7 Steps to Crafting an Amazing Life

The 93-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch was recently named "oldest yoga teacher" by the Guinness World Records. I've had the pleasure of studying with Tao and spending time with her over the last few years. She is one of my inspirations and certainly an example of what I call "Power Living." Her journey provides insights to crafting an amazing life. Here's just some of what I've learned from Tao:

Tao is a living example of how to tap into our human potential. We each have the ability to craft an amazing life. As Tao says, "Smile. Don't look down. Don't look backwards. Don't procrastinate. Do it today!"

To see Tao in action, check out her Power Living interview and her wisdom from the 2011 Newark Peace Education Summit. If you want to experience Tao in person, check out her teaching schedule. If you are in New York on April 14th, join me at the Yoga Journal Conference as I moderate a discussion with Tao on yoga, creativity and showing up fully in life.

For more information and inspiration, go to www.power-living.com. Be sure to Like Us on Facebook. If you're wondering how coaching can help you, schedule a free consultative interview. To book Dr. Kennedy for a speaking event, including The Gandhi Effect™ workshop with Tao, go to www.drterrikennedy.com.

For more by Dr. Terri Kennedy, click here.

For more on mindfulness, click here.

For more on yoga, click here.

 

 

 

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Comments

[momurphy]

01:08 PM on 04/11/2012

Lovely piece - Really enjoyed it.

[Dr. Terri Kennedy]

07:52 PM on 04/10/2012

Is there any specific question you would like me to ask Tao during our conversation/interview on Saturday at the Yoga Journal Conference? It will be videotaped so you'll be able to watch it later. Let me know. Thanks!

[Tony Baja]

12:35 PM on 04/10/2012

Here is a great article by Tony Baja, with other links that may help lead some, possibly towards enlightenment, as it relates to the Yin and Yang Philosophy, compared to the western studies of Acid and Alkaline, and the importance of PH balancing.
http://tony-baja-health-resort.blogspot.com/p/yin-yang-science.html

[Tony Baja]

11:01 AM on 04/10/2012

Not only is that a Great Photo Papi, it looks like she might know the scientific answer to the Yin & Yang philosophy by Hermaan AIhara, explained by Linda Wemhoff at;
http://www.macrobioticcooking.com/6.html
and soon the book by Acid and Alkaline will be reviewed at;
http://tony-baja-health-resort.blogspot.com/

[Papi-Chullo]

10:31 AM on 04/10/2012

That's a Great Photo!

[ViviMarr Williams]

10:35 PM on 04/09/2012

If you are not afraid to be anonymous, you don't chase the blings or the soptlight and you do what is right for you, then you will create an authentic and amazing life. Of course there will be people that will disagree with your choices but it is your life and only you live in it on a daily basis, and those people are probably very unhappy in their own lives. Do your own thing and don't let others have the steering wheel of your life and destiny.

[Dr. Terri Kennedy]

02:08 PM on 04/10/2012

You're right! My dad was very much like that. He was a professor and civil rights/human rights activist. He didn't care about how many people disagreed with him. He lived his life fully and said what was on his mind - not in a hurtful way, but a truthful way. He was the most authentic person I've ever met - 100% authentic, 100% of the time. We each can do that. It is about doing your own thing. In fact, I believe it is an imperative to be a first-rate YOU, then to be a second-rate imitation of someone else. We each have special gifts. I feel that it is a divine responsibility to release those gifts fully into the world. You don't know how many people you will inspire... even if you believe you are "anonymous." You are alive for a reason... and it's certainly not about the bling. Tao is a good example. She fell into the world of acting when she was young and then used that and yoga to express herself. It wasn't about money or fame; it was simply about teaching and expressing. She is the most humble person you will ever meet - even though her life is like a movie. That's what I love about her the most. She is an example of how to BE regardless of what you do.

[jillroberts]

06:59 PM on 04/09/2012

Like everyone with a positive outgoing personality, there's an assumption that everyone can be like they are. there is this little thing called genes. Genetics make you who you are. there's a reason some people are naturally positive and some negative. People can't just turn off who they are at their core.

[M J1]

11:15 AM on 04/10/2012

There is also something called excuses. We all have the ability no matter what our genetic makeup to change and reach for a better life.

[Dr. Terri Kennedy]

01:42 PM on 04/10/2012

This is an important comment. You're right that people are born with a general disposition and some are more naturally positive than others. The naturally optimistic may even be a bit annoying to the naturally pessimistic! However, you can train yourself to be more positive - even though it may be a bit more work. This is an issue that comes up a lot with my coaching clients. The first question is "On a scale of 1 to 10, how motivated are you to be more positive?" If it's at least a 5, then that's a good sign! Then, begin to notice your "triggers." It all begins with self-awareness. It's a deliberate process of switching from negative to positive when you are triggered until it becomes a habit. It's helpful to surround yourself with positive people and find your own "mood-changers" such as music. Those are just a few strategies. To fully get into this, it may have to be the next blog posting!

[worldkarmaproj]

05:18 PM on 04/09/2012

can't wait to join Tao at the Adventure Yoga retreat at a 7wonder of the nature in Halong bay Vietnam, with World Karma Project

[Dr. Terri Kennedy]

01:45 PM on 04/10/2012

Tao in Vietnam will be an amazing trip. I will probably not make it so certainly take a bunch of photos and share with us.

[worldkarmaproj]

03:03 PM on 04/10/2012

will do: what great about this retreat is that " A portion of our profits will go towards supporting a child’s education in Vietnam – specifically, paying his/her full year’s tuition fee."
here is more info on the retreat http://www.worldkarmaproject.com/retreat/halong-bay/tao-ha-long-bay-vietnam/

[PeaceLoveNutr]

04:33 PM on 04/09/2012

Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.

http://peacelovenutrition.wordpress.com/

[Dr. Terri Kennedy]

01:46 PM on 04/10/2012

And life is about fully expressing yourself! :)

[nicholasblue]

02:50 PM on 04/09/2012

you are joking right ? some with the looks of a model and movie star is how everyone should model their life ?

[M J1]

11:20 AM on 04/10/2012

Your looks don't mean anything. How many people are famous, rich and physically beautiful who are unhappy? Look at all of the celebreties who are unhappy with themselves - doing drugs and getting in trouble. This woman's mother died when she was young and she was raised by her father's family. She had her own tragedy to deal with and she decided to have a positive attitude anyway. That's the point of the article not the fact that she was physically attractive.

[Dr. Terri Kennedy]

01:58 PM on 04/10/2012

It's really about how she has been fearless in living her life to the fullest every day - such as learning how to ballroom dance at age 84... and then competing and winning! That had nothing to do with her looks. It's also about how she uses her life for good. For example, when she arrived in Europe the one thing she knew how to do was Indian dance. That got her known and it morphed into modeling and acting. She then used her role as a model to help with the French Resistance under Charles de Gaulle (i.e. people assume beautiful women are dumb but she was helping to transfer information back and forth). Tao's an example of living "full-in" playing all the cards you have. We all can do that.

[PetuniaPie]

08:20 AM on 04/30/2012

I think the poster was pointing out that some are dealt a better hand than others. I agree that you have to make the most of what you have - but certainly being a beautiful woman who becomes a model opens many doors. The ability to take advantage of that is admirable, but not accessaible to most.