If you ever sign up for a meditational retreat or yoga class at the Ramakrishna Sarada Vedanta Society of NSW, one of the oldest centres teaching Vedanta philosophy in Australia, you are likely to come across Hiroko Yanamoto-Symonds.
Originally from Japan, Ms Yanamoto-Symonds stands out among many Indians at the centre.
Deeply influenced by the Vedanta teaching, Ms Yanamoto-Symonds teaches meditation and hatha yoga at the Ramakrishna Sarada Vedanta Society.
Her tryst with yoga started almost three decades when she first arrived in Australia on a working holiday visa.
While working as an assistant nurse and doing all the heavy lifting, Ms Yanamoto-Symonds injured her back.
“I was advised to do Yoga. But I had to wait for a few years before I actually learnt it,” Ms Yanamoto-Symonds tells Hindi.
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She returned to Japan and a few years later, another work opportunity brought her back to Australia.
“I returned to Australia to work as a graphic designer,” she says.
With her lingering back problems, she finally took up yoga after arriving in Sydney.
“Yoga changed my life. I regained my strength and flexibility. I had a desk job and my back didn’t hurt. I got rid of the pain, thanks to Yoga,” she says.
Ms Yanamoto-Symonds was immediately drawn to yoga as it aligned with her personal spiritual faith.
“I read so many books on yoga which connected me to the Vedic philosophy. I learnt about Sri Ramakrishna mission and was deeply influenced by it. It became my dream to travel to India and live in an ashram to learn more,” she says.
The dream came true almost a decade later when she travelled to the Shivananda Yoga Ashram in Kerala, India in 2004.
“I attended the Yoga teacher’s training course and it was so different from what I had learnt in Sydney. In Kerala, I was completely cut off the world and focussed only on yoga. Mentally and intellectually, my mind was very calm,” she shares with SBS Hindi.
The experience changed her and she decided to dedicate herself to seek the spiritual path that she had long yearned for.
“I found my Guru in Ramakrishna Sarada Mission and am learning the philosophy of yoga at Vedanta with them. While I am pursuing the study of Vedanta, I am teaching hatha yoga at the centre,” she says.
She eventually left her job and is now regularly involved with the Ramakrishna Sarada Vedanta Society where she teaches Hatha yoga, the basic practice of physical yoga postures and pranayama, the practice of breath control in yoga.
“When it is very hard to control your mind and thoughts, Yoga can play an important role to calm you down,” she says talking about the benefits of yoga.
“If you are someone who gets easily upset and finds it difficult to control one’s thoughts, yoga and pranayama can help you maintain energy and keep calm. It is very helpful,” she says.
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Disclaimer: We’d like to point out that the information contained in this segment is general and is not specific advice. If you would like accurate information relevant to your health needs, you should ask your health professional.
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