Hello, this is Merve!

The creator of Monkinya: Mom of one, a calm-seeker, educator, mindfulness trainer and parent coach

I have a background in Sociology and a special interest in the Sociology of Childhood and Social-Emotional Learning.

Rooted in mindfulness, resilience, positive psychology and trauma-informed children’s yoga training and coaching, I’ve spent the last decade walking alongside families and educators. And recently, I am deepening my practice in early childhood education.

Becoming a mother in 2022 showed me that it truly takes a village to raise a child. But today’s village has been replaced by an exploitative ecosystem, one that thrives by making us feel like empty vessels in need of constant expert guidance.

We are told that parenting is a skill to be mastered through endless courses, e-books, and training, capitalizing on our insecurities to make us feel inadequate and keep us searching for the next solution.

The truth? Parenting isn’t about collecting information to fix yourself (or your child), it's about being. It’s about the simple power of being attuned to yourself and to your child. That connection is something no industry can sell you, because it is already within you and has always been.

With this awareness, Monkinya shifted from a children’s yoga and mindfulness brand founded almost a decade ago to a collaborative village. We are a small, dedicated team, turning resilience research into play-based, practical support for real homes and classrooms.

Monkinya is a playful space where parents and educators nurture emotional regulation and resilience together in the early years. We share, laugh, cry - and we learn from each other!

More calm. More connection. More play.