing myself. I was becoming someone new, and I wanted to find a passion that fit this new version of me. What I found was motherhood itself: building community, and supporting and connecting with other parents who were going through the same thing.

That’s how Playceful was born. The name blends “play” and “peaceful,” and our motto is “Play for them. Peace for you.” Playceful is a nonprofit workspace with on-site childwatch for kids 6 months to 5 years. It’s for working parents and stay-at-home parents alike, anyone who wants to get focused work done, rediscover themselves, or connect with their community while their kids play safely nearby.

We’re a 501(c)(3) in our pre-launch phase. I’ve built the brand, formed a board with two other amazing local moms, and launched our first campaign, “Build the Village with Playceful,” to raise $25,000 toward securing a space in South Torrance / South Redondo Beach.

Going from teaching yoga to founding a nonprofit has been a big leap, but at its core it’s the same work: creating a space where people feel supported, seen, and a little more like themselves.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not always! The biggest challenge has been finding the time. I formed our 501(c)(3) last October, and since then I’ve been building the brand and website while being a full-time mom and teaching yoga part-time. Most of Playceful has been built during my son’s naps, which usually give me one or two hours. Every nap turns into a choice: do I clean the house, eat lunch, work out, rest, or work on this vision? Some days the dishes win, some days sleep does, and some days I get to pour my heart into Playceful.

I’ve had to learn to give myself grace, celebrate small progress, and trust that slow and steady still moves things forward. In a way, this struggle is exactly why Playceful needs to exist. So many parents are trying to squeeze their dreams, work, and self-care into nap time. I want to give them a space where they don’t have to choose.

We’ve been impressed with Playceful, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Playceful is a nonprofit workspace with on-site childwatch for parents in the South Bay. Childwatch means your child is cared for by our team while you stay on the premises, similar to the kids’ room at a gym, but designed around community, work, and self-care time. It’s a place where you can get work done, take a meeting, or simply have a quiet moment to yourself while your child, ages 6 months to 5 years, plays in a safe, joyful space just steps away. As a mom, I know how hard it is to pack up the kids and lug them from one place to another, so I hope to build a community where you can settle in and stay a while.

What sets us apart is that you never have to choose between being close to your child and having time for yourself. Unlike traditional daycare, where you drop off and leave, you’re right there if your little one needs you. And unlike a typical coworking space, we’re built around families from the ground up. We don’t have a physical space yet, but here’s what we’re dreaming of: parent work desks, private phone rooms and a bookable quiet office, a coffee and tea station, a nursing area, a secure check-in, monitors so you can peek at your child anytime, a big, bright play area, and a room for events, yoga, and meditation, because caring for parents is just as important as caring for kids. The final space will depend on the location we find and the support we raise, and we’ll grow into this vision one step at a time.

Playceful isn’t only for working parents. It’s for stay-at-home parents rediscovering themselves, parents figuring out what’s next, and anyone looking to connect with their community. As a nonprofit, our focus is on building a village, not just a business.

Brand-wise, I’m most proud of our name and what it stands for. “Playceful” blends “play” and “peaceful,” and our motto says it all: “Play for them. Peace for you.” The “peaceful” part is also a nod to my years as a yoga teacher. Creating calm, nurturing spaces has always been my passion, and now I get to create one for parents and their kids. I built the brand myself, and I wanted it to feel like walking into a warm, cozy home with a good friend.

Right now we’re in our pre-launch phase and raising funds to secure our first space in the South Torrance / South Redondo Beach area. Readers can support us by donating to our “Build the Village with Playceful” campaign, joining our waitlist, or reaching out about sponsorship at playceful.com. Every bit of support helps bring this village to life.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I was a high-energy, super social kid. I was always comfortable speaking in front of a room, but if you’d told me back then that I’d become a yoga teacher, I probably would have laughed. Sitting still was not my strong suit! I played all the sports, but mainly basketball since I was a kid. I wasn’t always the best player on the team, but I gave everything I had to whatever I was passionate about, and that’s still true today.

My parents shaped me in big ways. My mom worked for United Airlines, so growing up we had the chance to fly standby and travel all over the world. Those trips opened my eyes to so many different cultures, people, and ways of living, and they gave me a deep curiosity about the world that has stayed with me ever since. My dad was an entrepreneur, and watching him build something of his own is where I got my entrepreneurial spirit.

School was a different story. I didn’t excel at the traditional subjects, but I came alive with anything creative. After high school, I went to fashion school to study visual communications, and I was determined to work in fashion editorial. I even interned at Vogue. It was an incredible experience, but it also showed me that the industry wasn’t the right fit for me. I realized I wanted work that felt more personal, more grounded, and more about connection.

Then, right as I graduated college with my business degree, I surprised everyone, including myself, and became a yoga teacher. That love of travel I’d had since childhood led me to start leading retreats around the world, bringing people together in beautiful places to slow down and connect. I spent the next twelve years teaching, until 6 months postpartum, when this new chapter with Playceful began. Looking back, it all connects: the energy and teamwork from sports, the curiosity from travel, my dad’s entrepreneurial example, the creativity from fashion, the business degree, and the heart of yoga all come together in what I’m building now.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://playceful.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playceful/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/playcefulsouthbay

Image Credits
Allyson Kristine