What if you woke up every morning and said to yourself, “this is going to be the best day of my life.”
Did you know that the oldest yoga teacher in the world is 95 and this is what she tells herself every day she gets out of bed? Oh, and she can still do this.
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Tao Porchon-Lynch has been practicing yoga since she was eight years old and has been teaching for over 45 years. She has an impressively diverse background in many things other than yoga, including:
– Award winning ballroom dancer
– Screenwriter
– Published author
– Winner of “Best Legs in Europe” contest when she was a young cabaret dancer
– Actress and model
I was really inspired to read that she founded her yoga school, Westchester Institute of Yoga, at the age of 64. Most people would be thinking about retirement at this age and she started on a completely new path. It’s such a testament to the power of passion. To this day she still teaches several classes per week, has over 400 students, maintains an asana and meditation practice, leads workshops and retreats and travels.
I constantly remind my yogis, CrossFitters and training clients about Newton’s First Law that people and things in motion, stay in motion. It’s so important for us to take care of the bodies we were given but it’s not just about the physical. I strongly believe that another key to longevity is your outlook and the attitude with which you choose to live your life.
When I am closing my yoga classes the thing I say more often than anything else is to act and live from a place of kindness and love where you choose to look for the good and the positive and set your focus there. We are so blessed and have so much to be grateful for if we choose to place our attention there.
That’s why I love Tao’s story so much and her morning mantra.
My mantra is to wake up the morning and say,
“This is going to be the best day of my life.”
That way I can face anything.
My mantra for life is, “There is nothing that you cannot do.”
Need even more inspiration? Watch Tao practice.
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We can only hope to live as gracefully, optimistically and fully as Tao Porchon-Lynch.
What is your morning mantra?
This post is a contribution to Folgers new online community that I’m totally in love with, The Best Part. It’s all about spreading optimism and kindness one share at a time through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. I’m so honored to participate and support this community!
Take that and stick it in your back pocket, self-doubt!
What a great story, so inspirtational!
You have no idea- This post is EXACTLY what I needed this week. Thank you!
Wow that is amazing!! If that isn’t inspirational I don’t know what is! Thanks for this post! It was needed tonight!
This is just what I needed to see today. Tomorrow, I’ll have a new way to wake up and great the world!
What a post – I want to be like her when I’m 95! Finally getting into hot yoga at night and cross fit in the mornings….now I need to get back into running even though I have no motivation for mileage at the moment!
I have read about Tao before, and am constantly in awe and inspired by her passion and drive. I love this message also, especially as a morning mantra.
What a great post, and great story. We can all learn a lesson from Tao and her ability to share her passion. My morning mantra is akin to the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish football programs “Play Like A Champion Today.” I may not “play” anything, but I will “Work Like A Champion today,” “Be A Father Like A Champion Today,” “Listen Like A Champion Today” and perform everything I do with that mindset.
First thing every morning I am thankful for that first mindful inhale and exhale. Then my feet hit the floor, hot tea is made and I watch the sunrise with gratitude for eyes to see. This story is a perfect choice for this week. I’m 58 and just finishing my yoga teacher training certification. I hope to inspire others with my bodies ability to move and my heart of gratitude. Thank you, Jen!
I am so in love with this!!!! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Great post…. just what I needed today! THANK YOU! 🙂
Thanks for sharing such an inspirational story! 🙂
What a great story!! And a true testiment that we can in fact choose joy for ourselves and our lives. Great post!