My story
I’m Richard Rahn. I’m 68, and I taught yoga for 30 years. I even had my own studio back in the day.
Sometime during Covid, I had some personal setbacks. I quit teaching. I quit doing much of anything, except drinking too much and feeling sorry for myself.
Eighteen months later, when my pity party was over, I was appalled at my physical state.
The first thing I noticed was that I’d visibly lost muscle, and not evenly either. Being right-handed, my right arm and chest had always been bigger than my left. Now my right side had shrunk so much I thought I might have had a stroke.
I’d also lost balance, coordination, proprioception, and my confidence.
That was my first realization: you can’t bounce back like you did at 30. Every day I waited made it harder.
My second realization was the realization that yoga wasn’t going to be enough.
Yoga has done so much for me, physically, mentally and spiritually. But I’d gotten good at a few narrow things. I could stand in tree pose forever. That isn’t how real life unfolds. Falls happen on a curb you didn’t see, or on a step that’s shorter than you thought. The moment I colored outside the yoga lines, I failed.
Yoga made me flexible. Real life needs mobility: range you can control, in any direction, without warning.
I then went to the gym to get my muscle back. Machines and protein. And it worked, sort of. Some muscle came back.
But every morning I woke up hurting. Aches and pains everywhere, and I was even stiffer than before. I was eating so much to get the protein that I put on weight.
Gym culture still treats the body as something you need to beat into shape. I was working hard, but I wasn’t in my body.
And another realization: strength isn’t the same as stability. The machines did the balancing for me, so my stabilizers never had to switch on. Those muscles never had to turn on. So I became stronger, but less stable.
The yoga and years of study gave me knowledge. Falling apart and rebuilding gave me something more. If we are mindful, that’s part of getting older: knowledge turns into wisdom. I now have a deeper understanding of what it takes to age well.
What I understand now.
The fitness industry treats aging, and the loss of mobility, balance, and strength, as a deficit of effort: not enough reps, not enough resistance, not enough discipline. So it asks a weakening system to simply try harder.
But physical decline after fifty is as much a nervous system problem as a muscle problem. When we stop moving the way we’re designed to, the brain stops getting information from the body, and it responds by shutting things down. The lights go out. That’s what had happened to my stabilizers.
Through intentional, novel, sensory-rich movement, we can:
Rebuild neural connections across your body
Rewire reflexes for better balance and coordination
Restore mobility and control at every joint
Reclaim natural strength and graceful movement
My Yoga & Somatics classes are all about turning the lights back on.
What makes this different
Something new every class. When a movement is unfamiliar, your brain has to pay attention and figure it out. That’s what keeps it sharp.
Movements that wake up the senses. We use balance, eyes, feet, rhythm, and quick reactions, so your brain gets more information from your body.
Natural movement, not just poses. Squatting, reaching, twisting, crawling, getting up off the floor: the way the body was built to move. Poses hold still. Life doesn’t.
Your body isn’t too old. It’s bored.
How I teach
My guiding principle is wu wei: not forcing. We don’t push through pain. We move with attention to help reinvigorate the body’s original intelligence.
Slow and precise when we’re relearning a movement. Small, careful movements give the brain clear information, so it can relearn how to fire your muscles in the right order. That’s how you get stronger with less effort.
Quick when we’re training reactions, so your body is ready when you trip.
Smooth and fluid. Graceful movement is efficient movement.
Finish calm. Every class ends with breath and rest, so the nervous system can settle and the work can sink in.
Consistency does the rest. That’s why we practice three times a week.
Common questions
I’m stiff and out of shape. Is this for me?
Yes. Stiff and out of shape is exactly where most people start. We begin where you are.
Do I need to get down on the floor?
Yes. Getting down and back up is one of the most valuable things we practice. You can modify or scale anything, and I’ll always give you options.
What do I need?
A mat if you have one, clothes you can move in, and a beginner’s mind. Camera on or off, your call. Nobody’s comparing.
What if I miss a class?
Every class is recorded, and the replay is ready the same day. I’ll send you a private link when you join.
What’s in the bonus library?
12 hour-long yoga classes from my archive, plus a guided meditation. They’re great for off days or a slower practice. You have access to the library and the class recordings while you’re a member.
When can I start?
Anytime.
Is there a commitment?
No. There’s no auto-renewal. Each month, you decide whether to keep going.
I have an injury or health condition. Can I still join?
Check with your doctor first, then email me. I’m happy to talk through whether this is a good fit.
Live on Zoom
When: Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, 10am Pacific
Length: 60 minutes
Start: Anytime
Cost: $99 a month, including class recordings, 12 bonus yoga classes, and a guided meditation
No auto-renewal. Each month, you decide whether to continue.
How to join: Pay with the button below, or Venmo @richardrahn.
Questions I didn't answer? Email me at richard@agecraft.net. I read every message myself.