Yoga's popularity continues to surge, drawing celebrities and everyday enthusiasts alike to their mats each year. Its profound benefits for body and mind transcend generations, as exemplified by Tao Porchon-Lynch. This New Yorker holds the title of the world's oldest yoga teacher at 98 years young. A social media sensation with over 17,000 Facebook followers, she gained viral fame in 2012 when a photographer captured her fluid poses in Central Park. What captivates fans is her vibrant personality: always sporting painted nails and bold earrings, she skips water in favor of wine and tea.
Tao's yoga journey began in her native India at age 8, mesmerized by men practicing contortions on the beach. "I asked my aunt, 'Can I join them?' She said, 'It's not a game, it's yoga—and not for well-behaved girls.'" Undeterred, she dove in, as shared in a New York Times interview. Today, this resilient spirit teaches five classes weekly, even after three hip replacements. In 2015, she dazzled on America's Got Talent with an electrifying dance alongside a 26-year-old partner. As she declares, "In my head, I'm still 20, and I have no intention of growing old."
A true inspiration for active aging.
