Lilias Folan, Beloved PBS Host and Yoga Pioneer, Passes Away at 90
Lilias Folan, often referred to as “The First Lady of Yoga,” passed away on March 9 at the age of 90 at an assisted living facility near Cincinnati. Her death was confirmed by family members.
“Known to many as a trailblazer who brought yoga into American homes through her groundbreaking public television series Lilias, Yoga and You,” the family stated, “Lilias dedicated her life to helping others find strength, balance, and inner peace. Her warmth, wisdom, and gentle spirit made yoga accessible to millions and inspired generations of students and teachers.”
Folan launched her instructional program on PBS station WCET in Cincinnati in 1970. The show quickly gained popularity, eventually securing national distribution. Lilias, Yoga and You aired on PBS stations nationwide until 1999, often preceding Sesame Street, and played a key role in making yoga a mainstream practice in America.
Born Lilias Antoinette Moon in Boston on January 13, 1936, she attended Bennington College and later married transportation executive L. Robert Folan. After giving birth to two sons, Matthew and Michael, in the early 1960s, Folan sought relief from postpartum depression and joined a yoga class at a local Y.W.C.A. in Connecticut, a decision that transformed her life.
Upon relocating to Cincinnati in 1968, Folan became a yoga instructor. One of her students, as reported by The New York Times, was the wife of a local children’s show producer, which led to the development of Lilias, Yoga and You.
In addition to her television work, Folan authored four books: Lilias, Yoga and You (1972), Lilias, Yoga and Your Life (1981), Lilias! Yoga Gets Better With Age (2005), and Lilias! Yoga: Your Guide to Enhancing Body, Mind, and Spirit in Midlife and Beyond (2011).
Folan also appeared on numerous talk shows and had a brief appearance in the 1979 film Being There, where Peter Sellers was seen attempting to follow along with her TV show.
She is survived by her sons Michael and Matthew, seven grandchildren, her brother Harold Hamilton, and half-sister Melinda Moon. A Celebration of Life is scheduled to take place in Cincinnati on May 16.
