98-year-old Yoga Master Tao Porchon-Lynch Walks The Red Carpet
May 16 – 19, 2017 – You don’t retire over 90, you inspire. That’s the message in the documentary, If You’re Not In The Obit, Eat Breakfast, 98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch is in with superstars such as Carl Reiner (95), Betty White (95), Norman Lear (94), Dick Van Dyke (91), Tony Bennett (90), Mel Brooks (90), Kirk Douglas (100) and more. The film will air June 5th on HBO.
We had a whirlwind three and a half days in Los Angeles to attend the premiere on May 17th at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills where the Oscars are held. Tao was excited about walking the red carpet. It brought her back to her days as an actress under contract with MGM in the 1950s. She was in a range of films such as ShowBoat, The Last Time I Saw Paris, Sangaree, House of Wax and Jump Into Hell. Tao also had parts in TV shows such as The Bob Hope Show, I Married Joan, The Red Skelton Show, The Cisco Kid and Passport to Danger. Tao’s early representation was from the William Morris Agency.
This documentary didn’t touch upon Tao’s Hollywood past or her fearlessness during World War II helping Jews escape the Nazis as a French Resistance fighter. Yet, despite all of the big names in the film, The Hollywood Reporter stated:
One of the documentary’s most inspiring stories came from Tao Porchon-Lynch, 98, who is recognized as the oldest yoga teacher and dancer in the world. When she was 12 years old, Lynch marched alongside Gandhi and to this day continues to share the same peaceful mentality about herself and her life.
Tao’s presence and current vitality, without even knowledge of her full incredible backstory, inspires. During the reception after the screening, we had the usual line of people coming up to Tao to take pictures and get hugs. My cousin, Leon Isaac Kennedy, who attended the premiere with his wife Maureen, escorted Tao through the reception to greet people including the film’s producers Aimee Hyatt and George Shapiro. Aimee and George, with director Danny Gold, did an outstanding job on the film. It was both funny and inspiring — providing a kick in the butt to those who complain about age. After the screening, there was a hilarious discussion with Carl Reiner, Dick Van Dyke, Mel Brooks and Norman Lear moderated by Tom Bergeron of Dancing With The Stars. The chemistry between them all was electric.
The day before the premiere, Tao reconnected with Suzanne Allen, a dear friend from the 1950s whom she had not seen for over three decades. 96-year-old Suzanne, who is also French (Tao is half-French, half Indian), was married to well-known architect William Allen. They are both mentioned in Tao’s award-winning autobiography, Dancing Light: The Spiritual Side of Being Through the Eyes of a Modern Yoga Master. The morning after the premiere we had breakfast at The Beverly Hills Hotel. Tao used to go there often for lunch and hold fundraising events there with The Charity Players. In her book, there is an iconic picture of her getting out of a car in front of the hotel in the early 1950s. We walked around the hotel grounds as Tao reminisced. She pointed out a picture of her dear friend Marlene Dietrich in one of the hotel’s displays.
During the trip, we stayed at a very charming hotel, The Chamberlain West Hollywood. Personally, I had two treats while in LA in addition to the premiere. First, I celebrated my birthday on May 16th with Tao. We ate at the hotel’s very chic restaurant. Second, I went to the Playboy Mansion with my cousin Leon for dinner and a movie on May 18th. We saw the movie No Reservations starring Catherine Zeta Jones. Leon has been friends with Hugh Hefner for decades and I had been to the mansion before. I remember the first time there when I was 18! It has changed since. Dinner and a movie is a tradition — though the gathering has become more about true friends and family versus large crowds. It was nice to see Hugh, who is 91, and meet his wife Crystal. I gave her a copy of Dancing Light with a special message from Tao. Out of respect for Hugh and Crystal’s privacy, I didn’t take any pictures. However, I did include for you a peak at the Playboy water bottle. 🙂
See pictures below. You can Like and Share each image, as well as spread the light by sharing this link and these hashtags: #ThisIs98 #TaoExp #TaoPorchonLynch #IfYoureNotInTheObit
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at the Chamberlain Hotel in West Hollywood, CA – May 16, 2017
Chamberlain Hotel in West Hollywood, CA – May 16, 2017
Dessert at the Chamberlain Hotel in West Hollywood, CA – May 16, 2017
Dessert at the Chamberlain Hotel in West Hollywood, CA – May 16, 2017
Dessert at the Chamberlain Hotel in West Hollywood, CA – May 16, 2017
Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy and 98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at the Chamberlain Hotel in West Hollywood, CA – May 16, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at the Chamberlain Hotel in Los Angeles – May 17, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at the Chamberlain Hotel in Los Angeles – May 17, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at the Maison Richard in Los Angeles – May 17, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at the Maison Richard in Los Angeles – May 17, 2017
Old friends 96-year-old Suzanne Allen and 98-year-old Tao Porchon-Lynch at the Maison Richard in Los Angeles – May 17, 2017
Old friends 96-year-old Suzanne Allen and 98-year-old Tao Porchon-Lynch at the Maison Richard in Los Angeles – May 17, 2017
Old Friends 96-year-old Suzanne Allen and 98-year-old Tao Porchon-Lynch at the Maison Richard in Los Angeles – May 17, 2017
May, Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy, Suzanne Allen, Joyce Pines and Tao Porchon-Lynch at the Maison Richard in Los Angeles – May 17, 2017
Dessert at the Maison Richard in Los Angeles – May 17, 2017
May, Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy, Suzanne Allen, Joyce Pines and Tao Porchon-Lynch at the Maison Richard in Los Angeles – May 17, 2017
May, Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy, Suzanne Allen, Joyce Pines and Tao Porchon-Lynch at the Maison Richard in Los Angeles – May 17, 2017
May, Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy, Suzanne Allen, Joyce Pines and Tao Porchon-Lynch at the Maison Richard in Los Angeles – May 17, 2017
May, Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy, Suzanne Allen, Joyce Pines and Tao Porchon-Lynch at the Maison Richard in Los Angeles – May 17, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch walking the red carpet at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre in Los Angeles, CA – May 17, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch walking the red carpet at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre in Los Angeles, CA – May 17, 2017
Producer George Shapiro and 98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch walking the red carpet at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre in Los Angeles, CA – May 17, 2017
Producer George Shapiro and 98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch walking the red carpet at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre in Los Angeles, CA – May 17, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch walking the red carpet at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre in Los Angeles, CA – May 17, 2017
Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy and 98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch walking the red carpet at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre in Los Angeles, CA – May 17, 2017
Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy and 98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch walking the red carpet at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre in Los Angeles, CA – May 17, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch and Leon Isaac Kennedy in Los Angeles, CA – May 17, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at Samuel Goldwyn Theatre in Los Angeles, CA – May 17, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at premiere of If Your Not In The Obit, Eat Breakfast at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre in Los Angeles, CA – May 17, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch and Leon Isaac Kennedy at premiere of If Your Not In The Obit, Eat Breakfast at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre in Los Angeles, CA – May 17, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at premiere of If Your Not In The Obit, Eat Breakfast at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre in Los Angeles, CA – May 17, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at premiere of If Your Not In The Obit, Eat Breakfast at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre in Los Angeles, CA – May 17, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at premiere of If Your Not In The Obit, Eat Breakfast at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre in Los Angeles, CA – May 17, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at premiere of If Your Not In The Obit, Eat Breakfast at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre in Los Angeles, CA – May 17, 2017
Producer Aimee Hyatt, 98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch and Leon Isaac Kennedy at premiere of If Your Not In The Obit, Eat Breakfast at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre in Los Angeles, CA – May 17, 2017
Producer George Shapiro and 98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at premiere of If Your Not In The Obit, Eat Breakfast at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre in Los Angeles, CA – May 17, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at premiere of If Your Not In The Obit, Eat Breakfast at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre in Los Angeles, CA – May 17, 2017
Maureen Kennedy, 98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch and Leon Isaac Kennedy at premiere of If Your Not In The Obit, Eat Breakfast at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre in Los Angeles, CA – May 17, 2017
Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy, Leon Isaac Kennedy and Maureen Kennedy at premiere of If Your Not In The Obit, Eat Breakfast at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre in Los Angeles, CA – May 17, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at premiere of If Your Not In The Obit, Eat Breakfast at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre in Los Angeles, CA – May 17, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at The Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA – May 18, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at The Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA – May 18, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at The Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA – May 18, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch and Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy at The Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA – May 18, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at The Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA – May 18, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at The Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA – May 18, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at The Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA – May 18, 2017
The Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA – May 18, 2017
Los Angeles foliage – May 18, 2017
Water bottle from the Playboy Mansion – May 18, 2017
Watch the Trailer:
Coverage of the Premiere:
Dick Van Dyke, Carl Reiner And More Appear In ‘If You’re Not In The Obit, Eat Breakfast’ (METV, 05/19/17)
Carl Reiner, Dick Van Dyke Celebrate Life at ‘If You’re Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast’ Premiere (The Hollywood Reporter, 05/18/17)
Carl Reiner and his nonagenarian friends enliven inspiring doc ‘If You’re Not In the Obit, Eat Breakfast’ (Los Angeles Times, 05/18/17)
Carl Reiner, Mel Brooks, Dick Van Dyke Wow Crowd at ‘If You’re Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast’ Premiere (Variety, 05/18/17)
Can you keep up with Tao? Be sure to leave your comments and spread the light by sharing this link and these hashtags: #ThisIs98 #TaoExp #TaoPorchonLynch #IfYoureNotInTheObit
Learn more about Tao’s incredible life in her autobiography, Dancing Light: The Spiritual Side of Being Through the Eyes of a Modern Yoga Master (2015), which won 10 international and national awards. Be inspired by her image/quote book, Shining Bright: Quotes and Images to Inspire Optimism, Gratitude & Belief In Your Limitless Potential (2017), which won the prestigious IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award. Study her teachings in Master Course with Tao Porchon-Lynch and Stretch & Relax with Tao Porchon-Lynch.
Contributed by Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy.
