Graceful Aging: Challenging Chair
A revitalized approach to strength and bone health with yoga therapist Mary Richards.
It’s time to rethink chair yoga.
“Chair yoga is too easy.”
“Chair yoga is boring.”
“Chair yoga is only for old people.”
“Chair yoga is only for injured people.”
“Chair yoga is not real yoga.”
When you think about chair yoga, do you write it off as too gentle or easy for you?
Perhaps you envision frail old folks doing a group activity that is cloaked as “yoga.”
Or maybe you think chair yoga is only for people who are unable to do “real” yoga due to injury.
The issue is, chair yoga classes often conflate gentleness with ease, and muddling these ideas leads to missed opportunities for growth in body, mind, and spirit. If you’re interested in maintaining the status quo, then, by all means, stick to the same, humdrum chair-supported asana. But there’s another way.
It’s still gentle. It’s still a great option for older, injured, and even new-to-yoga folks.
It’s also an approach to chair yoga that invites us to be gentle and challenge ourselves at the same time. We simply need a bit of reframing and creativity.
Strength and softness can coexist.
The issue is, chair yoga classes often emphasize gentleness at the expense of healthy challenge, which leads to missed opportunities for growth in body, mind, and spirit.
This class is all about creating opportunities for growth:
- In muscle and bone density
- In balance and mobility
- In confidence and resilience
You’ll learn how to:
- Load bones and joints safely and intelligently
- Recognize differences between necessary and unnecessary tension
- Rebalance posture and alignment
- Build functional arm, core and leg strength
- Reimagine challenge and ease as complementary, not opposite
This is a Self-Paced Course
The advantage of digital learning is that you can go at your own pace, from the comfort of your own home.
You have access to the course for three years from the day you enroll. That way you can relax and feel spacious with the self-paced material.
Enroll now for instant access
You'll recieve three years of replay access, Mary’s stick-figure yogi PDF, and $50 in bonus classes.
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Enroll Today - $49
$49.00
Regular price
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:
The Chair IS Challenging
debbie
If you want to learn how to craft a thoughtful strength-building chair yoga sequence, this is the course for you!
If you want to learn how to craft a thoughtful strength-building chair yoga sequence, this is the course for you!
Read LessChairography!
Maureen
An eye-opening understanding of chair yoga and anatomy in asana.
An eye-opening understanding of chair yoga and anatomy in asana.
Read LessExcellent!
Judy
I never knew chair yoga could be so engaging and challenging. Spot on explanations from Mary and Lizzie are a big plus!
I never knew chair yoga could be so engaging and challenging. Spot on explanations from Mary and Lizzie are a big plus!
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 LessMy Students Benefit Too
Barbara
Excellent and useful information (progressions/modifications) which I will be introducing to my Chair Yoga Class tomorrow!
Excellent and useful information (progressions/modifications) which I will be introducing to my Chair Yoga Class tomorrow!
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 grounded, inspiring learning experiences. Lizzie lives in Salzburg with her husband and twin boys, teaching online and writing about creativity, embodiment, and practical self-care.
FAQ
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Do I need any props?
You’ll need a sturdy chair, a yoga mat, a strap (or belt), two blankets, and a block or two.
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Can I earn continuing education credit?
Yes. This class counts for three non-contact continuing education hours with Yoga Alliance.
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What’s the refund policy?
You can receive a 95% refund (minus credit card fees) until January 3, 2026. After that date, refunds are not available.