A Review of Kripalu, a Yoga Retreat Center in Lenox, MA... a Home Away From Home for Conscious Parents and Families
Greetings, Earthlings!
I just returned from a weekend retreat at Kripalu. I am suffering a bit from my usual “Darn, I am back in my real life” post-retreat letdown, but it was definitely worth the upheaval.
Before I launch into my review of Kripalu (and I do recommend that you check it out, if you have the chance), let me just say that I am highly in favor of retreats in general.
We are all bombarded continuously with the small and gigantic stressors of daily existence. Such is life in the twenty-first century.
The thing is, these stressors will not go away.
If even one of them should happen to evaporate one day, six more will arrive instantaneously to take its place. You know how it goes.
In my journey to become a more conscious parent, I find it impossible to go it alone. I need to steadily and persistently replenish my body and spirit. Sometimes I need a cup of tea with a good friend. Sometimes it takes a village.
Hence my commitment to periodic retreating. If the stressors won’t leave, I will.
I will go someplace where I can relax, renew, rejuvenate. I will commit some precious time and resources to personal growth. I so deserve it.
My Review of Kripalu, in Lenox, MA:
What is it?
From the Kripalu website:
“Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to promoting the art and science of yoga to produce thriving and health in individuals and society.
For more than 30 years, Kripalu (kri-PAH-loo) has been teaching skills for optimal living through experiential education for the whole person: body, mind, and spirit. It is the largest and most established retreat center for yoga, health, and holistic living in North America.”
Where is it?
Kripalu is situated in the lovely Berkshire Mountains of western Massachusetts. It sits on 300 acres of gorgeous, hilly park lands with truly stunning lake and mountain views. It is within driving distance of pretty much anywhere in the Northeast. The nearest major airport is in Albany, NY.
Facilities
Kripalu is a former Jesuit monastery. The main building is large, utilitarian and rather nondescript. Still, it is clean and well-heated in the winter.
The main entrance can be a bit congested at check-in time and the dining room becomes similarly busy at meal-times. Overall, it is a big, long, five-storied building with lots of room to roam.
There are several lounge areas where guests can gather for quiet conversation or quieter reflection.
The bottom floor (at opposite ends of the building) hosts a men’s and women’s sauna, locker room and whirlpool. They are bathing suit-optional. They are also a bit dark and creepy, in my opinion... I guess you can’t really have a lot of windows and natural light when you are bathing-suit optional.
The fourth floor hosts the “Healing Arts” center. Kripalu offers a plethora of treatments, ranging from holistic facials to Ayurvedic services.
The grounds are covered with hiking paths and special spots for contemplation, such as a labyrinth. Maps are available at the front desk.
You can also check the activities board next to the dining room, for group hikes, snowshoeing and other organized events. I did not partake, due to the extremely cold weather.
Housing
The best way to think of the housing options is to remember that this used to be a Jesuit monastery. Rooms are simple and basic. Your options range from dormitory-style to standard to “standard-plus.”
There are a limited number of rooms with private baths, but most guests use shared hallway bathrooms. If you are traveling alone, you will be paired up with a roommate (several, if you choose the dormitory option). You can also choose to pay a hefty supplement for a single room.
I had a “standard-plus” room, which was actually quite lovely. It had two queen beds, located on the fourth floor overlooking the lake. My roommate was a charming woman from Massachusetts. No problems.
When making your reservations, you might want to check on where your room will be located. Some are on the second floor, where there is a lot of traffic (dining room, lots of program rooms.) The third and fourth floor are much quieter.
Kripalu is currently building an annex, holding eighty new rooms. It is supposed to open in May 2009.
Food
What can I say? You will either love or hate the food at Kripalu. It is simple, mostly vegetarian and mostly organic. There are macro-biotic options for those inclined.
For those of us who are seriously trying to eat a healthy diet, Kripalu is a place to rejoice: “Look at all this delicious, healthy food that I didn’t have to cook.”
For others... I encourage you to be open-minded. Be sure to explore the full buffet, as well as the sandwich bar in the back on one side and the “Buddha Bar” on the other.
Relax, enjoy and remember that you will be back home eating your own cooking in just a few days.
One more thing: On the first floor, the Kripalu Café offers snacks and coffee for an additional fee. It is also the spot in the building where you can pick up wireless Internet access, if you just couldn’t bear to leave your laptop at home.
Programs
I had been receiving Kripalu catalogs for years, before finally getting myself over there for the first time last spring. (I guess I must have liked it, I’m now officially a repeat customer!)
You have two basic choices: A self-paced “Retreat and Relaxation” (R&R) visit, or signing up for a formal program. Famous authors, yoga instructors and gurus of all types make their way to Kripalu. Grab yourself a catalog and see when your favorites will be visiting.
For people on R&R, there are Healing Arts treatments, yoga classes, presentations and lots of fresh air. Choose your medicine.
Yoga
At its heart, Kripalu is a yoga center. While there are entire weekend- and week-long programs devoted to specific yoga practices and instructors, there are also daily yoga classes available to all guests.
I took a 6:30am “gentle” yoga class the two mornings I was there. For me, it was the perfect way to start my day. The instructors were different each day, so the routines were varied. The “gentle” classification meant the entire 75 minutes was spent on the mat. I didn’t even have to stand up. Woohoo.
I had intentions of attending the “moderate” class later in the afternoon, but the opportunity to take a pre-dinner nap won out.
Those of you who must sweat profusely when working out should try the noontime yoga dance class. On Saturdays they have live drumming, which is pretty cool (I mean hot).
Staff
The Kripalu staff was without exception polite, cheerful and accommodating. They are not profuse. Again, keep in mind that this is in no way a luxury resort. You will not find someone hovering at your elbow waiting to be of service. If you need help, find someone and ask for it. They will oblige.
(Special thanks goes to the gentleman from maintenance, who helped me jumpstart my car, after the battery gave up in the aforementioned extremely cold weather.)
Should You Bring the Kids?
I’ve been to Kripalu twice – once with my sons and once by myself. You will need to use your own judgement here, since you know your kids best.
First, know that Kripalu has nothing resembling childcare. What they do have – on selected weekends, during some school vacation weeks and during the summer – are kid’s programs that you will pay for. Some have specific themes, such as “Circus Yoga.” Others are just general “Kids’ Fun.”
This is what my sons participated in last spring. They loved it.
There was a great mix of ages, with enough other boys in attendance for them to make friends. (I checked ahead of time.)
They started each day with “silent time” on the mat, followed by simple yoga poses, circus tricks, games, theater and hiking. Their absolute favorite part was jumping in the lake with their clothes on (this was late May, not January.)
What didn’t they like? The food. They couldn’t understand why someone hadn’t thought of preparing some organic chicken fingers. Still, they were really good sports about it. I rewarded them with an off-campus meal at a local restaurant for dinner the second day.
Is Kripalu for You?
If you are ready to step off the treadmill for a couple days and focusing on nurturing the whole you, Kripalu is a great choice. You can take care of mind, body and spirit – and maybe learn something new in the process.
Again, just a reminder: This is not a luxury spa. It is communal living the likes of which you probably haven’t experienced since your college dorm days. Still, there are lots of chances for quiet time, outdoors time and alone time. Just go with the flow.
If you have mobility issues, know that Kripalu is built on a relatively steep hillside, which may limit your enjoyment of the grounds. There is one elevator serving the entire building, although I did not see any real crowding there. If you have concerns, give them a call and discuss with a staff member.
In Conclusion
Kripalu is a delight. It is worth the trip. More importantly, YOU are worth the trip.
Being a conscious parent means that we commit to bringing our best to our family, to the best of our ability, each and every day. To bring your best, you need to create space to be your best. Is it time for a period of strategic retreat? Try Kripalu.
If you can’t make it to Kripalu – or someplace like it – design your own retreat, at home. I will talk more about this option at a later date, but in the meantime check out,
Making time for yourself seems impossible some days. Start with a one-hour retreat and work your way up!
More Recommended Reading
To learn more about relieving stress, try The Relaxation & Stress Reduction Workbook. With 280 pages of self-help guidance, there is something for everyone in this book.
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