Graceful Aging: Chair Yoga
A chair yoga class for strength and stability with yoga therapist Mary Richards.
The body evolves.
As we age, we move through phases of stagnation, soreness, stillness, sloth, and sometimes suffering.
So why are we stuck doing the same yoga?
What if your practice worked with your body, not against it?
You deserve a practice that builds resilience, not rigidity. Basically the question is: why repeat the same poses the same way in your 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond that you learned in your 20s?
If your yoga practice has started to feel out of sync with your body, you’re not alone. As your needs shift, what once felt supportive can begin to feel inaccessible.This isn’t the end of your practice. It’s an invitation to evolve it.
Chair Yoga for Strength and Stability with yoga therapist Mary Richards is designed to help you reconnect with functional movement, balance, and strength in a way that truly supports your current body and life. Using the chair as a stable and versatile prop, Mary teaches you how to adapt common poses so you can practice safely and confidently with clarity, creativity, and compassion.
This 2-hour on-demand class is hosted by Lizzie Lasater, and it’s the first in our Graceful Aging Series.
Together, Lizzie and Mary offer decades of experience in yoga therapy, movement science, and Restorative Yoga. You’ll receive practical tools, anatomical insight, and a grounded pathway forward so your practice keeps meeting you exactly where you are today.
Ready when you are. Start your practice today
Take the class on your schedule—designed to meet you where you are, whenever you’re ready.
This 2-hour session was originally taught live by Mary Richards, and is now available on-demand.
What You’ll Receive:
- Class replay, available on-demand
- Three years to access and re-watch via our learning platform
- Downloadable 8-page PDF
- Diagrams with Mary’s beloved stick figure drawings of the sequence including bonus strength poses
Props You Will Need:
- Chair — a sturdy dining chair works, but a yoga chair (without front lateral rungs) is ideal, so there’s space for your bolster and body to slide underneath.
- 1 bolster
- 2 yoga blocks
- 1 strap
- 5 blankets
- Eye cover
Here's a list of our favorite brands.
Bonus Class ($25 value):
Enroll today and you'll also receive the recording from a full-length class on functional movement and strength training for yogis from our Somatic Self-Care series.
Start your practice today:
Enroll now to access the full class replay — and join a global community of students building strength, stability, and confidence through chair yoga.
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Enroll today
$49.00
One-time payment
Mary’s teaching changes how you see the body and your practice.
But don’t take our word for it. Read what students say in their 5-star reviews:
My Students Benefit Too
Barbara
Excellent and useful information which I will be introducing to my Chair Yoga Class tomorrow!
Excellent and useful information which I will be introducing to my Chair Yoga Class tomorrow!
Read LessBrilliant!
sarah
This was so good. Lizzie asked all the questions I had and Mary was a superb instructor - as always.
This was so good. Lizzie asked all the questions I had and Mary was a superb instructor - as always.
Read LessFIVE STARS
Maureen
Mary and Lizzie will open your eyes to a new way of practicing while aging.
Mary and Lizzie will open your eyes to a new way of practicing while aging.
Read LessMary is Exquisite
debbie
If you want to learn how to craft a thoughtful strength-building sequence for Osteoporosis, this is the course for you!
If you want to learn how to craft a thoughtful strength-building sequence for Osteoporosis, this is the course for you!
Read LessExcellent!
Judy
Engaging AND challenging. Spot on explanations from Mary and Lizzie!
Engaging AND challenging. Spot on explanations from Mary and Lizzie!
Read LessWOW
catherine
I greatly benefitted from these teachings, and so will my students.
I greatly benefitted from these teachings, and so will my students.
Read LessA Revelation!
Daniela
This course helped me overcome a very difficult time. An instrument to keep always at hand.
This course helped me overcome a very difficult time. An instrument to keep always at hand.
Read LessShifted My Perspective
ankur
This course open up a whole new perspective of how and why rest can change way we operate in the world.
This course open up a whole new perspective of how and why rest can change way we operate in the world.
Read LessWonderful!
Lori
Accessible, well paced, and incredibly informative. I look forward to more!
Accessible, well paced, and incredibly informative. I look forward to more!
Read LessMeet Your Teachers
Mary Richards
Mary Richards is a yoga therapist, educator, and author of Teach People, Not Poses, known for her intelligent, anatomy-informed approach to practice. She blends science and humor with practical wisdom, helping students experience strength, mobility, and self-awareness through functional movement. Her teaching combines precision and curiosity, inviting you to explore how your body works best.
Lizzie Lasater
Lizzie Lasater is a designer, educator, and second-generation yoga teacher who hosts this Graceful Aging Series. With a master’s degree from Columbia University and twenty years of teaching, she blends design and yoga to create inspiring learning experiences. Lizzie lives in Salzburg with her husband and twin boys, teaching online and writing about creativity, embodiment, and practical self-care.
"Chair yoga isn’t real yoga"
Some people say that "chair yoga isn’t real yoga" so if you’re aging, injured, pregnant, recovering, exhausted, or human, you shouldn’t even try to do yoga.
Especially not using a chair. Because that’s basically cheating.
And everybody knows there’s no benefit to yoga unless you can put your perfect body into perfect shapes.
Don’t agree? Join us for this on-demand masterclass with brilliant yoga therapist Mary Richards.
In this two-hour class class you’ll:
- Cultivate stability, strength, and lower-body mobility
- Improve joint health and dynamic balance
- Gently reduce pain, tension, and stiffness
- Reconnect with your breath and practice embodied presence
Ideal for serious students, yoga teachers, aging bodies, injury recovery, pregnancy support—and anyone ready to meet their practice with clarity and confidence.
Let’s redefine what real yoga looks like.
FAQ
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How do I access the workshop?
Immediately after enrolling, you'll receive access to the full workshop replay and downloadable PDF guide. Watch at your own pace and revisit the material whenever you'd like.
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Do I need any props?
A sturdy chair, yoga mat, strap (or belt), blankets, and one or two blocks are recommended. Optional resistance bands or light dumbbells can be used for some strengthening exercises.
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Can I earn any Continuing Education credit?
Yes. This workshop qualifies for 3 non-contact continuing education hours with Yoga Alliance.
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What is the refund policy?
Yes. The principles taught in this workshop are relevant for students and teachers seeking a safer, strength-forward approach to supporting bone health.