Kripalu Center

A lot of pros and cons, overall I would come back.
First off: it’s supposed to be a relaxing weekend. I was exhausted the whole time, and left just as exhausted as when I got there.
My sister and I started off Friday checking into our room and going to the gentle yoga class at 4:15, followed by dinner, then a Kripalu welcome session, and then our program event in the evening. (so jam packed afternoon & evening)
Keeping up with our jam packed schedule: We skipped the morning yoga to get an extra hour of sleep. After (silent) breakfast, our program ran for three hours in the morning, we did ‘yoga dance’ mid day, and then our program met for another two hours in the afternoon. We did take a ‘hike’ after these programs, but skipped the 4:15 yoga and had an early dinner. We could have also went to lectures or a concert at night but were way too exhausted.
Sunday was more calm — again skipping morning yoga, our program didn’t begin until 9AM so we relaxed a little more. After our program, we checked out, had lunch and went to the healing arts department for a massage. I will say, it was by far, the BEST massage of my entire life (and I’ve had a lot). Do not leave without booking a massage — seriously, I don’t know how it could have been so amazing!
Our yogini program with Ellen Berrett: great. Inspiring, fun, overall wonderful.
The rooms: We had a double private room (mountain view) with a shared bathroom. Don’t upgrade to the lake view — it’s pretty far away and there are roads in the same view — not so pretty in my opinion to look at roads. The rooms are small, very basic, but clean. It was fine. They provide one flat sheet and two blankets — so I used the flat sheet in place of a fitted sheet and the blankets on top. It was only mid April and it was VERY humid in the rooms (and bathroom) so not many blankets were needed. I don’t think I could handle going in the summer with no AC. You can use your cell phones in your private room, so that’s nice (and on the 1^st floor of the building for texting/​silent use)
We brought our own yoga mats, but ended up using theirs because they are amazing — no slipping and sliding. Plus it was one less thing to lug around.
The bathroom: nothing special, but again, pretty clean. They provided shampoo, conditioner & shower gel — although I used my own from home.
Yoga Dance: I think I was a little too introverted to feel comfortable in Yoga Dance, yet most people seemed to enjoy it. There were live drummers on Saturday, and a very crowded room of sweaty people. I watched Yoga Dance on Sunday, and it seemed much different — no live music, a different teacher, more graceful movements. I feel like if I had gone on Sunday instead of Saturday I would have enjoyed it.
Food: It’s healthy. It’s good but not great. They do give a variety, but don’t plan on finding any meat (with the exception of chicken, white fish and tuna) and there’s certainly no pasta. It was different than my usual diet, so I felt hungry a few times throughout the weekend but tried to eat larger portions as the days went on. Their website made it sound like they are very concerned about allergies… but, having severe nut allergies, I will say I was VERY upset that they had nut products right next to other things (a big tub of peanut butter next to the bread & butter — and on Sunday a peanut stew in the main food line) How can I trust others wont use the incorrect utensil when getting their food? They also do not have medical care on site and the closest hospital is not close enough for an anaphylactic reaction. This probably limited my ability to find as much food as I would have liked because I steered clear of these food tables altogether. Also, peanuts can cause airborne reactions so I don’t believe they should be in open containers. Put a lid on the peanut butter and peanut stew!

Went here for the first time this weekend and overall it was a good experience, grounds are beautiful and there is a nice tranquility about the place. Food is excellent, top notch healthy organic buffets. The thing I struggle with is the price vs. what you get for accommodations. It is very, very expensive to stay there and the rooms are… primitive. I feel like Kripalu has a bit of an identity crisis, wanting to offer minimal accommodations to help you focus on yourself but then charging an arm and a leg so that it… attracts a certain crowd? I’m not sure what the answer is and it’s not for me to figure out. But, beware that even the more upscale rooms are uncomfortably small (2 people in one room, you cannot both have your suitcases on the floor to give you an idea).

Fabulous four days of yoga, relaxation and rest. Cannot wait to come back. Yoga Dance is so much fun.

Great classes but Kripalu’s institutional architecture, layout and design make it feel more penitentiary in the woods than restful retreat.
I enjoyed the variety of yoga classes. The instructors are knowledgeable and varied.
The dance class was so much fun.
The lecture on focusing as access to body consciousness and healing was fairly interesting if a little sleepy. But, I liked it.
Meals were great with Indian inspired veggie options a huge assortment of teas and even vegan options.
The whirlpool and sauna were in the basement and felt incredibly sketchy.
The massage I had was amazing.
2 yoga class, 1 dance class, 1 lecture and 2 meals for $ 120 /​day pass. Worth it.
The grounds are stunning. However, the campus itself is ugly. Not just minimal but ugly. I spent the night at my family’s place. If I had to spend the night it would have been 2 star experience. I just can’t see spending $ 340 /​per night for summer camp dormitory style accommodations.
I liked Kripalu and they certainly have beautiful grounds but I couldn’t stay here for more than a day because it’s just not beautiful. And, the amenities could use an upgrade.

I have visited Kripalu three times, and have signed up for the R&R retreat each time. With their R&R retreat, it is your call how you want to spend your time to create the experience you are looking for. I didn’t so much want to rest and recharge as I wanted to be free to just decide day of what I felt like doing. So one day I woke up and went on a hike through the Berkshires, then took a walk through the labyrinth followed by relaxing at the Kripalu lakeshore. Afterward it was time for vigorous yoga and then a concert that night. There are several educational workshops available each day, along with many outdoor activities and loads of yoga (for all levels). There are quiet places for tucking yourself in with a book, and there are also interactive activities (like a guided kayak tour). The food is unbelievably good, and healthy. There is a healing arts wing of the building where you can experience thai massage, a facial, etc. I highly recommend Kripalu!

Perfect! This was my first time doing yoga or meditation. I took the introduction session and a day before for R+R. I did not want to leave. I cannot wait to return.

I love love love this place. It is a gorgeous facility with stunning views! You can do workshops or r&r. I tend to do workshops and then fill up my time with r&r classes as well. I leave my room at 6:15 and stay active until 9 or 9:30 pm. There’s just so much to do with yoga, meditation, hiking, kayaking, paddleboarding, chanting, drum circles, fire ceremonies… The list goes on and on. Usually I need coffee for my daily routine, not here– it’s my little getaway from the grind. The spa treatments are great and the food is simply amazing– so organic and fresh. I can’t say enough good things– also check out noon dance, so much fun :)

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.

I love Kripalu. You have to take it for what it is. Not a high end retreat center, but a place of simple yet profound teachings that remind us what is most important. There are options for everyone so if you want a more luxury room, coffee and meals containing animal protein you can have that. There are also very simple dorm rooms, quiet meals and tons of vegetarian options. Most importantly, the staff are amazing, the teachers are top-​notch and the teachings themselves will change your life. One thing for sure, if you open your heart to Kripalu it will keep beckoning you back.

This was my first (and last) visit here. It really is for Yoga enthusiasts only. The buildings are just plain ugly. The sauna area is beyond in need of updating and not inviting at all. The accomadations are ok and clean. They tell you the private rooms have «geothermal» air conditioning which is BS. It was very warm and stuffy. The «healing arts» massages are average at best. I had a master body massage and then a foot massage. Nothing special. THE WORST PART BY FAR IS THE FOOD! It is extremely boring and tasteless. Nothing looks appetizing. I was sick of it after one day. The only good thing here is the yoga classes. The rooms are nice and teachers are excellent. If I ever came here again, it would be for classes only. I would stay and eat somewhere else.

My mother and I came here for a day of R & R… we didn’t actually stay on site, so I can’t comment on the rooms, but the meals, grounds, and sessions are amazing! We were both shocked at how rejuvenated and good we felt (as opposed to just plain exhausted), after being there from 6:30am until 9pm!
There are certain classes offered regularly (yin yoga, intermediate classes, yoga dance, etc.) as well as additional workshop, lectures, classes and special events that vary daily. We were a bit disappointed when we checked in to discover that one of the foundations workshops/​classes we were most looking forward to (and one of the reasons we picked that date to attend) had been canceled without notice; we were still very happy with all of the things available for the day, I guess you just need to be aware/​flexible when booking that the schedule could change. It was rainy when we were there, so we didn’t partake in either kayaking or hiking, but it’s great to have those options, particularly if you were here several days or just getting back into yoga and can only take so many hours a day! We really enjoyed the classes and the sense of community.
Food is amazing — I’m vegetarian, but there are lots of meaty options as well; generally very healthy stuff! Breakfast I believe is typically a silent meal, and there is also a silent room across the hall from the main dining room for those who wish for other silent meals. Some people also take their trays out to other areas to sit by the window on a comfy chair (though these are sometimes in high demand). Everything is buffet style — serve and bus yourself.
Grounds are gorgeous, looking out over a lake. Lots of paths to stroll along. Facilities are nice with plenty of spots to sit and contemplate. A sauna and hot tub in the basement to help those sore muscles. There is also a gift shop, café (if you can’t live without your coffee), and some healing arts-​type services (massage, etc.)
Staff are very friendly and helpful. I was overjoyed that I lost my Fitbit and some kind person turned it in and I was able to retrieve it at the front desk. Such a great mixture of people present of all ages, body types, ethnicities (to some extent). We saw a number of other mother-​daughter pairs.
Really a special day to spend with loved ones, or would be an amazing retreat on your own. I would love to be able to spend longer here one day!

Never Again!!! Paid for a room in the Annex with a Queen size bed. Was given a room with twin beds. I can’t even sleep in. They want to barge me $ 54 to change rooms to the other building. never again will I spend a dime here.

This is my 4^th visit to kripalu. This year we stayed in the annex. I thought we were getting 2 double beds, but we ended up with 2 twins. Next time I will be very specific and get it in writing! We stayed in the 4^th floor, close to the elevator. Mistake #2. All we hear is the elevator beeping, night and day. The rooms in the annex are newer and the baths are updated, although smaller than the main building. It’s very odd that there is a glass wall in the shower, overlooking the bedroom. There is a shower curtain that covers the glass wall, but it is in no way private. Make sure you like your roommate if you stay at the annex, cause there is no privacy. The beds are comfy but small. Our room was very hot. We kept turning the heat down but the thermometer kept saying 78 degrees. We finally had to open the window a crack to get the room comfortable. It’s radiant heat.
We came for 3 days of R and R. Didn’t know it was quiet contemplation week. (They emailed me 3 days prior to tell me) what a drag not being able to talk during all meals! Boring… At least give us one dining room to converse in.
The program schedule changed, and they eliminated 2 of the classes we were looking forward to. Kind of disappointing
Now the good, the food continues to be fantastic. I also love the healing arts center. Massages, facials, reflexology, energy body work etc. The yoga classes are good and have gentle and vigorous.
This is a place to go when you don’t want to wear makeup, wear your workout clothes all day, not worrying about how you look, but delving into your feelings and emotions. Very cathartic.

This place is 5 stars except for the price. Used to be able to come here and stay in a completely basic, unadorned but clean room and enjoy morning yoga, wonderful vegetarian whole foods and nature as an escape and renewal but the prices went way up, so it’s disappointing, I rarely go there now.
Of course they need to sustain and grow but it seemed they were thriving well enough before… now you need real disposable income to enjoy the place, which seems a little out of keeping with the serving-​the-​spirit goal of Kripalu. Sadly it looks like they’ve bought into a commercialization and commodification of what they’re offering.

I love Kripalu. I was here for Trauma Sensitive Yoga workshop with David Emerson and the class was amazing. The quality of the teacher, facility and workshop was top notch.
I was there in the fall and the campus was beautiful with the foliage. Food was always delicious and I liked every single thing that I ate that week.
I can’t wait to go back!

After taking wonderful yoga classes for a couple of years with Kripalu taught instructors, and hearing rave reviews from friends about their stays here, I knew I had to come here at some point. I decided to come to Kripalu before starting a new job in hopes of recharging my batteries and getting a fresh start. At the end of my stay, I can happily say that I got that and more here on a R&R (Rest and Rejuvenation) retreat for a week.
Taking the bus here from New York City was a breeze. I took the bus in to Lenox City Hall on Peter Pan Lines, and the Kripalu shuttle (best to book when you are reserving your room, $ 7 one way) picks you up for an easy 10 minute ride to the grounds.
What I enjoyed about the R&R retreat was how open ended it is. I really enjoyed how many different workshops they offered during the day, varying from learning about the history of Kripalu to nutrition to spirituality and more. Yoga classes are offered 2 – 3 times a day during the week: Gentle, Moderate, and Vigorous: all three I felt were extremely well taught and accessible for any person because instructors encourage students to make the class your own practice. They also offer guided hiking tours around the surrounding trails, as well as other outdoor and indoor amenities. You can choose how little or how much you want to do each day, which I really valued.
I took advantage of two Healing Arts sessions while I was there. I had a consultation with a Life Coach and an Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultant. Both were very personable and helped me refocus on what is imbalanced in my day to day life. After both sessions I felt very motivated to implement these changes going forward for a healthy, more balanced life. Payment was also simple because Kripalu saves your credit card from your reservation.
The food in the Kripalu cafeteria. Wow. I felt completely spoiled eating this delicious food every day. There is something for everyone here… well, maybe not for people obsessed with coffee and cookies because you have to buy that downstairs at the café … but for carnivores, vegetarians, vegans, raw vegans, macrobiotic, and gluten free diets: there is something fresh and nutritious for you to eat here. I felt inspired by the food here and bought two Kripalu cookbooks in the bookstore so I could try these at home.
Kripalu is a really special place. As Alex L. said earlier about it, magical in many ways too. Sure, it is not luxurious like a resort, but guaranteed, you will learn something about yourself here and connect with others in a heart warming way who are on the same journey as you are. Like so many others are doing now, I can see myself returning to Kripalu for a fresh breath of air for years to come.

I just returned from a 2 day r+r retreat and I have never felt more refreshed or rejuvenated. I hope to make this a quarterly event if possible, everyone needs to detox/​disconnect once in a while.
I stayed in a dorm for my 2 night 2 day retreat. Nothing to complain or rave home about, if you’ve ever stayed in a hostel, very similar. The food, facilities, and abundance of activities really sold me. I decided to keep vegetarian for the weekend since Kripalu’s variety of options made the task easy. Some options were a little bland, nothing that a little Himalayan pink salt couldn’t fix. The facilities were well maintained and comfortable, plethora of couches around the building for a nice cup of tea or a good book. The numerous activities is enough to keep anyone busy. I took three yoga classes in one day and attended half of a concert. While I decided to opt out of a few guest speaker workshops, knowing that I had the options alleviated any fears of boredom.
I wish the weather was better this past weekend so that I could have explored the labyrinth or hiking trails. Another reason to return in a few months. I highly recommend Kripalu for anyone looking for a short getaway and to recharge.

Kripalu is magic. Expensive magic, but it’s worth every penny.
I recently came back from my third experience (12÷14−12÷15), staying two days for «R&R (Retreat/​Rejuvenation)» — two days of yoga, healthy eating, hiking and being away from daily responsibilities. One of my favorite things to do was to look out the window drinking a cup of tea and not be concerned with what new emails were coming into my mailbox!
Even though I’m now back in the real world, I have this inner sense of peace, quiet and contentment. I can drink a cup of coffee marveling out the window again at home and my mind has settled down, no longer running a million miles a minute. I feel settled, more focused and have an inner joy bubbling up waiting to express itself to those around me.
Here’s a poem that’s was effortlessly born as a result of this quietude:
«The winter snow falling on the ground,
it’s so quiet it barely makes a sound.
Listening closely, you hear the roar
of the wind howling and it helps you soar
above the rhyme and reason of your mind,
down to Earth where you’ll find:
a sweet harmonious melody and some Thyme! Yum.»
Coming to Kripalu helps me feel more comfortable taking risks (even doing silly things such as writing the above poem in my Unilocal review).
I would rate the facilities themselves a 3.5 or 4 out of 5 and the surrounding nature and the experience itself being beautiful and priceless. If you want a retreat/​weekend where you genuinely feel renewed and energized afterward, Kripalu is a fine choice.

In the past month I have visited both Kripalu and Omega. With these experiences behind me, I can say that I will return to Omega, but have no desire to see Kripalu again. Shoddy and crumbling facilities, expensive coffee, and bad food will keep me away.
Kripalu is one very large building, and many of the rooms are in bad shape. For instance, the bathroom nearest my dorm room was badly in need of an update, with walls crumbling to the point of deep holes. I decided to wander around the building at one point, and discovered what appeared to be a well-​maintained section; this is where the administrative offices were located. I’m guessing the VP of operations doesn’t have holes in his office walls.
Kripalu does not provide coffee at breakfast, so you must pay for it. One of the reasons I was given for this policy is that people on a detox diet would find the smell of coffee offensive. Hm. How about the meat they serve on the buffet lines? That is offensive to me, and not just because of the smell, but because I am keenly aware of the suffering that happened to make that food possible. I ate vegan during my stay, and the food was bland (not just the Buddha bar, but all of it) and often cold when it should’ve been warm. They apparently have no one on staff who knows how to cook tofu.
Bottom line: if you are looking for a beautiful and well-​run retreat center for yoga workshops or R&R, go to Omega. You’ll get great meals and coffee with breakfast. And a refill at the café will cost you 50 cents, not 2 bucks. The facilities are well-​maintained, and the gardens are gorgeous.
Upon leaving Kripalu, I was told I would receive an email requesting feedback on my stay. Well, that was a month ago, and I’ve received nothing. So I guess Ill just post my feedback here on Unilocal

This review is from my visit to Kripalu, 09÷21÷12
Disclaimer… I was born and lived in NYC most my life, I work in IT, I am mostly a skeptic… But love Yoga… Somehow by the end of my weekend retreat at Kripalu I almost became a flower child.
After unsuccessfully trying to get one of my friends to come with me, I decided to make the trip solo, and booked the David Deida workshop that was taking place that weekend. I went straight after work and felt first pang of apprehension when I arrived at 7:00 PM at the darkened parking lot — pitch black. My only thought was:
«Please let there be another car coming, please…»
Followed by:
«That might be worse, never mind ignore my request universe…»
I very quickly (felt like forever) made the long walk to the building entrance and started wondering if maybe I should have held off on coming here until I could come with friends… That idea almost instantly vanished when I stepped inside the building and EVERYONE guests and staff that I passed by gave me warm welcoming smiles.
The registration process was very quick; I had some time to look around before the start of the first session of my workshop. By the time my workshop started at 7:30 PM, I had already made acquaintance with guests, who made recommendations of things «I must do» before I leave or who promised to look me up for this activity or the other. I had been onsite less than 1 hour and I was already very comfortable and at home.
It’s hard to say which activity at Kripalu is my favorite, because it was such an amazing experience and I loved every single moment of it. To keep the review short, I will limit this review to two activities (Silent Breakfast and Noon Dance) and the how effortless it was to make connections at Kripalu.
I discovered one of the activities that top my list of favorites the very next morning… SILENT BREAKFAST, at this point I had met more people the evening before during the workshop and others during morning Yoga. I walked in ready to say «good morning» in my usual cheerful way to the attendant in the front of the room, who immediately before I had a chance to utter a sound pointed to the «Silent Breakfast» sign. Feeling awkward and out of place, I made my way to shamefully serve myself breakfast and picked a seat facing the door.
When I sat down to have breakfast I saw that many other people ran into the same surprise I did when entering the room. Their reactions had me trying to silence my chuckles (a bit unsuccessfully). Guests I had met at the workshop the evening before or during the morning’s activities started filling in to the cafeteria, our eyes would lock, we would silently laugh and with absurd hand gestures or «eye» movements we would convey a «hey, there you are, I am going to go get something to eat and come sit with you». I ended up sitting with 4 people I met the night before. We communicated with our eyes and making hand gestures, it was hilarious; I never realized you can say so much without the use for words. Same thing happened the next morning, with a different set of people I met. I LOVE SILENT BREAKFAST!
The other activity I will review is Noon Dance (Yoga). I had never even heard of this. We first heard the drums in the room where my workshop was taking place as we were getting ready to break for a few hours. Most of us left the workshop and followed the sound of the drums, we walked into a big room where in the center of the room was the instructor guiding everyone into a «yoga» dance to the beat of the drums of the band that was in the room, started off slowly… And before you know it was a wild dance party!!! It was amazing!
It’s hard to describe the Kripalu audience. I met people who traveled from other countries, a met couples who have as a couple been there over 50 times (and that is only what has been recorded since Kripalu started using computers, the badge everyone is wearing has the number of visits listed on it). Met a couple who had been staying there for 3 weeks; they had been living around the world for the past 5 years. I met New Yorkers getting a «recharge» weekend, «new age» energy healers, hippies, suburban housewives on break, people in the health professions, yoga newbies and yoga pros.
I really have to wonder if my experience would have been the same had I come here with a friend or group of friends. Coming on my own I met so many different people and got invited to participate in so many activities that I wonder if I would have had such a great experience if I was distracted by conversations or the comfort of staying within what I know with who I know.
The only negative experience I had during my visit was checking out. You spend the weekend in such a state of bliss, love and welcome that on Sunday as the time to leave nears, you start feeling an overwhelming feeling of sadness at the thought of leaving. When will I have another silent breakfast? Will my employer provide me with Noon Dance with drums?