I've been to Kripalu twice- both times for R&R weekend retreats. What I like the most about Kripalu is the beautiful setting, the kind people and the incredibly delicious food. While there, I practiced yoga, took long hikes and went on a guided kayaking tour. There are so many lovely little places to tuck yourself away here, whether for quiet reading, meditation or just to relax. I highly recommend Kripalu and can't wait to go back!
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Heaven on Earth truly exists!!!! 5 stars is really not enough! The grounds are STUNNING!!!! The pictures I took do no justice the the natural beauty of Kripalu. The environment is tranquil & peaceful. The instructors & staff (especially Michelle, Sita & Cynthia) are truly talented !!! Food is AMAZING! The moment I entered my first yoga class of the day (6:30 a.m.) my stress melted away instantly!! I can t wait to go back!!!!
I went for R&R with my sister and it was perfect. A great balance of of relaxation time and vinyasa yoga when we needed it. Plus wonderful clean food. We also met some wonderful like-minded people. I'd live there if possible!
Shut out the world and enter this "yoga cruise ship". Come alone, with friends or make some new ones here. Delicious food, great classes. The Annex rooms are quite nice. My second time and I'll make this part of my annual self care get away.
I have been to Kripalu several times over the last dozen years or so. I come here to leave the burden and worry of everyday life behind, and simply "be". There is no place more suited to supporting healing, renewal and self-development. Stress begins to melt away the moment I walk through the doors. The grounds are beautiful, and the food is wholesome and delicious. I stay in the dorms as it is more affordable, but I do think it adds to the experience. To me, it is the perfect refuge.
We are currently staying and have not met one welcoming staff member who would be willing to answer questions about the building or programs. The staff rudeness is severe enough, to be commical. The rooms have no air conditioning and the curtains and beds are inadequate. It's dormitory style, instead of hotel style and there are very few yoga classes (4) offered each day. The food is not terrible or amazing.
Staying at Kripalu will let all your worries melt away. It offers a plethora of yoga classes, delicious healthy meals and beautiful manicured grounds. The rooms are a little small and chances are you will be sharing accommodation but you won t want to spend anytime in your room anyways! Great little gift shop too!
I cannot say enough about my recent visit to Kripalu. The process writing program I attended surpassed expectations, my fellow dorm roommates were warm and considerate, and the option to attend evening classes put on by other programs was very enlightening and connecting. Fellow attendees were engaged and kind, and the food tasted great.
I got two day passes and stayed at the marriot down the road. After reading the reviews I didn t want to sleep there. Everything was wonderful. I did the hike, and almost every class that was offered when I was there. The food was amazing. I just have to take a star off because of one yoga class I did. Since I was just getting back into yoga I purposefully went to the gentle yoga class options (rather than the more advanced ones) as the purpose of my trip was relaxation not to stress myself out in too advanced classes. Well one workshop I went to was very poorly labeled as a sun/moon one with a vague description of it being hatha yoga with history of yoga. I brought my notebook because I thought it was going to be more of a workshop and less of yoga (as some are). Well I was wrong. It ended up being an intense class where the instructor made us get into uncomfortable poses and hold them for minutes on end while we built up fire and was told to breathe through the intensity (pain) while she spoke of overcoming obstacles in life the same way. I get the point but it wasn t what I was looking for at that moment. I wasn t the only one. The class was made up of mostly older people probably also not expecting the experience we just had, as we all walked out I head people mumble that was torture . I agree. It made me skip the final yoga class I was planning on going to, and I just ate dinner and left, kind of ending my experience on a sour note. Hopefully they read this and use better descriptions on the classes so other people know what type of class they are walking into. The other classes were all amazing though!
great getaway and the programs vary. Some are great, Others, meh. Really depends on what you are doing. I've done two writing workshops and one was terrible and other was fun. Facility staff always seem very competent and friendly. We never stay there. Too expensive. Commuter package is a MUCH better option. Lovely accommodations at the Yankee Inn, 7 min away and for less than half the price.
I don't think Kripalu is great and I think the negative review could have been written much better to explain the writer's point, but I have to agree with him in principle.
My favorite place of all time! For years I came here instead of taking a vacation, and it was so rewarding. I ate the healthiest I ever had, learned how to eat better at home. Each time I went, I stayed in the dorm and enrolled in a workshop. I ve learned so much, my life is genuinely better. Staying in the dorm is much cheaper and makes the stay more affordable. There is always something to do, or you can do nothing and relax. I m always checking to see what they have going on and can t wait to return.
Visits to Kripalu feel like going home. You find an immediate sense of balance and peace. Staff is welcoming and kind, and the food is the BEST! This on top of having the best yoga training and classes available .
Wonderful place! Food is delicious, tons of activities to keep you busy if that is your desire, very clean, beautiful setting with great views of lake and hiking trails.
One of the greatest joys in my life is spending time at Kripalu. I've met the most wonderful and interesting people there and the food is absolutely delicious! I can't wait to get back there!
With Swami Kripalu s teachings at the forefront of our activities, Kripalu Center continued to grow at a rapid rate, and the Kripalu community was soon overflowing the Sumneytown and Summit Station facilities. In early 1983, Kripalu purchased its current Stockbridge, Massachusetts, location, a former Jesuit seminary on a property called Shadowbrook. After a flurry of renovation work, the doors of Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health were opened in December 1983. With an awe-inspiring new location, the staff was able to offer a cutting-edge curriculum of programs on yoga, health, massage and bodywork, personal growth, and spirituality.
Healing, great food created to meet everyone 's eating needs and preferences using only organic. Eating times centered by ayurveda. Silent breakfast for all. Amazing workshops and talented presenters. Great for R&R, workshops, review, and Mindful Outdoor Leadership.
Nothing negative to say here folks, rooms advertised as they are, pretty basic, so don't be surprised... run like a well oiled machine, looking forward to another visit in the near future, so much to do and learn, I really enjoyed it, surprised by the negative reviews though?? some people will never be happy I guess, their loss...
I went here for a workshop and stayed a few days . The vibe is amazing, every person who works there is kind, authentic, and helpful. The food is fantastic, the grounds are beautiful and it's the perfect place to go to reconnect with and expand yourself. Highly recommend, and I will be back for sure!
They offer specific courses for people of color, but none specifically for white people, they practice racism and apparently have no idea what yoga is about.
Staff: A+ Warm, helpful, kindhearted people I can't say enough good things about the staff here :)
Food: B+ Excellent quality and very healthy though sometimes the flavors weren't the best (but some of the dishes were truely excellent). I often found it very difficult to get enough protein. Im fine with vegetarian, which the meals often are but im not fine with every dish consisting of only carbs. For example one night was eggplant parm, pasta and asparagus. Theres always egg salad at the sandwhich bar which i found myself having to eat quite often. The bread is amazing!
Room: C coming to a yoga retreat center my expectation was a very simple, small room with a comfortable mattress. Room was small and simple, and the mattress was VERY lopsided, soft on one side hard on the other giving it a noticeable slant, so even though i had a queen bed i had to curl up against the edge. For how much money i paid i felt cheated. When i arrived i had to make my own bed too.
Grounds: B+ The view from the building and lawn is lovely with a lake and hills in the background. Great for watching sunrise and sunsets, eating outside, or just hanging out. The hiking trails are very short and dont really go anywhere. The medidation garden is underwhelming. The building itsself has several rooms for reading and meditating all of which have a comfortable, cozy atmosphere.
Workout Facilities: C The exercise room and weight room are very small. No more than two people fit comfortably in the weight room at any given time. The equipment is old and sparse. There's one bench, like 3 weight machines which does not include any cable machines for pushing or pulling exercises. The sauna was broken on my first day but fixed by the second.
Yoga classes: A- as im not much of a yogi i dont feel qualified to say much on the subject but i went to about 5 classes during my stay and enjoyed all of them. Great equipment and great teachers
Workshops: B- hit or miss here. Some were very enjoyable some were boring and kind of remedial. If attend more than one or two you start to hear the same things over and over
Massage Services: C- i had one massage that was okay and one that was so bad i wanted to end it halfway through but i didnt want to hurt my therapist's feelings. Perhaps i was unlucky because after talking to other guests my experience didnt seem to be the norm.
Summary: when you break it down my review can seem negative but the whole is greater than the sum of its parts at Kripalu. There also intangibles such as the awesome types of people it tends to attract. I would recommend it, especially if you live on the east coast and dont have to fly to get there. I recommend staying at a hotel nearby instead of rooming on campus.
What did the hippie chick say when asked to leave the party?
I can t even begin to tell you how great the Kripalu Center is. It was my first time visiting here and certainly will not be my last. From start to finish the place amazed me. From the beautiful mountain/lake views, to the incredible food, to the friendly and accommodating staff, and to all the classes that were offered for a R&R one-day pass visitor, it was pretty incredible. If you re looking for a place to relax, unwind, find or re-explore yourself this is the certainly the place. Not only do they offer one-day passes, but they also offer overnight and also longer stay retreats. It is a great place to go by yourself for the day or for a workshop, or you could go with friends or loved one. There s just so much to offer. They had a bunch of spaces were you could relax and use your cell phone if you needed/wanted to, but they also had silent areas such as the sun room, which overlooked the mountains in the lake, they also have a fitness center, a meditation room, and the yoga space free to use. Another thing I liked was they start each day with a silent breakfast. It was a beautiful way to start the day. Enjoying your breakfast mindfully and be grateful for the day ahead. I m looking forward to going back in the summer and exploring some of the other options they have such is the hiking trails and outdoor activities. If you ever thought about going to Kripalu, go. If you ve never heard of it, go online and check it out and, go. You won t regret it, I promise.
Kripalu is the perfect place to spend a few days to reset. The lodgings are simple and clean. The food is very good. You shouldn t need more than that. For perspective, I tend to stay at the Four Seasons or similar on vacations. At Kripalu, I prefer the dorm in the old building with a shared bath. It is absolutely perfect in all ways. If you are looking for a luxury vacation at Kripalu then you are missing the point.
Have stayed at and participated in a handful of programs at Kripalu over the years. Including Mother/daughter retreat and Claude Stein s singing program. Both of which I thoroughly enjoyed. Have also done a simple R and R weekend away with friends. Was lovely and fun filled. You really can make the experience your own. Although adding on-site accommodation is expensive it is definitely more practical and adds to the experience. They do offer different set ups as far as co habitation and private rooming choices. The food on site is varied and healthy. Accommodating to all tastes and limitations.
I spent a month at Kripalu last year for my 200 hour yoga teacher training. One never been in such relaxing surroundings. During mediation, when the "teacher" said "no place to go, nothing to do", I believed it! Though my yoga and meditation practice is still strong, at home I always have places to go and things to do....
Kripalu is home away from home for countless Yoga teachers like me. I was trained there in 2002 and visit at least annually for continuing education and r & r. Beautiful in every season!
The Opening the Heart workshop has presented our program at Kripalu several times a year for the last sixteen years. The OTH process is a powerful tool for working through current and past blocks to emotional health. The weekend rests not just on a blend of psycho-therapeutic and spiritual approaches but also on an atmosphere of deep safety and simple human caring. Kripalu is a perfect place for our workshop. It's inviting and welcoming ambience is a vital underlying element in our program's success. In addition the setting is breathtaking, the staff are dedicated to the satisfaction of participants and the classes and Healing Arts services are skillful and beyond compare. Kripalu is an inter-national leader in holistic health for good reason and we are grateful for all it offers to the world.
Attended a workshop at Kripalu and I really enjoyed my time spent here. The food was great with many dietary options. Met so many beautiful souls. Peaceful outdoor areas. A very healing experience.
We both got massages. My wife had an aromatherapy massage, which she felt was excellent. I had neuromuscular massage which was also excellent. However, the healing arts center felt tense, as the therapists rushed in and out of the waiting area. Not a very relaxing atmosphere. We ate dinner there. Food was abundant, with lots of variety. I might feel differently about the atmosphere if I were staying at Kripalu. We were just day-hops.
Never thought I would write anything negative about this place. But the last time I wanted to go they were charging an arm and a leg for a single room. This is a place that is too special to be reserved for people with a lot of money.
A life changing and mind shifting experience. I took three day R&R and think it s the right way to start my wellness journey at kripalu. It is far beyond a yoga center, but includes cooking, healing art, leadership workshop, dancing, lecture on many mind blowing things. I feel stronger clarify of life, recharged with energy and belief after this journey thanks to all teachers and peer students. I have to make coming over a routine! Workshops are not allowed to record so use your imagination for it :)
The biggest issue I had was being approached by a cult member trying to recruit me during dinner. I didn't remember the person's name but remembered what they were there for. It was a family constellation healer group. Even though I imagine you had to pay for this "workshop", I was invited to join them and was told all about their "home" in DC. The woman interwove this information in a general conversation. But what tipped me off was "you can join us and become a healer, you know, we're like a family and you become your best self, very powerful even. You can become a great healer..." Even after I told the woman I was not interested she kept talking and insisting I join a session until I excused myself from the table with my food. I was there alone and look young, so probably a prime cult target (she started stress the group closeness and the "power" message, as I suppose it appeals to young men). It was very uncomfortable. I told the front desk about it, and the woman seemed to have a "yeah... ok..." attitude about it. Back at home, I looked this group up online, and they are definitely a cult. Please read more about Bert Hellinger and family constellations and judge for yourself if Kripalu should be supporting this! My opinion is "NO!". For this, it is one star. Kripalu should distance themselves from this practice immediately.
I stayed at Kripalu for 5 nights with the buy 3 get 2 free nights deal in November 2017. It was a nice time and the food was great. I felt great when I left...nice and limber. The one thing that was disappointing was that the Kripalu building is a big old ugly brick institutional styled facility that they never show an image of on their website. When I first pulled up to the site I was shocked at the unattrative and enormous brick building completely lacking in any interesting architectural features. The interior feels like and looks like an old hospital. Other than that, I enjoyed myself. The place was surprisingly clean. The food oh the food! So good! Don t forget to buy the fresh bread from the cafe on your check out day. I stayed at the annex. Be careful, the bathtubs seem dangerous (slippery and tall walls) and a women two doors down from me was hurt in her room and taken away in an ambulance.
A relaxing yoga center, accommodation consists of three meals (buffet), free courses (different levels of yoga, cooking) and lectures, updated daily in the hall or elevator exit, you can choose your favorite. There are towels for men and women in the oven, girls have a bathing pool, boys are not, shampoo and shower gel are available, and children are also welcome. The restaurant is very healthy food. The menu will be posted at the door, and samples will be displayed every meal. Breakfast is quiet time, no conversation, lunch and dinner can be talked. If you want to have a quiet meal, there is a quiet restaurant opposite the main restaurant to eat food there. If it is not convenient to come to the restaurant, you can also take the food and take it away. They provide meals. The box does not allow guests to bring food. On the check-out day, you can also use the food after the meal, and then you can eat some food, coffee, milk, juice, tea, milk-based vegetarian food, occasionally boiled chicken breast, chef There have also been recipe books, and talkative and interesting. There is a gender friendly toilet. There are also a variety of courses that require payment, instructor training, body and face classes. There are many hiking trails around, there is also a lake, and you can play water and rowing in the summer. There are rooms in the building where you can relax and read and use the computer. Every day there is room cleaning, the wireless network connection in the room is unstable, and the bathroom room has towels and bath products (without toothpaste, toothbrush, soap), public corners. The internet connection is good. There are wheelchair-only rooms, and each house number is a bit convenient for guests with inconvenient eyes. There is no telephone in the room, and there is a telephone near the elevator on each floor. Yoga people definitely like it. People who don't do yoga can experience relaxation yoga and walking, healthy food and a few days of environmental protection. It is a good place to relax!
A relaxing yoga center, accommodation includes three meals (buffet), free courses (various levels of yoga, cooking) and lectures, towels for men and women, towels for girls, boys, shampoo and shower gel Yes, there are also children, the restaurant is very healthy food, breakfast is quiet time can not talk, lunch can be talked, if you want to have a quiet meal, there is a quiet restaurant opposite the main restaurant to eat food, if not convenient If you come to the restaurant, you can also take the food and take it away. They can provide the lunch box for the guests to bring food. You can also use the food after the meal on the check-out day to eat, coffee, milk, juice, tea, and milk. The egg is mainly vegetarian, and occasionally boiled chicken breast, the chef also has a recipe book, talkative and interesting. There is a gender friendly toilet. There are also a variety of courses that require payment, instructor training, body and face classes. There are many hiking trails around, there is also a lake, and you can play water and rowing in the summer. There are rooms in the building where you can relax and read and use the computer. Every day there is room cleaning, the wireless network connection in the room is unstable, and the bathroom room has towels and bath products (without toothpaste, toothbrush, soap), public corners. The internet connection is good. There are wheelchair-only rooms, and each house number is a bit convenient for guests with inconvenient eyes. There is no telephone in the room, and there is a telephone near the elevator on each floor. Yoga people definitely like it. People who don't do yoga can experience relaxation yoga and walking, healthy food and a few days of environmental protection. It is a good place to relax!
I think "life changing" sums up the Kripalu experience. My husband and I wanted to do something like this for our one year anniversary and through Google we found Kripalu. The service is exceptional, everyone is nice. The food is healthy and well prepared- it may be a bit bland for some and if you are like my husband and love meat then be prepared, they may not have meat every meal. Regardless, the food options were unlimited with great tea selection. The associates who work the dining hall are polite and work hard to keep the place running so smoothly. I can't say enough about the food and dining experience. the rooms have everything you need- a bed, pillow, sheets and towels. Does it have everything you would want? no but thats the message of simple living :) We didn't spend much time in the rooms anyway so no complaints there. The bathrooms were shared so we felt like we were back in college but for 3 days it was no big deal. The yoga classes and teachers are beyond exceptional. The sun salutation class with Sherry was super! The positional therapy class with Lee- both fun and helpful. We also did kayaking and hiking. you can go down to the lake as well to swim or simply lay under a tree to read or meditate or nap (thats what I did) I can't think of anything negative about Kripalu. thank you to the wonderful staff for making this an amazing experience.
Great place to relax and get away from the real world. Yes it is NY corporate meets Eastern spiritualism but that's what I wanted! Upscale hotel with eastern calm. Great place to learn and experience yoga. Staff was very helpful. The whirlpool is a must (though co-ed would be better). Go and enjoy it for what it is.
The teachers were good but the classes were far too large. I think having a class size that requires the use of a microphone really takes away from the process and calmness of yoga. Additionally, the classes were not offered frequently enough during the R&R stay in my opinion. All of this really led it to feel like I was staying at more of a hotel that offered some yoga than a yoga retreat that offered lodging. Also felt very commercial.
One of the worst and most expensive experiences of my life... It was a Bessel Van Der Kolk workshop and it was cerebral, disfunctional and 80 people full. It was a workshop about TRAUMA. How they got away with having so many people is a testament to the greed that is both the facilitator but most likely Kripalu as a business- NOT a healing environment. It cost a fortune and left me feeling helpless and invalidated, as I went to the manager who sat looking concerned but quickly went into business mode and offered nothing constructive or apologetic. The book "The Body Keeps The Score" is a revelation but Van Der Kolk is not. I had naturally expected yoga at a yoga retreat... but what we got was talk. Lectures on a book that I assumed everyone had already read. I would like Kripalu's CEO to wake up to the fact that her center is becoming a money machine and that she ought to change the name to Krip-CashMoney. This would be more honest. The rooms cost a fortune. No yogic community should settle for this greed but I'm well aware that yoga has become a weighted Precious Zone for a certain kind of people who have lost sight of the spiritual and essential meaning of YOGA. Wake up indeed. You are ruining yoga for the rest of us who actually want to feel our feelings and move through the world with love... not precious pretty pants and ego driven cost prohibitive poses. God Help you and Shiva too.