ABOUT US

MAARTEN

I’m Maarten and I live on the southwest coast of Portugal, in the Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina with my loving wife Kirsten and loving three children.

Living an outdoor life here amongst nature gives me the freedom and adventure I need to be truly happy.

My work background is in outdoor sports and physical education and I’ve been a mentor and confidant in education for many years.

I’ve been practising yoga and meditation for over 15 years and in 2018 began my accredited Yoga Coaching Level 1 and 2 and also started collaborating with the MyQuest Foundation.

Here I learned further coaching techniques, but also a physical and spiritual approach through yoga, breathwork and meditation. 

This combination, together with the movement element of my work are extremely important to me..

Coaching feels very natural to me and is now a major part of my life and work, while organising retreats and co-creating on other exciting projects.

MyQuest allows me to head into nature with groups of young people and adults to look at their individual challenges and allow their best qualities to flourish.

I feel privileged to do this work and my mission is to help people in the process of consciousness and transformation.

My holistic approach to coaching accelerates the process of achieving goals, something I use everyday to help myself and those around me.

My goal is to help people experience their own inner journey while gaining fantastic results, enabling them to take this knowledge into the real world.

Chamber of Commerce 74500163

KIRSTEN

I’m Kirsten and my spiritual name is Uma Shanti. Kirsten represents light, Uma Shanti is the Goddess of the Universe on Earth for peace. I’m here to let my light shine and connect in love, from neutrality. I live in the beautiful south west of Portugal together with Maarten and the shining light of our lives – our three children – Ronja, Lasse and Mika.

I’m a trained Pedagogue (psycho-social worker) and teacher and have worked in youth care and education for many years.

For the past 15 years, I’ve been studying yoga and meditation and completed Yoga Coaching Level 1 and 2 as well as courses in Hatha and Kundalini Yoga.

From 2016 I went through a deeply transformative period in my life. During this time I delved into the dark caverns and negative thoughts within myself and faced my deepest fears which was one of the most valuable parts of the process. 

From vulnerability, courage, surrender and deep love for myself, I am grateful to return from the darkness to the light. My two names reinforce the knowledge that I am here to let my light shine and put myself out into the world as much as possible.

I’ve experienced just how important it is to step outside of your daily routine for a few days and to undertake a ‘journey’ in a safe setting with like-minded people. It allows you to leave us with greater clarity, feeling refreshed and recharged.