98-year-old Yoga Master Tao Porchon-Lynch Shines Bright in India – Part 1
PART 1 PART 2 PART 3 PART 4 PART 5 PART 6 PART 7 PART 8
June 18 – 19, 2017 – At 98 years young, yoga master and historical icon Tao Porchon-Lynch had a momentous trip to India to receive multiple awards, teach yoga and dance. I was delighted to accompany her as I’ve done previously. This time was extra special with seven days in Bangalore and four in Mumbai. India is home for Tao. Her mother was from Bihar, and she spent the first twenty years of her life in Pondicherry. Even when she was in Hollywood in the 1950s and 1960s, she would always go back to study yoga and produce films. She has led many retreats throughout India over the years–particularly to her favorite place, Kerala.
This trip was organized by SHWAASA, a philanthropic organization founded by Shwaasa Guru Sri Vachananand Swamiji, in memory of his guru, His Holiness Sri Marulashankara Devaru of Karnataka. We arrived in Bangalore at 3:00 A.M. on the 18th and there was an entourage of people and cameras waiting to greet us. It was a tad overwhelming given the twenty-hour trek from New York, but Tao stepped off the plane like she was walking onto a movie set, elegantly dressed and ready to go. Shwaasa Guru had flowers and cars waiting for our transport to the gorgeous Shangri-La Hotel. It was all very well planned.
There were actually TWO award ceremonies and a lot of other honors during the trip. On the 19th, Tao was on stage to receive her first award along with other notable spiritual leaders including Mahayogi Sri Pilot Baba and Yogmata Keiko Aikawa–whom we met last year at the United Nations for International Day of Yoga 2016. I think Tao was a bit surprised by the pomp and circumstance, including her crown! During the festivities, we also met Jagadananda Das, whom we both hit it off with instantly. We are very grateful for the help of Nimma Seenu, Anuradha Prabhu and her daughter Aarya, among others.
See pictures below from the 18th and 19th. You can Like and Share each image, as well as spread the light by sharing this link and these hashtags: #ThisIs98 #TaoExp #TaoPorchonLynch Be sure to check out pictures from the other days. There were so many activities and pictures, we split it into eight parts.
Greeting between 98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch and Shwaasa Guru at Shangri-La Hotel in Bangalore, India – June 18, 2017
Greeting between 98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch and Shwaasa Guru at Shangri-La Hotel in Bangalore, India – June 18, 2017
Greeting between 98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch and Shwaasa Guru at Shangri-La Hotel in Bangalore, India – June 18, 2017
Greeting between 98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch, Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy, Shwaasa Guru and his core team at Shangri-La Hotel in Bangalore, India – June 18, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch doing media interview before award ceremony in Bangalore, India – June 19, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch doing media interview before award ceremony in Bangalore, India – June 19, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch, Yogmata Keiko Aikawa, Pilot Baba and others before award ceremony in Bangalore, India – June 19, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch before award ceremony in Bangalore, India – June 19, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch and Jagadananda Das at award ceremony in Bangalore, India – June 19, 2017
Pilot Baba, Jagadananda Das, Shwaasa Guru at award ceremony in Bangalore, India – June 19, 2017
Co-host of award ceremony in Bangalore, India – June 19, 2017
Co-host of award ceremony in Bangalore, India – June 19, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch receiving award in Bangalore, India – June 19, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch receiving award in Bangalore, India – June 19, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch receiving award in Bangalore, India – June 19, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch receiving award in Bangalore, India – June 19, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch receiving award in Bangalore, India – June 19, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch receiving award in Bangalore, India – June 19, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch receiving award in Bangalore, India – June 19, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch and Yogamata Keiko Aikawa receiving awards in Bangalore, India – June 19, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch in Bangalore, India – June 19, 2017
Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy, 98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch and Anuradha Prabhu after the award ceremony in Bangalore, India – June 19, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch and Jagadananda Das after award ceremony in Bangalore, India – June 19, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch and Jagadananda Das after award ceremony in Bangalore, India – June 19, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch and Anuradha Prabhu doing yoga after the award ceremony in Bangalore, India – June 19, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch doing yoga after the award ceremony in Bangalore, India – June 19, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch doing yoga after the award ceremony in Bangalore, India – June 19, 2017
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
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.
