Tao

"Human connection is pure energy. Some people rise to meet that connection and some people let it go dormant."
Tao Porchon-Lynch

Tao or Dao is a Chinese word translated as "way", "path", "route", "road" or sometimes more loosely as "principle" or "beliefs".  In East Asian philosophy, Tao is the natural order of the universe, an intuitive knowing that humans must discern in order to realize their potential and individual wisdom. This intuitive knowing of "life" cannot be grasped as a concept; it is known through actual living experience of one's everyday being.

I attended a 2- hour yoga worksop in NY on April 13, 2019 with Tao Porchon-Lynch. Tao is an American yoga master and award-winning author of French and Indian descent. Born in 1918, she discovered yoga in 1926 when she was eight years old while living in India.

The workshop was a powerful, dynamic vinyasa flow that was challenging and inspiring. Tao's beauty, grace and energy is palpable. Her 100 year old wisdom has earned her respect and reverence. She had two assistants during class, but she walked among us and stopped mid-flow to discuss in detail the imprtance of breath, alignment and intention.

Tao's mantra is: "There is nothing you cannot do."

Her hands on assists, direct eye contact, and observation of movement was impeccable. She enjoys the energetic connection human to human and emphasized the conscious effort to extend, lengthen and radiate. Tao led us easefully into King Dancer pose, highighting the foot arch in Tree pose and taught variations of Downward Dog that pushed our strength and balance.  Her beautiful vinyasa is "meditative energy in motion". Warrior 1-3, Half Moon, Triangle, and Revolved Triangle flowed from right to left, left to right. Her yoga flow is a 'Dance of Light', (Tao is a competitive ballroom dancer) choreographed to Tango music. By the time I got to meet her, I was hot and sweating from our yoga workout. As I introduced myself to her, I thanked Tao for her work. She held my hand tight, and pressed her forehead to mine as tears spilled down my cheeks. It was as if she could feel my life experiences through our physical connection and held me showing her empathy and compassion. 

Tao is a woman who continues to love each moment of life as a gift, despite hardship and suffering. 

"The power of our thoughts can make us live a happy, healthy life, or fill our body with poison, resulting in pain and then death."

She greets each day with a smile, moving and breathing as the sun comes up and keeps moving and breathing until the sun goes down. 

"Smile as you rise with the sun, smile at the beauty of life within you, and everything on this planet."

Tao has walked with Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Lither King Jr. promoting peace. Shw was a hollywood actress, model, and remains a formal yoga teacher (teaching weekly classes and workshops) who trained with Indra Devi, Sri Aurobindo, and B.K.S. Iyengar. Tao has energized and uplifted me, I'm still floating. 

taoporchonlynch.com