Yoga is often portrayed as a series of poses performed on a mat, perhaps accompanied by incense, calming music, and the promise of becoming more flexible. But for millions of people around the world, yoga is far more than exercise. It's a philosophy, a spiritual practice, a community, a way of life, and a framework for navigating life's inevitable ups and downs.
In this special episode of The Happier Life Project, Gabby Sanderson sits down in person with Zoe Taylor, founder of Ministry of Yoga in Lisbon, to look beyond the clichés and explore what yoga can really offer us. Tying into International Day of Yoga on 21 June and this year's theme of Yoga for Healthy Ageing, the conversation examines how yoga can help us not just live longer, but live well for longer; mentally, emotionally, and physically.
Fresh from her own yoga teacher training with Zoe, Gabby brings a personal perspective to a discussion exploring yoga's philosophy and spiritual roots, the relevance of the Yamas and Niyamas – yoga's ethical guidelines – in modern life, the connection between yoga and mental wellbeing, and the importance of community, resilience, and finding calm in an increasingly chaotic world.
Whether you're a devoted yogi, yoga-curious, sceptical of the stereotypes, or someone who's never stepped foot on a mat, this episode invites you to see yoga through a different lens - not as a performance of flexibility, but as a lifelong companion for wellbeing, helping us move through life with greater awareness, intention, and compassion.
About Zoe Taylor: Originally from Tasmania, Australia, Zoe discovered yoga in 2010 and has since completed more than 700 hours of teacher training across Europe and Asia. She founded Ministry of Yoga in Lisbon in 2016 and has led over 5,000 classes, retreats, and workshops, blending movement, philosophy, and meditation to support wellbeing both on and off the mat.
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For more information on Zoe and Ministry of Yoga: https://moyportugal.com/
To follow Ministry of Yoga on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ministryofyoga/
