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
Class Details:
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Date: Wednesday, January 7, 2026
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Time: 8:00–10:00 AM Pacific / 11:00 AM–13:00 Eastern / 16:00–18:00 UK / 17:00–19:00 EU
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Length: 2 hours live on Zoom
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Replay: 3 years of access included
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Level: Open to all students and teachers
- Price: $49 USD
You’ll also receive a downloadable PDF featuring Mary Richards’ beloved stick-figure yogi drawings, created to help you remember and integrate the key concepts of this Challenging Chair practice.
Plus $50 in bonus classes:
Your enrollment also includes two classes from our Somatic Self-Care Series — "Psoas Your Back Aches" and "Move Your Butt" — with companion PDFs.
These classes explore functional movement and the seed movements of asana, helping you build strength that supports graceful aging.
Bonus value: $50 included with your enrollment.
Join us live on January 7, 2026:
Enroll now to get the Zoom link for the live class, three years of replay access, Mary’s stick-figure yogi PDF, and $50 in bonus classes.
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:
Deep Gratitude
Charlotte
I know I will be a better yoga teacher from embodying this state of renewal.
I know I will be a better yoga teacher from embodying this state of renewal.
Read LessProfound
liesbeth
Profound is best way to describe this course.
Profound is best way to describe this course.
Read LessAmazing Course!
Colleen
I love learning in this way through webinars, video and audio practices.
I love learning in this way through webinars, video and audio practices.
Read LessA True Gift
Lili
I loved the dynamic, joyful relationship between these two amazing women.
I loved the dynamic, joyful relationship between these two amazing women.
Read LessWhat I Needed
mary
This was exactly what I've been looking for as a yoga teacher.
This was exactly what I've been looking for as a yoga teacher.
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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What if I can’t attend live?
No problem. You’ll receive the class replay, with three years of access to revisit the practice anytime.
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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 two 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.
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When will I get the Zoom link?
The Zoom link will be emailed to you the day before the live class and posted on the learning platform.