98-year-old Yoga Master Tao Porchon-Lynch Shines Bright in India – Part 2

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June 20, 2017 – On our second full day in Bangalore, we met 97-year-old Amma V. Nanammal and her son V. Balakrishnan at the hotel. She is from Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, and is considered the oldest yoga teacher in India. Since both Tao and Nanammal were going to be featured on stage that evening together, Shwaasa Guru wanted them to meet and coordinate their yoga postures. They rehearsed in the spacious lobby of the Shangri-La Hotel where we were staying. I’m always amazed at Tao, but it was particularly intriguing to see TWO 98-year-olds (pretty much) moving into positions most 30-somethings may not be able to easily do.

That evening, Tao received the Karnataka Government’s prestigious Yoga Ratna Award given annually by the SHWAASA organization to recognize excellence in Yoga. It is probably the greatest honour given in the field of yoga worldwide. The various category winners are awarded a Yoga Ratna Statuette of a yogi in garudasana pose and various other prizes. Previous ceremonies have been attended by the former Indian Prime Minister, Shri H.D. Deve Gowda, International Yoga icons Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati Ji , Bollywood actor Bipasha Basu and Hollywood star Henriett Tunyogi.

In true Tao fashion, she had four costume changes in one night. Since we knew there would be pictures during her entrance, she arrived in a pink skirt instead of her yoga clothes. We spent time in a holding room with the other dignitaries such as Mahayogi Sri Pilot Baba, Yogmata Keiko Aikawa and Jagadananda Das. When it was time to go on stage, Tao had taken off the skirt and was in yoga pants to do a demonstration of asanas with Nanammal in front of the 20,000 amazed people in the audience. Then, Tao changed into a dress to dance. Finally, to the delight of everyone, she appeared in a gorgeous royal blue sari to receive the actual Yoga Ratna Award. She was so elegant, there was a gasp in the crowd when she walked out in the sari.

See pictures below from the 20th. 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  Be sure to check out pictures from the other days.

Shwaasa Guru introducing 97-year-old Amma V. Nanammal and 98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
Shwaasa Guru, 97-year-old Amma V. Nanammal and 98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
97-year-old Amma V. Nanammal in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch, Shwaasa Guru and 97-year-old Amma V. Nanammal in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
V. Balakrishnan, Shwaasa Guru, 97-year-old Amma V. Nanammal, 98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch, and Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch, Shwaasa Guru, 97-year-old Amma V. Nanammal with Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch, Shwaasa Guru, 97-year-old Amma V. Nanammal, Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy and V. Balakrishnan in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch and 97-year-old Amma V. Nanammal with Shwaasa Guru, V. Balakrishnan, Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy, Nimma Seenu, Anuradha Prabhu and Aarya Prabhu in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch having fun with Shwaasa Guru in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch, Shwaasa Guru and Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
Aarya Prabhu, Anuradha Prabhu, 98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch, Nimma Seenu and Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
Aarya Prabhu and 98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch, Shwaasa Guru and 97-year-old Nanammal in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
Street Sign featuring 98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at the 2017 Yoga Ratna Awards in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
Street Sign featuring 98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch at the 2017 Yoga Ratna Awards in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch arriving at the 2017 Yoga Ratna Awards in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
Shwaasa Guru and 98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch arriving at the 2017 Yoga Ratna Awards in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
Special Guests arriving for the 2017 Yoga Ratna Awards in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy and 98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch before the Yoga Ratna Awards in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
Yogmata Keiko Aikawa, Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy and 98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch before the Yoga Ratna Awards in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
Jagadananda Das, Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy and 98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch before the Yoga Ratna Awards in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch before the Yoga Ratna Awards in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
Anuradha Prabhu, Jagadananda Das and Aarya Prabhu before the Yoga Ratna Awards in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch before the Yoga Ratna Awards in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
Yogmata Keiko Aikawa, Aarya Prabhu and 98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch before the Yoga Ratna Awards in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
Yogmata Keiko Aikawa and 98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch before the Yoga Ratna Awards in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy, Pilot Baba, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois’ daughter Saraswathi Rangaswamy and her son, R. Sharath Jois in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy and Pilot Baba in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
97-year-old Amma V. Nanammal and 98-year-old Tao Porchon-Lynch demonstrating asanas during Yoga Ratna Awards in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
97-year-old Amma V. Nanammal and 98-year-old Tao Porchon-Lynch demonstrating asanas during Yoga Ratna Awards in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
97-year-old Amma V. Nanammal and 98-year-old Tao Porchon-Lynch demonstrating asanas during Yoga Ratna Awards in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
97-year-old Amma V. Nanammal and 98-year-old Tao Porchon-Lynch demonstrating asanas during Yoga Ratna Awards in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
97-year-old Amma V. Nanammal and 98-year-old Tao Porchon-Lynch demonstrating asanas during Yoga Ratna Awards in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
97-year-old Amma V. Nanammal, Shwaasa Guru and 98-year-old Tao Porchon-Lynch at Yoga Ratna Awards in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
97-year-old Amma V. Nanammal, Shwaasa Guru and 98-year-old Tao Porchon-Lynch at Yoga Ratna Awards in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
Yoga Ratna Award ceremony in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
Audience watching 97-year-old Amma V. Nanammal and 98-year-old Tao Porchon-Lynch demonstrating asanas during Yoga Ratna Awards in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
98-year-old Tao Porchon-Lynch dancing at Yoga Ratna Awards in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
98-year-old Tao Porchon-Lynch dancing at Yoga Ratna Awards in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
98-year-old Tao Porchon-Lynch dancing at Yoga Ratna Awards in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
98-year-old Tao Porchon-Lynch dancing at Yoga Ratna Awards in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
98-year-old Tao Porchon-Lynch dancing at Yoga Ratna Awards in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
98-year-old Tao Porchon-Lynch dancing at Yoga Ratna Awards in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
98-year-old Tao Porchon-Lynch dancing at Yoga Ratna Awards in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
Shwaasa Guru and Anna Hazare watching 98-year-old Tao Porchon-Lynch dance at Yoga Ratna Awards in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
98-year-old Tao Porchon-Lynch after dancing at Yoga Ratna Awards in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
98-year-old Tao Porchon-Lynch after dancing at Yoga Ratna Awards in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
98-year-old Tao Porchon-Lynch and Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy with dancers backstage at Yoga Ratna Awards in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
Anna Hazare, Shwaasa Guru and 98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch receiving Yoga Ratna Award in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch receiving Yoga Ratna Award in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch, Anna Hazare and Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch being honored at Yoga Ratna Awards in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch being honored at Yoga Ratna Awards in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
Anuradha Prabhu, 98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch and Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
Nima Seenu, 98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch and Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch and Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy, Jagadananda Das, 98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch, Aarya Prabhu and Anuradha Prabhu in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
Jagadananda Das and 98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch in Bangalore, India – June 20, 2017
98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch and Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy in Bangalore, India – June 20, 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 If you haven’t already, order Tao’s award-winning autobiography, Dancing Light: The Spiritual Side of Being Through the Eyes of a Modern Yoga Master, and her latest book, Shining Bright: Quotes and Images to Inspire Optimism, Gratitude & Belief In Your Limitless Potential.

EXPERIENCE MORE OF TAO IN INDIA 2017:

PART 2

98-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch being honored at Yoga Ratna Awards in Bangalore, India - June 20, 2017
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 Yoga & Mindfulness 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 (2015) and award-winning quote book, Shining Bright: Quotes and Images to Inspire Optimism, Gratitude & Belief In Your Limitless Potential (2017). Terri and her mom are working on the Tao Brand-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 and assisting in yoga workshops. In addition to volunteering her time for events and to manage Tao’s PR/Media/Strategic Branding, Terri “curates and documents inspirational experiences” with the yoga master.
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