BENGALURU: World’s oldest yoga teacher Tao Porchon-Lynch and one of India’s oldest yoga gurus Amma Nanammal bent and twisted and delighted a captivating audience here on Wednesday.
At an inspirational show, these two grand old women --98-year-old Porchon-Lynch from the US and 97-year-old Nanammal from Tamil Nadu -- performed several tough and complicated asanas on stage, leaving the audience awestruck.
In the two previous editions, the state had invited Bollywood celebrities to mark the International Yoga Day celebrations. However, this time, the two veterans, both social media celebrities, hit the stage to liven up the atmosphere at Kanteerava Outdoor Stadium.
From Padahastana, which involves bending forward to touch the feet, to Sarvangasana, a shoulder stand pose, they performed all effortlessly.
“I have been practising yoga for at least 25 years now. I cannot achieve that level of perfection in Sarvangasana. It was inspiring to see them do it with ease,” said Sandhya M, a 35-year-old yoga instructor.
Off stage, the two women were seen clicking photographs with youngsters and talking to them about what kept them fit.
Amid loud cheers from the audience, social activist Anna Hazare also took the stage.
“I make sure I walk at least 2 km every day and practise breathing exercises. That is where I draw the energy from to fight for people’s causes,” he said.
Hazare took a jibe at the corrupt people and said that though they stayed in AC rooms, they needed tablets to sleep, unlike him.
Co-ordinated by Shwasaguru Vachanananda, the event, organised by the Department of Health and Family Welfare, saw thousands of enthusiasts participate in an early morning yoga session prior to the event. Kanteerava Outdoor stadium had come alive with people from various backgrounds performing a guided session of yoga.