Spotlight: Monkinya with Merve Sagiroglu

Merve Sagiroglu is the founder of Monkinya, where play and mindfulness meet.

A children's yoga and mindfulness teacher with over 10 years of experience, she brings playful movement, breathwork, and stories to help children build emotional strength and resilience in fun, engaging ways.

After becoming a parent, she saw firsthand how yoga, mindfulness, and play can help with big feelings, strengthen bonds, and bring calm into everyday routines.

Through her classes and carefully designed resources, Monkinya offers families tools that extend beyond the yoga mat, supporting attachment and emotional regulation in a simple, fun and colourful way!

I asked Merve a few questions about her inspiration, her approach, and the story behind her brand, "Monkinya".

Q. What's the story behind Monkinya, and what does the name mean to you?

A. Monkinya first began as a children's story. The word doesn't exist in any language, but in the story I wrote, Monkinya is the imaginary country where little humans, "Monkins," are raised in a world full of love and respect for nature, themselves, and others. Just like us, the quirky Monkin tribe are all different. They grow up knowing their true potential and learn to love and accept themselves just as they are.

Over time, this story grew into something much larger. I began imagining Monkinya as a living village of ideas and experiences, and not just a story. It is a space where children and families can explore yoga, mindfulness, and play.

Today, that village comes to life in my classes, workshops, and resources: yoga cards, affirmation cards, and more. Each one is a way of making Monkinya real; a place where children are free to play, connect, and simply be.

Q. What inspired you to start Monkinya?

A. My inspiration for Monkinya comes from both my personal journey and my work with children. Growing up, I spent long periods in the hospital. That experience shaped my understanding of what it feels like to be a child navigating big emotions without having the tools to express them.

Later, while working with children in hospitals myself, I saw how transformative it was when they were given playful, creative ways to express their feelings and be their full selves.

That's when I realized yoga and mindfulness could be so much more than poses - they could be tools for emotional literacy, resilience, and connection. Monkinya grew out of this belief: that every child deserves a space where they feel free to play, imagine, and lead with their whole selves.

Q. How do yoga and mindfulness support children beyond the poses?

A. For me, yoga and mindfulness are not about poses; they are about giving children tools to explore who they are. Through movement, stories, breath, and play, children learn how to notice their feelings, express themselves, and build resilience in a way that feels natural and fun.

In a world where children are often asked to sit still or behave a certain way, I see my yoga classes as a space where they can lead and create. It's less about "doing things right" and more about curiosity, connection, and co-creation, where every child's imagination and voice matter.

Q. What can families expect from a family yoga class with Monkinya?

A. Many parents come in thinking yoga means sitting cross-legged in silence or holding poses perfectly. After class, they often tell me how surprised they are because it's nothing like what they imagined!

At Monkinya, we dance, play, laugh, and have fun while weaving in yoga, breath, and mindfulness. A class might include animal poses, storytelling adventures, breathing games, or letting the children lead with yoga cards. The focus is on connection and co-creation, not on sitting still or "getting it right." Families leave not only with smiles but also with simple ways to bring these playful, calming tools into everyday life.

See what a Family Flow looks like!

I met Merve over a year ago when I was looking to hire a Yoga Instructor at the Studio. When she contacted me and I saw the vast range of experience and expertise she carries, I knew that we needed to create a special program just for her to teach!

This is how "Family Flow Yoga" came to be! It's a class that puts her Yoga training and passion for creativity and mindfulness all in one place, and the families love it.