A Month at Dau Dayal School for Girls: How Service, Yoga, and Mindfulness Changed Lives

In a special episode of The Happier Life Project, host Gabby Sanderson opens the door to a deeply moving experience that became far more than a volunteer placement. This episode launches the new series by taking listeners to Dau Dayal School for Girls in Firozabad, India, located just 50 minutes from the Taj Mahal, where Gabby spent a month living on campus and teaching yoga and mindfulness six days a week to more than 400 students.

What began as an opportunity to give back soon became a powerful reminder of something many of us forget in the busyness of life: when we serve others with an open heart, we are changed too.

Stepping Into Another World

Living and teaching at Dau Dayal School offered Gabby a rare chance to step fully into the daily life of the school community. Surrounded by the energy, curiosity, and spirit of the girls, she experienced firsthand the beauty of human connection across cultures, backgrounds, and circumstances.

Each day brought its own moments of joy, challenge, growth, and reflection. Through classroom activities, yoga sessions, playground laughter, and heartfelt conversations, it became clear that this was not simply about teaching poses or breathing exercises. It was about creating space for young people to feel seen, supported, and empowered.

It was also a lesson in perspective. In a world where many children face enormous pressures and limited resources, the girls at Dau Dayal School showed remarkable resilience, strength, and warmth. Their courage and openness left a lasting impression and highlighted how even the simplest wellbeing practices can make a meaningful difference.

The Power of Yoga and Mindfulness in Schools

Throughout the episode, listeners are invited into the classrooms and playgrounds of the school, meeting the students whose laughter and determination shine through even in the face of difficult realities. Gabby shares this journey alongside fellow kids’ yoga teacher Mimi Sinfield and Mala Rastogi, the school’s president, whose dedication and vision continue to shape the future of the girls and their community.

Together, their conversations reveal the powerful role that yoga, breathwork, and mindfulness can play in supporting children emotionally, mentally, and socially.

These practices are not luxuries. They are life skills.

For children and young people, especially those growing up in challenging circumstances, learning how to breathe through stress, reconnect with their bodies, calm their minds, and feel safe in themselves can be profoundly transformative. Yoga and mindfulness offer practical tools for emotional regulation, self-awareness, resilience, confidence, and connection.

At Dau Dayal School, these simple practices opened the door to moments of peace, joy, and inner strength. They gave the girls opportunities not only to move and play, but also to pause, reflect, and experience a sense of empowerment from within.

More Than Volunteering

One of the most touching themes of this episode is the realisation that giving back is never one-sided. While Gabby arrived with the intention of serving, teaching, and sharing, she also received something deeply valuable in return.

The month became a reminder that wellbeing is not only about what we do for ourselves. It is also about how we connect, contribute, and show up for others. Acts of service have a way of expanding the heart, deepening gratitude, and bringing a stronger sense of purpose.

This is what makes the story so powerful.

It is not just about a school in India. It is about what becomes possible when people come together with compassion, generosity, and a belief in the potential of young people. It is about the ripple effect of care. And it is about the way one experience can transform not only the lives of those receiving support, but also the life of the person offering it.

Hope for the Future

The episode also shines a light on the bigger vision for Dau Dayal English Medium School. Support is currently being raised to help build and equip a new school campus that will provide classrooms, resources, and opportunities that can change lives for generations to come.

This is about much more than bricks and buildings. It is about creating a stronger future for girls, families, and entire communities. Education, wellbeing support, and safe, inspiring learning spaces have the power to break cycles of limitation and open doors to possibility.

Those who feel moved by this story are invited to support the school through its GoFundMe campaign. Every contribution goes directly towards helping create a campus that can offer greater access, opportunity, and hope.

A Dedication from the Heart

This special episode is dedicated to Chanchal and Chaya, and to all the extraordinary girls at Dau Dayal School. Their courage, warmth, joy, and spirit made Gabby’s experience unforgettable, and their presence is felt in every part of the story.

Their voices, laughter, and resilience remind us why this work matters so much.

They remind us that when children are given support, love, practical tools, and opportunity, they do not just survive. They shine.

And they remind us that yoga and mindfulness can be about so much more than exercise. They can be pathways to healing, connection, dignity, and hope.