Swami Sarasvati

1 9 6 8 – 1 9 7 8 (Australia)

Arriving in Australia from India in 1967, Swami Sarasvati became Australia’s foremost Yoga expert when she presented a 30-minute show called Swami five mornings a week on the ATV-0 network.

Swami was born a Brahmin, a member of the highest Hindu caste, and her father was a maharishi.

With her heavily accented English, serene countenance, smiling face and bossy commands, Swami was a revelation in the finer art of elastic pretzel poses, combined with breathing deep, to housewives all over Australia.

Occasionally she would interview a guest or read correspondence from viewers (anyone who had their letter read on the show received a string of meditation beads).

Often her Siamese cat, Sadhu, joined in the on-camera exercises too.

Her show was repeated regularly for many years and Swami (as she prefers to be known) became a nationally recognisable name.

Parts of her show were broadcast for many years as 5, 10 and 15-minute morning segments called Swami Sarasvati, but she gave up  television when she became pregnant with her son, Sanjay.

In later years she set up a 24-hectare “Rejuvenation Farm” at Kenthurst, north-west of Sydney and produced video and audio yoga courses and books, and her own range of health products.