R.I.P. Great Aunt Roma Blair

It is with great sadness that I announce my incredible and inspirational Great Aunt Roma Blair has recently passed away. Roma was Australia's first female swami and was known as the 'mother of yoga' in Australia. Throughout her career Roma published six books on yoga, made two videos, four records, established yoga clubs, filmed yoga exercise shows for Channel Nine, featured in magazine lift-outs and wrote newspaper columns, and to top it off, Roma was also an established model.
I'm sure many people see similarities between Roma and I, and I have always felt a connection between us, both being models, being very flexible and sharing a love of all things leopard print!
Roma's life was not always television shows, social engagements and photo shoots, Roma was Australia's first proxy bride, she was captured in a Japanese prisoner of war camp where she remained a prisoner in Java for three years in which time she gave birth with no doctors, contracted dysentery and was so ill she would sometimes cough up worms.
Roma was an incredible woman and I urge you all to go out and get yourself a copy of her biography Roma: From Prison to Paradise.
R.I.P. Aunt Roma. You will be missed. xxx 

Roma: From Prison to Paradise

Few people know that my Great Aunt is actually the amazing Roma Blair. The subject of the biography Roma: From Prison to Paradise. I began reading her book again the other day and thought I would share it with you all.
The biography tells the story of Roma's life from her years as a young model, becoming Australia's first proxy bride and being captured in a Japanese prisoner of war camp where she remained a prisoner in Java for three years in which time she gave birth with no doctors and was given stitches with a dirty needle, contracted dysentery and was so ill she would sometimes cough up worms. She finally emerged with spirits intact but was plagued by ill health and nightmares. Roma soon discovered yoga which she believes cured her and changed her life. She eventually was honoured with becoming Australia's first female swami and was known as the 'mother of yoga' in Australia.

 Roma modelling in Sydney in 1959

 Roma with Don Lane on the Don Lane Show in 1967

 Roma practising yoga in the 1960's

 Roma still working the catwalk at 80 years of age

 Roma in the splits at her 80th birthday celebrations

Throughout her career Roma has published six books on yoga, made two videos, four records, established yoga clubs, filmed yoga exercise shows for Channel Nine, featured in magazine lift-outs and newspaper columns.
I'm sure many people see a slight similarity between Roma and I - both being models and being very flexible - but believe it or not, I have never done a yoga class in my life! Something I have decided to change and give it a go. Maybe I'll do a one on one yoga class with Roma when I visit her next. Yes she still practices yoga to this day!