Veronica Moya is dedicated to helping others learn to implement mindfulness, meditation, and other healthy habits into their lives. With a special focus on helping the younger generations, she founded Mindful V, a platform that helps children with their mental and emotional health, and has worked with several other programs including Talented Teens Club and Quantum House. To learn more about Veronica Moya and valuable wellness tools, read on.

Where are you based?
I am based in New York City and South Florida.

What inspired you to start helping others work on mindfulness, meditation, and other healthy habits?
I’ve always known that our thoughts shape our reality. From a young age, I understood that inner peace and self-awareness are the foundation of a fulfilled life. My start was pretty organic as I didn't know I would be doing this for a living.

In 2005, I began conducting readings for people and soon realized that it was not satisfying or fulfilling. So, I decided to explore teaching adults how to access their own inner guidance and how to find the answers inside of them. Then, in 2011, I was invited to teach that same practice to teens at the Omega Institute summer camp. It was there when I realized how impactful and powerful this was for younger people.

As children, we know we will always land on our feet and everything will be okay. This self-awareness is an innate skill all children possess. And this knowledge gives them confidence, a sense of security and a tremendous advantage.

As children grow older, they become skilled in assessing the world through human eyes and human brains. The realm of inner being (our Spirit) becomes obscured by the mind, causing us to "tune out" the wisdom that we possess.

It pains me to see so many people living unhappy and unbalanced lives only because they have not been given this information earlier in life. Introducing mindfulness and encouraging a relationship with Spirit from an early age can improve our quality of life.

You especially work with children. How do you structure your meditations for children differently? Why is it important for kids to meditate?
I don't necessarily do anything differently than what I used to do with adults. I keep meditations playful and imaginative, using visualization and breath to help the person tune inward. The only difference is that children naturally live closer to their intuition and are less cynical and jaded. Therefore, they have an easier time adopting the practice than adults. Meditation helps kids develop self-trust, which becomes a super power that they don't want to lose.

Within my classes, children organically discover better ways of dealing with life's never ending curveballs. Together, we are able to create a caring community where children feel understood and empowered. The classes are designed specifically for kids aged 5-12. Through games, storytelling, and simple meditations, children learn to:

Breathe deeply and calm their minds
Recognize and express their emotions
Practice gratitude and focus on the present moment

What are some tools parents can use to bring mindfulness into their home? How have you seen some of these tools benefit families?
Mindfulness teaches children how to pause, focus, and breathe in situations that may be overwhelming or stressful. By incorporating mindfulness exercises into their daily routine, children learn to approach life with calmness and curiosity, enhancing their emotional and social development.

This can include simple daily rituals, like gratitude circles, family affirmations, and short evening meditations that create emotional safety and stronger bonds. I’ve seen families become calmer, more connected, and more resilient when they practice mindfulness together.

How can personal practices of mindfulness and self-awareness extend outward and work towards creating more unified and inclusive communities?
When people feel balanced and self-love, they lead with empathy instead of fear. Mindfulness naturally promotes understanding, kindness, and emotional maturity; the building blocks of a unified community.

It’s more than just a trend, mindfulness provides mental health benefits (reducing stress and anxiety, enhancing emotional regulation) can improve physical health (lower blood pressure, promotes better sleep), and aids in personal growth and development (increases self-awareness, cultivates resilience).

It is like Elle Woods once said, “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don't shoot their husbands, they just don't.” This is the same, if you are happy with yourself, and are able to experience empathy for others, you will not be disruptive to your neighbors, family or co-workers. You just won't.

The world is at a very chaotic point in time. Why is focusing on practicing healthy habits like the ones you teach so important right now?
The more seemingly chaotic the outer world becomes, the more crucial it is to strengthen our inner world. Mindfulness helps us stay grounded, clear-minded, and responsive rather than reactive.

At its heart, mindfulness is about acceptance, compassion, and living in the present moment. This approach helps individuals develop a deeper understanding of themselves, leading to improved mental health and emotional well-being.

You own Mindful V, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping children harness emotional resilience, exercise self-awareness, and cultivate confidence. What inspired you to start this organization?
I created Mindful V after years of teaching and realizing how much children crave inner guidance. I believe there’s a lot of talk about the importance of mental and emotional health, but very little action when it comes to providing real resources.

Mindful V offers virtual tools that can be accessed worldwide, completely free of charge. Our programs teach meditation, emotional awareness, and self-empowerment so kids grow up knowing they are capable, loved, and more powerful than they ever imagined.

I created this platform for young people to be heard and are encouraged to nurture their relationship with spirit. This work is about giving children permission to use the part of themselves that doesn't get nurtured at school or at home, which is also the only part that can give them true freedom and fulfillment in life.

You also work with Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach where you teach mindfulness to teens. Why is mindfulness so important? What are some methods you use?
Teens today face enormous pressure. Learning to go within and trust their inner guidance is crucial, especially now, when social media and peer dynamics can amplify feelings of rejection or comparison. More than ever, they need to slow down, breathe, and observe their thoughts without judgment. We use creative visualization, journaling, and guided stillness to help them reconnect with their authentic selves. We also incorporate fun, expressive activities like coloring and movement exercises, even dance or mindful versions of musical chairs.

You are a speaker and mentor at Talented Teens Club. Can you tell us more about this organization and how you’re involved?
Talented Teens Club is a non-profit organization that provides young people with the tools to succeed through mentorship and community. I lead workshops on emotional intelligence and self-confidence, helping them turn challenges into opportunities for growth.

You lead a meditation circle twice a week for families at the Quantum House. How does meditation benefit those who practice it?
The Quantum House is a supportive home that lessens the burden for families whose children are receiving treatment for a serious medical condition. So as you can imagine, these families are under immense stress. Meditation provides them with moments of peace, perspective, and hope. I’ve seen parents find strength they didn’t know they had and children rediscover joy in the midst of uncertainty.

What tips can you give someone who is just getting into meditation or struggles with it?

Start small, one minute of focused breathing is enough. Forget perfection, just be present. Consistency matters more than duration. Over time, meditation becomes as natural as brushing your teeth.
Go on YouTube and find some guided meditations that resonate with you. There are millions of videos and different techniques. Everyone is different. What works great for some people does not work for others, so be curious and experiment.
Sing and dance once a day. If you cannot meditate, trick the mind by making believe that you are just playing. You will be "meditating" without even knowing it. Song and dance are the quickest ways to the Soul.

Are there any upcoming projects you are currently working on that we should be on the lookout for?
Yes! My children’s book, Goom Finds His Happy Place, just launched and is available for purchase on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Rather than just a picture book, it was created as a tool for teaching kids how to regulate their emotions in a world that doesn’t do it for them. The story follows Goom, a curious creature who can’t fly, can’t manifest anything at will, and suddenly has to grapple with sadness and loneliness. Guided by a simple mindfulness practice, he discovers how to feel safe, happy and connected wherever he is.

I’m also expanding the Mindful V micro-learning kits, which are interactive lessons that teach emotional resilience and self-love in fun, family-friendly ways.

Upcoming, I’ll be conducting some in-person talks across different cities in the US. Stay tuned!

It has been a crazy few years, and we expect at least four more. How have you been staying positive?
Personally, the past few years have been wonderful. I got married in 2016 and I’m still madly in love and on cloud nine. I work with children, which is incredibly fulfilling and uplifting, and I’m surrounded by great friends. Of course, I practice what I preach, meditation, exercise, and joy are constants in my life. We create our own reality, so focusing on ourselves, rather than on the crazy collective, helps a lot! While the world politics is not something that either of us can control, the world inside and around us we certainly can! You just have to water ONE little plant: YOU. And then it's a domino effect! Don't focus on what you dislike. Focus and what you LOVE and you will see that grow!

What is your motto in life?
You create your reality with your mind. Everything works out for you.

To learn more about Veronica Moya, please check out the links below:
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Veronica Moya on Mindfulness & Meditation