Tao Porchon-Lynch

Yesterday, it was Thanksgiving in America. I haven’t been able to celebrate Thanksgiving since I left the USA back for Europe in 2002. I have been back in the USA for a couple of times but never around Thanksgiving. This time I am spending Thanksgiving, vegetarian style. That means no turkey and glazed hams. This is a first for me but so much more ethical.  I didn’t not miss the turkey or ham at all. I did miss the cornbread and black eyed peas, I use to enjoy on Thanksgiving with my American family. This holiday reminds me a lot of them. It also reminds me of the amazing families I have in Africa, Europe, U.S. and now in India.

This bring me to the guest of honour: Mrs. Tao Porch Lynch. I have heard a lot of Tao, as she is a well known Yoga master of the age 97. I have seen her dance Tango at the age of 96 on America’s Got Talent while I was in Belgium. I was so excited to meet her as I had just started reading her book and yes it is signed by her. She was sitting at the dining room table and as I was meeting a celebrity I was shy to introduce myself. This woman is a role model. I was finally introduced to her and all of a sudden I got so much energy. This woman gives you energy. She doesn’t look 97 and has the spirit and energy of a 20 year old. She was well dressed, gosh I loved her accessories and was wearing high heel shoes. Damn it, I barely wear high heels around the house and she wears it every day! She doesn’t eat much, drink much or sleep much. (All of a sudden my life of little eating, sleeping and drinking seems the way to go!)

Tao is fantastic, I couldn’t stop asking her questions. I wanted to know the secret of life that she carries. Tao claims nature is her encyclopedia. She is very sharp, gives yoga classes 3 to 4 times a day, wrote a book and still travels the world! As a matter of fact, she is traveling to India for 2 weeks. Jet lag ? No that is a word she doesn’t know. Tiredness? That is not in her dictionary. Man! I need to drop these words too. Everyday you have to wake up and believe that is going to be a fantastic day. Tao gives me energy and motivation to be a better self. She is not only a role model for the old but also the young. What a vibrant woman! & still drives a Smart car at this age without any problem.

She is actually half Indian, half French; she marched with Mathma Gandhi, worked for the French resistance, she was a model for Chanel and later moved to America as she had to flee the Nazis. She helped Jewish people escape the Nazis along the Seine. She told me how she covered them with potatoe bags. I haven’t completely finished the book but now that I have met her I can’t wait till the end. Actually I know the ending, I just saw her. There is no ending, this woman is fantastic and she will always live forever. Actually, I am getting ideas to bring this rockstar to Belgium to one of our yoga Microfinance customers. Yes, yes I got a new project planned and it will involve Tao Porchon- Lynch, the yoga master of this century!
Tao is unbelievable, she is the real Forrest Gump! She is my inspiration and I hope my life may continue as it is from one experience, adventure, country to another and keep the eternal light of life burning! She said I looked about twenty years old surprised to hear that I am 32 which meant that I also have the secret of eternal youth! So happy, my day couldn’t get any better.

Yep that’s Tao and I in the photo. Want to read her book?

Dancing Light , The Spiritual Side of Being Through the Eyes of a Modern Yoga Master by Tao Porchon - Lynch. ISBN 978-1-942510-00-0

Read about her on www.taoporchon-lynch.com
Catch my photo with her, Guiness Book of Records oldest yoga teacher in the world and wine lover!