Rediscovering your life purpose!

LAURA YATES arrived in Singapore five and a half years ago with her husband Steve and three golden retrievers. Here, she shares how she’s rediscovered her joy and purpose for life, which she brings into her profession of helping others build meaningful connections, including by bonding over cacao ceremonies in nature.

Where are you from originally and what do you miss about it?

I’m from South Africa. I grew up on an avocado farm but don’t eat avocados! I miss the wide open spaces, bright blue skies and the freedom for my dog to explore freely off lead.

What led you to Singapore?

My husband started a digital transformation and strategy consultancy here, which is why we came. We lived in Chester and London in our late 20s, but mostly in Johannesburg and then Melbourne for six months, just before Singapore.

What has kept you here?

The diverse melting pot of people. I love the conversations with people from all walks of life and all corners of the globe. Everyone has an interesting story to tell.

It’s also easy to make friends and build connections here; my business has grown very organically because of this.

Speaking of which, tell us a bit about your business.

I started my career as a Chartered Accountant, but in 2016 I realised spreadsheets weren’t where my spirit wanted to dance. After navigating my own mental health challenges, I found myself returning repeatedly to the things that made me feel truly alive – movement, meditation and the quiet wisdom of nature.

That journey became The Hummingbird Life, a playful yet deeply grounded space where people can reconnect with their inner spark. I help people access spirituality in simple, everyday ways – through conversations with nature, joyful dancing in the outdoors, heart-opening cacao ceremonies, women’s circles, facilitator trainings and soulful community gatherings that build connections.

It’s all about coming home to yourself, rediscovering your life purpose and remembering that joy is a practice – often found in bare feet on the earth, music in the breeze, and moments of stillness that let your heart speak.

What does a typical working day look like for you?

Every working day looks a little different – it really depends on what events I’m holding.

I’m up around 6.30am, enjoying a cup of tea on the balcony before easing into the day with a grounding meditation. After that, I either take Jasper for a walk, or head to an exercise class.

From there, the day can unfold in all sorts of ways: attending networking events to build connections, seeing private clients, creating online content, curating playlists, or dreaming up new ideas for my retreats and facilitator trainings.

Afternoons are often spent singing and dancing around my kitchen while preparing cacao for a ceremony – it’s one of my favourite rituals. Most evenings, you’ll find me in one of Singapore’s beautiful parks, guiding others as we gather in community, sip cacao and dance together under the open sky.

Any surprises or challenges you’ve found running your business in Singapore?

One is how open and enthusiastic everyone is at trying new things. My work can appear very “woo-woo”, but I’ve been amazed at how open people are to it.

The biggest challenge has been how transient Singapore is. My client base is almost an even split between Singaporeans and expats, but the constant movement means I have to put significantly more effort into staying consistently visible.

I often build a beautiful, connected client community, only to find that within two years, I’m once again introducing my business as if it’s new. While this does help expand my global brand as clients move abroad and continue to share my work, it also creates additional marketing demands.

Thankfully, word-of-mouth remains my strongest channel – and I’m incredibly grateful for that.

Where is your home in Singapore and how long have you lived there?

We live on a landed property in the Botanic Gardens area of Bukit Timah, near Kheam Hock Road. We lived in Siglap for four years and loved the laid-back, beach vibe there. But we are loving being more central and exploring more of the jungle that Singapore has to offer.

Do you have a particular home décor style?

Boho, hippie style. My home is colourful, with bright fabrics and patterns, and has lots of hanging stuff and plants! It’s not trendy or stylish, but very homely and authentically us!

What are a few things you like to do in Singapore when you’re not working?

Jungle and beach adventures with Jasper – our Sundays are always spent on Tanjong Beach with doggie play dates followed by brunch! My husband and I enjoy rock climbing together. We also love going to the theatre, so I’m always looking at what the latest shows are. I am obsessed with cream teas, so I love testing out the afternoon teas and clotted cream scones in different cafés and hotels.

What are you looking forward to most for 2026?

Giving my clients more opportunities to empower themselves! I have some exciting offerings coming up this year. I’m about to launch my next cohort of a training called The Magic Of Your Medicine: Spaceholder Training. Also, I’m holding a wellness retreat in Sri Lanka, and planning retreats in South Africa, Glastonbury and Sweden!

Quick questions about Singapore: What is your favourite …

Casual restaurant? Le Faubourg on Sentosa – it’s open early and is dog-friendly.
Date-night restaurant? The rock climbing gym – very romantic!
Bar? I don’t drink alcohol anymore so a dance in the park is more my style of a fun night out.
Local food? Roti prata.
Nature space? Bukit Brown Cemetery and Fort Canning Park.
Thing to do with visitors? I love introducing people to Little India – the food and the vibe is great – and taking them on a day trip to Pulau Ubin to get a taste of real Singapore.
Nearby holiday destination? Scuba diving in any of Indonesia’s marine parks.

IG @thehummingbirdlife | LinkedIn @laura-yates-hummingbird | the-hummingbird-life.com

This article about Laura helping others discover their life purpose and build connections through gatherings including cacao ceremonies first appeared in the January 2026 issue of Expat Living magazine. You can buy the latest issue or an annual subscription, or read the digital version free now.

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