Why I Retreat at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health
I began visiting Kripalu about 25 years ago. As a stressed mom, wife, and employee, I was looking for a space to breathe and to simply be me.
I was fortunate to stumble across a Kripalu brochure in my doctor’s office one day, with a picture of a woman in a meditation pose. I had been practicing yoga and meditation for a few years and was intrigued. I began flipping through the brochure and looking at all of the programs.
It took me a while to sign up for a Retreat & Renewal. I was afraid, to be quite honest. I was afraid to leave my family for a weekend and afraid of what others would think about me taking this time for myself. I was afraid to spend the money. But as time went on, the idea of a yoga retreat kept calling to me, and I finally answered.
My Kripalu weekend was so much more than a yoga retreat. In fact, yoga became the least of it. After a peaceful drive through the Berkshire Mountains, I arrived, checked in, and began to slowly let go of my to-do list and the worries of everyday life.
Letting go of my routine and living by the clock, I settled into following my own wants. I slept in, wandered the building and the property, attended classes, and found spaces to be silent. It was a bit challenging to settle in at first, but once I did, I felt my nervous system calm and felt more peaceful than I had in years.
My visit was in early November, and one morning I woke up to the first snowfall in the mountains. As I sat with my morning coffee in silence, I simply watched the snow fall and felt a rush of peace wash over me. Kripalu quickly made its way into my heart.
I returned home feeling refreshed. As I was loading the dishwasher that evening, I reflected on how different I felt. I was so happy to see my family, and doing the dishes didn’t seem like such a burden. Breaking out of the routine of my life for a weekend helped me shift my mindset, and I realized the importance of taking this space both for me and for my family.
Since then, I have visited Kripalu almost yearly. I have attended many programs and trained in the Kripalu School of Mindful Outdoor Leadership as a Mindful Outdoor Guide. I have explored the Kripalu property and surrounding land and have grown to love it deeply. I’ve always known there was something special about the land and recently learned that these mountains are full of quartz. This was the sacred land of the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohicans, and Kripalu has partnered with members of the tribe to honor the lands that belonged to Indigenous people. They knew these mountains were special, and it is believed the quartz drew them to this land. Check out these amazing videos about the land here.
This November 13–15, I am hosting my 2nd Annual The Path Back to You Women’s Rest & Renewal Retreat. If you are intrigued by this beautiful place and would like to connect with like-hearted women while having plenty of time to yourself, I invite you to join us. This is a small-group retreat, and I cannot wait to share the beauty of this very special place with you!
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