Founded in 2004 as the first space in the Azores entirely dedicated to yoga, the studio now known as Azores Yoga has entered a new phase under the coordination of Catarina Rola and Natali Santos. Speaking to Atlântico Expresso, the current directors say the project remains faithful to a “holistic, deep, and transformative” approach to yoga.

Their aim, they explain, is to promote the practice as a path of self-knowledge, inner listening, and personal transformation, integrating body, mind, and emotional awareness. A central mission of the studio is to demystify yoga, making clear that it is not a religion and does not seek to replace or interfere with individual belief systems.

Looking ahead, one of the studio’s priorities is to deepen its range of classes and to develop new workshops, reinforcing Azores Yoga’s role as a reference space for conscious, responsible, and ethically grounded practice in the archipelago.

Atlântico Expresso — What is the story behind the founders of the project?

Natali Santos and Catarina Rola (Azores Yoga Directors) — Azores Yoga has a solid history, deeply rooted in the conscious practice of yoga in the Azores.

The project began in 2004 under the name Casa Vinyasa, founded by Joana Cadete as the first space in the region entirely dedicated to yoga practice. Years later, stewardship passed to Alexandra Afonso, who led the studio for about seven years, consolidating it as a reference space. In 2024, the initiative entered a new phase when the studio was taken over by Catarina Rola and Natali Santos. They now carry forward the space with deep respect for its history, identity, and legacy, while bringing an integrated, mindful vision aligned with yoga’s essential principles.

How did your interest in this field begin?
It began as a personal search for balance, health, and presence. Over time, it revealed itself to be much more than a physical practice—it became a path of self-knowledge, inner listening, and personal transformation, integrating body, mind, and emotions. This deep experience naturally led to the desire to study, practice, and share yoga responsibly and consciously.

How did this initiative come about, and what is its goal?
The initiative was born from the desire to create—and preserve—a space dedicated to authentic yoga, understood as a holistic, deep, and transformative practice. Our goal is to promote health, balance, and awareness, offering practical tools for self-knowledge that support physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Another purpose is to demystify the practice, clarifying that it is not a religion and does not seek to replace or interfere with personal beliefs. Yoga is a practical philosophy and a set of methods centered on observation, presence, and personal responsibility, compatible with any value system or faith. Each practitioner is free to live the experience autonomously, respecting their own path, beliefs, and free will.

The practice is presented in an accessible, mindful, and ethical way, respecting each person’s cultural, spiritual, and human diversity, while remaining faithful to essential principles.

To what extent were you the first space fully dedicated to yoga in the Azores?
Since its founding in 2004, the studio was the first in the Azores exclusively dedicated to yoga, playing a pioneering role in introducing the discipline to the region. For more than two decades, it has been a reference point for regular practice, ongoing training, and the meeting of different generations of practitioners and teachers.

What has been—and continues to be—the biggest challenge?
The greatest challenge lies in the growing trivialization of exercise, alongside the proliferation of trainings with little depth, limited technical rigor, and scarce practical experience. This can compromise students’ experiences and distance them from yoga’s true essence.

Another significant challenge is the lack of interconnectedness among professionals and projects in the same field. We deeply believe in community spirit and in uniting skills, knowledge, and people. Yoga, at its core, promotes union, cooperation, and harmony; when initiatives exist in isolation, one of its fundamental principles is lost.

There is also the challenge of countering an overly body-centered, performance-driven view. Postures (āsanas) are only one of the eight limbs—and not the end goal. We value a comprehensive approach in which ethics, breathing, mindfulness, and inner awareness are as important as movement.

Today, one of the biggest challenges is continuing to educate for quality and depth, valuing yoga as a continuous path rather than a quick consumption of experiences. Maintaining a sustainable space without compromising ethical, human, and pedagogical principles is an ongoing challenge—one we embrace with great responsibility alongside our teachers.

How are the styles and activities offered at the studio chosen?
They are selected based on the quality of training, teachers’ practical experience, and coherence with our guiding principles. We aim to offer a safe, accessible, and mindful practice, balancing tradition and contemporaneity, while always respecting the body, individual limits, and personal rhythm. Currently, we have eight teachers and offer nine different modalities, in addition to Chi Kung, Meditation, and Rhythms of the East.

Who typically participates—locals or foreigners?
We welcome a diverse, intergenerational community. We receive local practitioners who have followed the studio for many years, as well as national and international visitors seeking a mindful practice during their stay in the archipelago. This diversity is seen as a great strength.

Is there a specific philosophy or life principle guiding your classes and events?
Yes. Azores Yoga is guided by the fundamental principles of the practice: awareness, presence, ethics, respect, non-violence, and personal responsibility. Classes and events are designed to support practitioners on their individual paths, promoting autonomy, inner listening, and a more conscious relationship with oneself and with others.

What impact have you felt within the community?
Over the years, the impact has been deep and consistent. Many practitioners report significant improvements in physical, emotional, and mental health, as well as greater body awareness and quality of life. The studio has become a place of meeting, support, and personal growth, fostering genuine human relationships and a practice sustained over time.

What are your plans for the future?
Our plans focus on strengthening the studio as a reference space for mindful, high-quality practice. We aim to deepen our offerings of classes, workshops, and integrative events, encourage greater collaboration among professionals in the field, and continue serving the community with coherence, integrity, and respect for yoga tradition.

Diogo Simões Pires is a journalist for Atlântico Expresso newspaper, under the direction of Natalino Viveiros.

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Translated into English as a community outreach program by the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL), in collaboration with Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno. PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.