Lilias Folan, Pioneer of Yoga on PBS, Dies at 90
Lilias Folan, known as “America’s best-known yoga teacher,” passed away on March 9, 2026, at the age of 90. She brought the practice of yoga into the homes of millions through her long-running PBS television reveal, Lilias, Yoga and You.
Bringing Yoga to a National Audience
Folan’s show, which began airing locally in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1970 on WCET Channel 48 , was nationally syndicated by PBS in 1973. At its peak in 1976-77, the program was broadcast on nearly 190 stations across the United States . Lilias, Yoga and You (later shortened to Lilias!) ran for nearly three decades, until 1999 , and was considered one of the most successful series in the history of public television , .
A Unique Approach to Yoga
Folan’s approach to yoga was notable for its accessibility and emphasis on overall well-being. Rather than focusing solely on exercise, she preached a “yoga gospel of inner peace and wholeness of body and soul” . Her classes were open to everyone, could be practiced at home, and didn’t require special attire. She became known as the “First Lady of Yoga” .
Early Life and Yoga Training
Born in 1936, Lilias Folan began practicing yoga in 1964 and soon began teaching at the YWCA in Stamford, Connecticut . She studied with prominent yoga masters including T.K.V. Desikachar, B.K.S. Iyengar, and Angela Farmer, as well as with Sivananda Yoga masters Swami Vishnudevananda and Swami Satchidananda . She also joined the Connecticut ashram of the Divine Life Society led by Swami Chidananda . In the 1980s, she met Swami Muktananda, who encouraged her to teach meditation .
Continued Legacy
Even after Lilias, Yoga and You ended in 1985, Folan continued to share her teachings. She launched Lilias! on PBS in 1987 and continued to guide lessons on television until 1993 . She also authored several books, VHS tapes, and audio tapes, and had a column in The Cincinnati Enquirer in the 1990s . In 2006, WCET premiered Lilias! Yoga Gets Better With Age, highlighting her career and the impact of yoga on mind, body, and spirit .
Folan is survived by her husband, two sons, and seven grandchildren .