98-year-old Yoga Master Tao Porchon-Lynch Speaks at World Government Summit in Dubai
PART 1 PART 2
February 11 to 14, 2017 – A few months ago, 98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch said to me that she wanted to return to Dubai and literally within a day the Universe answered and there was an invitation from the World Government Summit in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). THAT is manifesting!
The World Government Summit is a global knowledge exchange platform at the intersection of government, futurism, technology and innovation. It functions as a thought leadership platform and networking hub for policymakers, experts and pioneers in human development. Strategic Partners include the World Economic Forum, the United Nations, The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, OCED (The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), CLAD (El Centro Latinoamericano de Administración para el Desarrollo) and the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development.
Tao did two programs for the Summit. On February 13th, she offered insights and her signature “There Is Nothing You Cannot Do” charge to the audience as they went into a work session on the Sustainable Development Goals. The shift in energy was palatable and there was the usual line of people to meet Tao afterwards. It was a delight to see Hana AlHashmini, the Happiness Representative of the Permanent Mission of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations. We met at the UN in June when I moderated the program with Tao for International Day of Yoga. On February 14th, Tao offered a longer 45-minute session for the Summit with a mix of inspiration, yoga and meditation. I was honored to moderate for both programs providing context on Tao’s background, incorporating elements of our Conversation with a Master presentation and of course doing some yoga with her. Once again, there was a line for pictures and hugs. I’m always amazed at what I call “The Tao Effect” on people. Simply being in her presence changes you and increases your level of optimism.
The Summit featured quite a number of interesting people including Elon Musk (CEO of Tesla, Inc. and Founder of SpaceX), HE Jim Yong Kim (President of The World Bank), Professor Joseph Stiglitz (Nobel Laureate in Economics and Professor at Columbia University), Dr. Andrew Weil (Founder & Program Director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine) and Max Strom (Writer, Teacher, Speaker), among others. Tao and Max Strom know each other from the yoga world so it was wonderful to see him at her session. He does tremendous work with Inner Axis.
The pre-cursor to the three-day Summit was the Global Dialogue for Happiness – a gathering of international experts to discuss the main themes impacting happiness and wellbeing including government and public policy, sound and effective measurements of happiness, and the latest scientific literature and research on happiness and wellbeing. Presenters included notables Professor Jeffrey Sachs (Professor of Economics at Columbia University, Senior UN Advisor and Co-Editor of the World Happiness Report), Professor John Helliwell (Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of British Columbia and Co-Editor of the World Happiness Report), Dr. Martin Seligman (Professor of Psychology and Director of the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania), Professor Ed Diener (Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of Illinois), Dr. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Management at Claremont Graduate University), Professor Meike Bartels (Professor in Genetics and Wellbeing at VU University in Amsterdam), Lord Richard Layard (Professor of Economics at the London School of Economics and Co-Editor of the World Happiness Report) and Professor Rick Hansen (Neuropsychologist and Author).
Happiness is serious business. The first World Happiness Report was published in April 2012, in support of the High Level Meeting at the United Nations on happiness and well-being, chaired by the Prime Minister of Bhutan. Increasingly, happiness is considered to be the proper measure of social progress and the goal of public policy. Learn more about the World Happiness Report and read the latest volume. In February 2016, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE’s Prime Minister and the ruler of Dubai, appointed Her Excellency Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi as Minister of State for Happiness indicating that the position “will align and drive government policy to create social good and satisfaction.” She is also Director General of the Prime Minister’s Office of the UAE.
In 2010, I was a discussion leader for the “Economics of Happiness” at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland. In 2009, I was named a Young Global Leader (YGL) by the Forum recognizing my “professional accomplishments, commitment to society and potential for shaping the future of the world.” I was thrilled that Tao got a chance to meet WEF Founder & Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab during this World Government Summit. He held a private talk and lunch with YGLs and Global Shapers who were at the Summit. Afterwards, Tao joined to meet some of my colleagues and say hello to Professor Schwab, whom she met two days before. Perhaps we’ll have Tao at one of our future Forum events.
In addition to the World Government Summit sessions, there were cultural activities to get a taste of Dubai. Thank you to Sumantro Ghose with the Dubai Culture Projects and Events Department for showing us around the new Etihad Museum. The museum opened just last month and chronicles the era before the country’s founding. As part of the museum initiative, the original Union House where leaders signed the treaty establishing the country was restored. After the tour, we joined the Summit dinner held outside. We also had a wonderful dinner one evening at the Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa. It was magical and the food was incredible!
Below are pictures. Click on each image to make it larger. You can Like and Share each image, as well as spread the light by sharing this link and these hashtags: #ThisIs98 #TaoExp #TaoPorchonLynch #WorldGovSummit. I took a lot of pictures so check out Part 1 below and then go to Part 2 for more.
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch on Emirates arriving in Dubai – February 11, 2017
View of Burj Khalifa in Dubai – February 11, 2017
View of Dubai – February 11, 2017
Jumeriah Al Naseem Resort in Dubai with view of Burj Al Arab – February 11, 2017
View of Burj Al Arab from the Jumeriah Al Naseem Resort in Dubai – February 11, 2017
Jumeriah Al Naseem Resort in Dubai – February 11, 2017
Room at Jumeriah Al Naseem Resort in Dubai – February 11, 2017
Bathroom suite at Jumeriah Al Naseem Resort in Dubai – February 11, 2017
View from balcony of Jumeriah Al Naseem Resort in Dubai – February 11, 2017
Jumeriah Al Naseem Resort in Dubai – February 11, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch with new friends in lobby of Jumeriah Al Naseem in Dubai – February 11, 2017
Sherri Skeans and 98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch in lobby of Jumeriah Al Naseem in Dubai – February 11, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch with new friend in lobby of Jumeriah Al Naseem in Dubai – February 11, 2017
Ethiad Museum in Dubai – February 11, 2017
Ethiad Museum in Dubai – February 11, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at Ethiad Museum in Dubai – February 11, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch and Sumantro Ghose at the newly opened Ethiad Museum in Dubai – February 11, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at Ethiad Museum in Dubai – February 11, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch wearing traditional mask at the Ethiad Museum in Dubai – February 11, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch wearing traditional mask at the Ethiad Museum in Dubai – February 11, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch wearing traditional mask at the Ethiad Museum in Dubai – February 11, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch wearing traditional mask at the Ethiad Museum in Dubai – February 11, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch wearing traditional mask at the Ethiad Museum in Dubai – February 11, 2017
Traditional Dance at Ethiad Museum in Dubai – February 11, 2017
Ethiad Museum in Dubai – February 11, 2017
Bathroom suite at Jumeriah Al Naseem Resort in Dubai – February 11, 2017
View outside of Mina A’ Salam Resort in Dubai – February 13, 2017
View outside of Mina A’ Salam Resort in Dubai – February 13, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch and Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy at Mina A’ Salam in Dubai for World Government Summit – February 13, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch and Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy at Mina A’ Salam in Dubai for World Government Summit – February 13, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch with World Economic Forum Young Global Leaders including Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy at Mina A’ Salam in Dubai for World Government Summit – February 13, 2017
Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy with fellow Young Global Leaders and Professor Klaus Schwab at Mina A’ Salam in Dubai for World Government Summit – February 13, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at Mina A’ Salam in Dubai for World Government Summit – February 13, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at Mina A’ Salam in Dubai for World Government Summit – February 13, 2017
World Economic Forum Founder Klaus Schwab and 98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at Mina A’ Salam in Dubai for World Government Summit – February 13, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch with Young Global Leader at Mina A’ Salam in Dubai for World Government Summit – February 13, 2017
Matej Cer and 98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at Mina A’ Salam in Dubai for World Government Summit – February 13, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch, Matej Cer and Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy at Mina A’ Salam in Dubai for World Government Summit – February 13, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch and Matej Cer at Mina A’ Salam in Dubai for World Government Summit – February 13, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch and Matej Cer at Mina A’ Salam in Dubai for World Government Summit – February 13, 2017
Boris Koprivnikar (Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Public Administration of the Republic of Slovenia) and 98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at Mina A’ Salam in Dubai for World Government Summit – February 13, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at Mina A’ Salam in Dubai for World Government Summit – February 13, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at World Government Summit in Dubai – February 13, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at World Government Summit in Dubai – February 13, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at World Government Summit in Dubai – February 13, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch and Deputy Director General Adolfo Ayuso-Audry at World Government Summit in Dubai – February 13, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at World Government Summit in Dubai – February 13, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at World Government Summit in Dubai – February 13, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at World Government Summit in Dubai – February 13, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at World Government Summit in Dubai – February 13, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at World Government Summit in Dubai – February 13, 2017
Hana AlHashimi and 98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at World Government Summit in Dubai – February 13, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at World Government Summit in Dubai – February 13, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at World Government Summit in Dubai – February 13, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at World Government Summit in Dubai – February 13, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at World Government Summit in Dubai – February 13, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at World Government Summit in Dubai – February 13, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at World Government Summit in Dubai – February 13, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at World Government Summit in Dubai – February 13, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at World Government Summit in Dubai – February 13, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at World Government Summit in Dubai – February 13, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at World Government Summit in Dubai – February 13, 2017
Can you keep up with Tao? Check out pictures from the 2016 XYoga Dubai Festival. Be sure to leave your comments and spread the light by sharing this link and these hashtags: #ThisIs98 #TaoExp #TaoPorchonLynch. If you haven’t already, order Tao’s long-awaited autobiography, Dancing Light: The Spiritual Side of Being Through the Eyes of a Modern Yoga Master.
EXPERIENCE MORE TAO IN DUBAI 2017:
PART 1
Contributed by Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy of www.IAmPowerLiving.com and www.PowerLivingMedia.com. President of Power Living Enterprises, Inc., Terri is a Harvard Business School-trained Strategist, Certified Meditation & Yoga Teacher, and Master Coach recognized as a “Young Global Leader” by the World Economic Forum. Her mission is to raise the consciousness of the planet through transformative tools, experiences and content. As a coach, she specializes in helping people de-stress, realign and realize authentic success. After a corporate media & technology career, she founded the first yoga studio in Harlem and served six years on the Board of Yoga Alliance (including Chair and interim CEO). Called “smart with a heart,” she has been featured in media around the world including the cover of Yoga Journal and in Oprah’s book, Live Your Best Life! Along with her mother, Columbia University-trained journalist Janie Sykes-Kennedy, Terri is a co-author of Tao’s award-winning autobiography, Dancing Light: The Spiritual Side of Being Through the Eyes of a Modern Yoga Master. Terri and her mom are working on the Tao Legacy Project, capturing Tao’s wisdom and teachings in various formats, A sought-after speaker and avid photographer/videographer with a love for storytelling, Terri often travels with Tao moderating conversations on her life, assisting in yoga workshops and documenting their experiences.
Facebook Comments
