Relax Kids! Relaxation and Mindfulness for Children by Marneta Viegas

This month´s MumAbroad newsletter was written by Marneta Viegas, children’s relaxation and mindfulness expert, author and founder of Relax Kids.

Marneta is a visionary in the world of children’s mental health and wellbeing. As the founder of Relax Kids, she has spent over two decades pioneering innovative approaches to support children’s emotional development through relaxation and mindfulness.

With a background as a professional children’s entertainer and trained meditation practitioner, Marneta saw first-hand the growing pressures children were facing — stress, anxiety, low confidence and emotional overload. Here, she shares her story and the lessons she has learned from building a successful and impactful business.

How on earth did a clown from Birmingham help start the relaxation/mindfulness for children movement in the UK?

My report cards were full of ‘could do better’. This lack of confidence and self-worth followed me like a shadow through University and my first business as a children’s entertainer, despite performing for thousands, including pop stars, celebrities and even royalty at Buckingham Palace.

However, over the 10 years of clowning, I noticed that children were becoming more and more restless, and unable to sit and concentrate on my show. I noticed their insecurities. lack of confidence and anxieties. I saw my own insecurities and knew that if I had been given tools from a young age, things would have been different.

I went to the library (there was no internet then) and started to research meditation and relaxation techniques for children, and found there was nothing available! My mother was leaving the UK to go and live in India and wanted to give my inheritance early. She gave me £45k to put a deposit down on a flat in London.

But, I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t buy a flat with the money. I felt an urge to use it to support children’s mental health and wellbeing. It was a huge risk at a time where there was no provision for mental health and it was not recognised. I guess you could call it a calling (or crazy)

But I had so many ideas – classes, books, CDs, cards. I had an idea to create a unique class – 7 Steps to Relaxation – using children’s natural energy system. The ideas kept coming and without knowing what I was doing, I set up Relax Kids – not realising it would go on to be the UK’s leading expert in relaxation.

SO many parents and teachers frowned at the idea of teaching children to relax. Peter Jones and the Dragons laughed at my ideas on Dragons’ Den in 2005, but I stuck to my vision and built up Relax Kids without any external funding or support.

My first book Aladdin’s Magic Carpet took all the classic fairy stories and turned them into relaxation exercises to help children manage anxiety and sleep. Since then, I have written 20 creative meditation and affirmation books including The Monster Handbook – helping children manage big feelings and The Dream Machine which has 100,000 combinations of meditations.

Relax Kids classes have helped children manage anxiety, emotional issues, low self esteem, lack of concentration and also children with neurodivergence. Relax Kids has grown slowly with a mix of integrity and magic.

25 years later, Relax Kids is used in over 5 million homes and schools. We have trained over 6,000 franchisee coaches from 52 countries, my books are bestsellers and our products and services are recommended by therapists, psychologists, doctors, teachers and many, many parents.

When I first started, there wasn’t the huge mental health crisis that we have now. I feel so happy that Relax Kids has changed the lives of so many children, parents and teachers.

These are most important things I’ve learned from running a business:

1. Follow your calling
   If something keeps tugging at you, don’t ignore it. You don’t need all the answers straight away. I turned down a flat in London and used the money to follow an idea I couldn’t shake. It didn’t make logical sense, but it felt right – and it changed everything.
2. Trust your instincts
   Learn to listen to your inner voice when making decisions. Trusting your instincts can often lead you in the right direction.
3. Keep it simple
   You don’t need to overcomplicate things. My 7-step system is simple, structured and rooted in what works. Simple can still be powerful – and people are much more likely to stick with it.
4. Persistence pays off
   Challenges and problems will always appear, but they’re there to make us strong and resilient. So many give up but persistent effort can help us get to where we want to go.
5. Let critics strengthen you, not deter you
   Never give up. I was laughed at on national television, but it didn’t stop me. Criticism can be painful, but it’s also fuel. Use it to build strength, not doubt.
6. Have a clear purpose
   Know what you want to do and who you want to help. Keep this in mind and let it inform every action.
7. Celebrate small wins
   This is something I missed for many years and see now the value of recognising and celebrating small achievements to boost motivation reminding you of the progress you’re making.
8. You don’t need huge resources – just resourcefulness
   I didn’t have a big team or funding. I had ideas, an old computer, and sheer determination. Make the most of what you do have. Creativity and persistence are more valuable than money at the start.
9. Stay committed to your mission
   Always focus on your core values and mission, even in the face of challenges, helps you stay true to your purpose.
10. Build a business with heart
    People are drawn to businesses that genuinely care. Be clear on your mission, your values, and who you want to help. Purpose attracts people – and keeps you going through the tougher times.
11. Don’t give up – that’s when the magic happens
    There will be hard days. You’ll question everything. But if you keep going – step by step – you’ll look back and realise how far you’ve come. The impact you can have by staying the course is beyond what you can imagine now.

How to start a Relax Kids Franchise

If you’re interested in running your own franchise, or training to support your own children, please do get in touch. The training is online, on demand and you can do it in bite-size pieces. 

We give you everything you need to start your own amazing business supporting young people’s wellbeing. We also have a franchise if you want to run classes for mothers and babies (Baby Mindful) and ChargeUp franchise if you would like to run sessions for teenagers. 

As a franchisee, there is a small monthly cost after the training and then you’re free to earn as much as you wish with no extra royalties to pay. Please do get in touch if you would like to chat with Marneta about running your own Relax Kids business.

Find out more about Relax Kids on their website, or join their monthly free personal development workshops.

This article was written for our April 2025 Newsletter. Sign up here to receive our monthly updates, stories and resources from relocation specialists, education experts, entrepreneurs and international families who have built a life abroad, straight to your inbox.