In Appreciation of the Teacher Who Brought Yoga to Our Living Rooms Decades Before YouTube

"At a time when yoga was an activity of the counterculture-the purview of rock stars and hippies -Lilias Folan brought yoga to the living rooms of average Americans through public television. Her long-running PBS series Lilias! Yoga and You first aired in 1970 as a local Cincinnati-area program, but it soon went national. For another 29 years, her signature leotard and long braids became familiar to viewers who tuned in to bend and breathe and stretch with her."

"Decades before making yoga accessible was a concept, Folan made it part of her everyday teaching. Memorable aspects of her style include her approachability, easy-to-follow instructions, and ability to make an ancient practice relevant to contemporary life. Unlike much of yoga in the 1970s, her classes were open to anyone and could be done from the privacy of home. They also cost nothing and required no special attire."

"Between the show, 11 videos, and five books, Folan introduced yoga to thousands of people nationwide. Her gentle, open-hearted manner conveyed the true spirit of the practice to viewers across the country, demonstrating that yoga is for everyone. Inspired to teach yoga on TV after watching Richard Hittleman's yoga programs, she added a spiritual component, meditative silence, and her own cheerful persona."

Lilias Folan, a pioneering yoga teacher, passed away on March 9, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of making yoga accessible to thousands of Americans. Her PBS series, Lilias! Yoga and You, debuted in 1970 as a local Cincinnati program before expanding nationally for 29 years. Through her television show, 11 videos, and five books, Folan introduced yoga to mainstream audiences during an era when the practice was associated with counterculture. Her teaching style emphasized approachability, easy-to-follow instructions, and relevance to contemporary life. Unlike yoga instruction of the 1970s, her classes required no special attire, cost nothing, and could be practiced at home. Folan grounded her accessible teaching in authentic yoga philosophy, having studied Vedanta and meditation with Swami Chidananda in India, bringing both spiritual depth and welcoming warmth to the practice.

Read at Yoga Journal