Decked out in her leotard and braids, Lilias Folan brought yoga into living rooms nationwide via her syndicated 1972 PBS television series, Lilias! Yoga and You. Through the course of the show’s 500 episodes and her travel around the world, she introduced millions of people to yoga, yet remains sincere and humble.

Would you call yourself a spiritual seeker? Absolutely. I’ve been a passionate spiritual seeker since I was a little girl. My up-bringing was very difficult. When it got really tough, I would go into the center of my chest, and I would meet with my friend who would soothe and connect me to something that I had no words for. And that’s where I would heal.
That’s yoga from a very young age. That’s how I came to the planet. But as a teenager, I forgot about my friend. Then I had a major crisis and thought, “I can solve this. I’ll go back inside.” When I did, I couldn’t find my friend. Yoga brought me back to this inner friend that’s always been there. Yoga brought me home again.

A smile is a gift that radiates not only through the smiler, but also to the smiled-upon. I recently learned about the powerful benefits of generating a sincere smile, when I was taught an ancient yoga technique for relaxation and healing called the “Inner Smile.”