At 98, yoga teacher still going strong
DUBAI — More often than not, facing hurdles in our lives brings us down. But ask Tao Porchon-Lynch, the world’s oldest yoga teacher at the age of 98, she will tell you that nothing is impossible.
Despite her wrinkled skin and fragile voice, Tao imparted a zest for life that has sustained her through nearly a century of existence, marked by encounters with the likes of Mahatma Gandhi.
“I wake up and say that today will be the best day of my life. And it is because you materialise what you put in your mind so I never let my mind stray with ugly thoughts.” Starting yoga at the age of eight, Tao still teaches classes five times a week. She grew up during the onset of World War II away from her parents and witnessed many historic events throughout her life. “I will never retire. I will dance my way to another planet,” she told Khaleej
Times. “Open the door to your inner self and you will automatically draw towards you everything you need.”
DUBAI — She might be almost a century old, but her beaming smile that shines through her wrinkled face gives a spirit reminiscent of a woman full of energy and youth.
Tao Porchon-Lynch, the 98-year-old yoga instructor, takes yoga classes five times a week in New York. Even after three hip replacements, she still manages to give a class of difficult movements to students of different ages.
“We don’t allow count in my class, we know that within us there’s nothing we cannot do,” said the French-Indian yoga master during her recent visit to Dubai.
Despite growing up in difficult circumstances, Tao told Khaleej Times that the secret of her happiness is waking up and saying that today is going to be the best day of her life.
“And it is. Because you materialise what you put in your mind so I never let my mind go stray with ugly thoughts. I only put good thoughts in there,” she said.
Earning her title from Guinness World Records in 2012, Tao started yoga at the age of eight when she saw young people at the beach “doing beautiful things with their bodies.”
If you believe in something, go do it, don’t procrastinate until tomorrow and don’t waste your time asking your mind how you will do it.”
She said believing that nothing is impossible was her drive through life.
“You can make things happen, but you have to see it,” said the 98 year old yoga master.
Born in 1918 at the end of World War I, Tao’s mother died when she was just seven months old. She grew up in Pondicherry, then part of French colonial India.
The onset of World War II saw her leave for Europe looking for her father, who was called up in France. During her life span, she encountered many historic events taking place for almost a century.
She met Mahatma Gandhi at the age of 12, and participated in demonstrations with General Charles de Gaulle and Martin Luther King, Jr.
“I worked underground and helped people during the war. Everything people said were not possible, I have done it. It isn’t because I have special powers, I am just in touch with my inner self.”
She added: “When people say I
Everything people said were not possible, I have done it. It isn’t because I have special powers, I am just in touch with my inner self.”
am getting old and can’t do certain things, it’s nonsense. I’m like an old tree and the trees are hundreds of years old. They are not getting older, but stronger.”
One thing she tells her students is to “open the door to your inner self and you will automatically draw towards you everything you need.”
“It works,” she added, “If you believe in something, go do it, don’t procrastinate until tomorrow and don’t waste your time asking your mind how you will do it.”
The key, she said, is to listen to the power inside. And with all war conflicts and protests the world has been witnessing, Tao believes everyone can have an individual role of spreading positivity.
“I have a smiley boy in class who tells everyone to love each other. Now his whole class hugs before sitting down and taking the class. This is the power of love.”
She recalls a question asked by a six-year-old girl on what she will do after retiring.
“I told her I will not retire, but will dance my way to the next planet. The girl replied that after putting a man on the moon, by the time she is my age, she will find me again since people by then will be all over the stars.
“When you have a little girl who thinks this way, we are on the right path,” Tao said.
When people say I am getting old and can’t do certain things, it’s nonsense. I’m like an old tree and the trees are hundreds of years old. They are not getting older, but stronger.”