About
Our mission is to create happy, healthy (physically and mentally) people. We believe that working on a strong mindset and a level of awareness is key. With this we prevent ourselves from all kinds of diseases and difficult experiences in life.
Therefor our mission is to give as many people as possible (children and adults) the tools to better deal with difficult feelings, thoughts and emotions. We offer online courses that contribute to more awareness and a conscious happy life for children and their parents/educators.
Happy at home, is happy at work and vice versa. We are convinced that it’s time for a change and that an employer can contribute to the vitality of people by offering this platform to the families of their employees. That is why we focus on consumers, but especially on corporates. Curious what we can do for you? Let’s have a chat!
Mission
Team
Behind Vital Monkeys
Janneke Schmidt
Owner & Creative Director
My name is Janneke, owner and the creative brain behind Vital Monkeys. From illustrations to marketing, I am a Jack-of-all-trades. As an independent entrepreneur, I will set others into motion by creating beautiful content, strategic advice and providing the right tools for mental issues. In my quest for a mentally and physically happy life, I have learned a lot in the field of mindfulness, spirituality, nutrition and exercising. With my marketing & communication bachelor, coaching study, work experience and many courses, I put knowledge and experience into practice. I grant others - especially children - the tools to feel stronger, happier and more resilient in order to lead a beautiful and easier life. Therefor I am very happy and grateful to work on Vital Monkeys.
Ernst Monkhorst
Sales & Business devolopment
Ernst Monkhorst studied law in Groningen (1993). In 2000 he decided not to work in any legal affairs business but started working in the then booming ICT business. He travelled the world for almost 20 years serving large customers for various Global IT and Telecoms players and in 2017 decided to work for himself. Main focus being Executive Search and Startup and Investor consulting.
In his journey he met Janneke Schmidt and learned more about being Mindful and being a single father recognized the problem Janneke is solving with her startup Vital Monkeys. The platform and her goals made him so enthusiastic that he decided to work alongside Janneke being co-owner and doing Business Development and Sales. Looking back he would have been grateful if there would have been a solution such as Vital Monkeys in his most stressful days of working, traveling and being a dad.
Partners
We believe that working together is the key for growth. This is something we need in order to make a change in our new and current generation. Are you interested in a collaboration, please reach out!
Marleen Schmidt
My name is Marleen! In the ‘Kids Go Mindful’ training, you will see me as a trainer. I have a background as a pedagogue and currently work in primary education where I train children in their mindset. A few years ago, in addition to a yoga teacher training, I also completed a training for children's yoga teacher and mindfulness trainer. At the moment I am immersing myself in Ayurveda, the sister of yoga. Where yoga is mainly about self-development and awareness, Ayurveda is about the knowledge of a healthy life. With love I combine all this knowledge and in the parent & child training of Kids go mindful this all comes together. I hope that the training can inspire you and that the love for yourself and each other may grow bigger and bigger.
Daphne Wind
​Daphne her passion for working with people was born as the daughter of two catering owners. Nevertheless, she opted for nursing. For 10 years Daphne worked as a nurse in mental health care and youth health care. For eight years she worked as a youth nurse and parent and child advisor for youth health care and the Parent and Child Team in Amsterdam West and Nieuw-West. During this working period, Daphne obtained her master's degree in medical anthropology and sociology. She has worked as a researcher for Verwey-Jonker and Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences and as a policy officer at the Municipality of Amsterdam. Daphne is now fully committed from her own company Mindfulness by Daphne and is trainer in the Mindfulness training on Vital Monkeys.
Yoga Mandy
Mandy has years of experience as a kindergarten teacher at ‘Ziekenhuisschool Stad Gent’. She did this with great love. She wanted to share the benefits of yoga with the kids, so she followed Yoga at Cosmic Kids in 'Getting Started with Kids'.
A deepening soon followed with: 'Therapeutic Children's Yoga' at Arterre, the 200h Functional Yoga Teacher Training 'The Art of Teaching Yoga - Alignment-Orientated flow' with Joachim Meire, 'Yin yoga and the influence on the meridians' and the 200h Teacher Training 'Holisitic Therapeutic Yin Yoga' both with Isabel Dobbelaere.
However, her greatest teachers are the children and adults she teaches. Guiding these yogis on their yoga adventure inspires her to continue to learn and grow as a person and as a teacher.
Geluks Expert - Joanna
Joanna guides people and organizations in their mission: achieving optimal and sustainable happiness at work. She does this by making the happiness level measurable and then optimizing it by consultancy, workshops and 1-on-1 coaching in applying positive psychology. Joanna believes now is the time to do it right. To invest in yourself and take personal leadership. For companies to invest in their people. And in an environment where employees are happier, can use their full potential and work more productively and efficiently. Especially for Vital Monkeys she has developed a training about increasing your happiness level.
Kidsproof
The most complete overview of local kid-proof activities addresses in the Netherlands. At Kidsproof you will find plenty of tips and inspiration: The best things to do, tips, child-friendly restaurants, original children's parties, children's clubs, nice children's shops, cozy overnight addresses and practical addresses for care & education.
De Yogakrant
The yoga newspaper for the flexible world citizen and the nicest newspaper of the Netherlands. The YOGAKRANT's mission is to interweave the yoga philosophy with our daily life. The newspaper is for everyone, for people who want more peace and enjoyment. Who are on the move, who want to grow, experience and do business. And want to make the world more beautiful, calmer and more loving.
