Richard Hittleman's Yoga: 28 Day Exercise Plan

Richard Hittleman (1927–1991) was a pioneering American yoga teacher and author, widely credited with popularizing yoga in the United States through one of the first yoga television series, Yoga for Health.

I first discovered his book, Richard Hittleman’s Yoga: 28 Day Exercise Plan, about 30 years ago while browsing my mother’s library — and it truly changed my life.

This book gently introduced me to yoga in a way that felt completely doable. Hittleman brought yoga into the modern world with a simple, step-by-step approach that made it accessible for ordinary people like me.

By following his 28-day plan, I learned the fundamentals of yoga and developed confidence in practicing at home — no classes needed. Sadly, I stopped doing his plan.

Last year, at age 65, I woke up one morning with severe thigh pain. I couldn’t walk! Of all days, it happened when we had a huge event scheduled at our home! Thankfully, many friends stepped in to help, but that moment was a wake-up call. I knew it was time to return to Hittleman’s gentle yoga plan.

I asked Jacob to join me, and he was immediately on board. Together, we began following the three simple daily routines Hittleman outlines at the end of his book — short, balanced sequences that take only 10 to 15 minutes a day. Because they’re so easy to fit into our day, we’ve had no resistance to continuing.

Since then, we haven’t missed a single day. These short, sweet sessions have helped us stay flexible, grounded, and vibrant as we grow older.

For me, this little book has become more than a yoga guide — it’s a lifelong companion that keeps giving back every single day. With this 3-day alternating technique, we feel sure that this plan will keep us flexible, in an easy way, with very little resistance!

With Aloha and Smiles,

Laurie