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To create an ashram and centre for yoga in Australia, which is now the Beacon Yoga Centre in Fremantle. This is where Hamsa Jo spent nine years living and teaching yoga, under the guidance of Swami Venkatesananda himself. During this time, she completed the first International Yoga Teachers Association (IYTA) training programme in Western Australia, further deepening her understanding and knowledge of the eight limbs of yoga.
Continuing her quest for yoga studies, Hamsa Jo travelled to Chennai, India, where she studied with Sri TKV Desikachar and other esteemed teachers from the Krishnamacarya Yoga Mandiram (KYM). Her focus during this time was on the study of vedic chant and yoga therapy (yoga cikitsa), expanding her expertise in these areas. Her dedication and commitment to her practise also led her to study with Mark Whitwell and further her studies at KYM in the mid-90s.
Drawing from a wide range of spiritual teachings, Hamsa Jo also received profound meditation and compassion teachings from Tibetan master Sogyal Rinpoche, author of the Tibetan Book of Living & Dying. This connexion eventually led her to Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, under whose guidance she continues to study and practise the Vajrayana teachings.
Throughout her journey, Hamsa Jo's experiences and teachings from her various masters have shaped her understanding of yoga and spirituality. She is deeply grateful for the wisdom and knowledge imparted to her by her precious teachers, which continues to inspire and guide her work. Her love for sacred sound has also led her to release a guided CD, “The Healing Sounds of Vedic Chant”, and a daily yoga practise CD, “Do Your Yoga Bless Your Life”, both of which offer students an opportunity to deepen their yoga practise at home.
As the founder and heart behind Heart of Yoga, Hamsa Jo is dedicated to sharing the transformative power of yoga with others. With over 40 years of study and teaching experience, she aims to create a total yoga experience that integrates the body, breath, and mind/heart through posture, conscious breath, chant, meditation, and study. By igniting the life-force within, Hamsa Jo believes that practitioners can live and act more consciously and interdependently, not just for their own benefit but also for the benefit of others. She believes that the practise of yoga is about removing obstacles to self-realisation and cultivating a deep calm and peace within, even amidst the chaos of daily life.
With her vast knowledge and deep understanding of yoga, Hamsa Jo invites students to explore and discover the depths of their own consciousness and to experience the healing path that yoga offers. Her teachings are influenced by the holistic approach of Swami Venkatesananda and the teachings of the ancient scriptures like the Bhagavad Gita, Yoga Sutras, and Yoga Vasistha. By offering her insights and teachings, Hamsa Jo hopes to be a conduit for the wisdom teachings of India and Tibet, ultimately benefiting others on their own yoga journey.
