Kripalu Yoga

History of Kripalu Center

The Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health started as an residential yoga retreat in Sumneytown, PA in1972. The founder, Amrit Desai, was a student of Swami Kripalu and developed a yogic path that would bridge the everyday living of modern life with the benefits of an advanced monastic yoga practice. Three years later in 1975, Kripalu expanded into a larger facility in Summit Station, PA adding more space for residential housing and expanding it's health services to include massage, on staff physicians and group yoga instruction. In 1977, by Desai's request, Swami Kripalu came to visit the ashram and stayed for four years before returning to India where he passed away in 1981. Eventually, with the inspired visit of Swami Kripalu, the ashram outgrew Summit Station and in 1983 Kripalu moved to it's current location in Stockbridge, Mass. Today Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health is a non -profit center providing programs for education and personal life enhancement with yoga classes, spiritual retreats, concerts and healthful eating, to list a few, and Kripalu Yoga Teacher Training, School of Ayurveda and School of Massage.

Kripalu Yoga

Kripalu Yoga is a yoga of consciousness. It concentrates on developing Witness Consciousness or nonjudgmental awareness. Witness Consciousness allows you to be aware of your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual states of being at all times, especially during times of stress and intense emotion. By becoming aware of these states while you are experiencing them, you begin to develop the ability to pay attention to the needs of your body, and consciously chooses how to act on your thoughts, feelings and emotions. In this way good choices can be made enhancing your life and those around you. The end result is peacefulness, good health and a deep knowing of self.

During a Kripalu Yoga class your will learn pranayama (breathing techniques) and are guided into asanas (postures) and asked to notice how you feel. While noticing and not judging, you begin to develop your Witness Consciousness, learn to master your Will and access deep states of surrender and peace.

Kripalu Yoga has three stages. The first focuses on your physical body teaching alignment and sensing physical sensations. You do yoga. The second stage increases your awareness of thoughts, feelings and emotions and strengthens your will through posture inquiry. You do yoga and yoga does you. The final stage results in being able to experience life without judgment and to be fully present in your body. Instinctual movement through asanas occurs: yoga does you.

There are many other benefits to practicing Kripalu Yoga besides developing Witness Consciousness. For example, strength and flexibility are gained by continually practicing the asanas. Concentration and mental clarity are enhanced and chronic tension and stress can be greatly reduced. Kripalu Yoga teachers encourage self-acceptance and a deepening of the connection with your inner wisdom helping you to heal and grow in all aspects of your life.

For more information about Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health please visit their web site at www.kripalu.org.