That moment I met Yoga Instructor Tao-Porchon-Lynch
“Look outside at those trees, it’s a new day for everything in nature. It’s the same for us as we wake up in the morning, it’s always a new day with new possibilities. I wake up thinking this is going to be the best day of my life.” These we’re the words that stuck with me after my class with 95 year old, Tao-Porchon-Lynch. Tao, the oldest yoga instructor in the world, pointed out to the trees outside her Hartsdale, NY studio. It was the one of those first warm days towards the end of a long New York winter, and the sun was shinning in.
Everything about the class, made me feel like there was no other place in the world to be at that very moment. Tao’s gently hands-on adjustments guided me into poses, I’d never thought I would have gotten myself into like Eka Pada Rahakapotasana (One-Legged King Pigeon Pose) and my first handstand. Her expertise in yoga showed, with how she leads the class. With such positive energy filled throughout the whole room, Tao joins in and demonstrates a lot of the postures. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. How could someone at this age be so physically strong, flexable and be so pure with how she does it.
After several closing mantras, I was so thankful that my journey into Yoga led me to meet one of the most inspiring and influential people I have ever met. At a time where I was not sure where my yoga practice was leading me, Tao reminded me after class when I got the honor to talk to her more that you shouldn’t be scared of the uncertain in the world, “you see this in nature, you see this when you see a formation of geese float across the sky, they don’t even know where they are going, they are going into a new day, they are waiting for something in the atmosphere to show them the way. I look at nature as my encyclopedia, I believe nature is there to help us.”
Whether you are an expert yogi or have never practiced yoga before I highly suggest taking a class with Tao for a transformational experience. You can check out Tao’s site here