Your Guide to Staying At Kripalu (During the Summer)
My Introduction to Kripalu
I first heard of Kripalu from a woman I met at a wedding two years ago in NYC and since then, this little gem had slowly been popping up in my life through various subtle ways (hi, universe!). I got the hint and decided to enroll in Kripalu's 800-hour yoga therapy program and stayed at the center for a month between July and August of 2018. Figuring out how to get to Kripalu, what to pack, and what to expect was pretty difficult to find by searching online. Even through various phone calls and endless questions to Kripalu's front desk, I was still confused. In the end, everything worked out but there were some things I would have loved to know before arriving. Since I couldn't find many blog posts or pictures about the place, I figured I would just write my own. I hope the below information is helpful to you. If you come across this and have further questions, just shoot me a note!
About Kripalu
Kripalu is a non-profit organization that hosts yoga and wellness retreats, trainings, and various other programs taught by some of the world's greatest wellness and spiritual leaders. Some of the offerings include:
200, 300, & 1000-RYT Yoga Trainings
300 & 800 Hour Yoga Therapy Trainings
200, 300, & 650 Hour Ayurvedic Health Coach Certification
Mindful Outdoor Leadership Training
Restore & Rejuvenate (R&R) Retreats
Getting There
The center is located in the Berkshires in Stockbridge, MA, which is about a one-hour drive from Albany, NY, and a three-hour drive from Boston, MA. It is difficult to get to Kripalu if you do not have a car and live within driving distance of Stockbridge. If you are one of those folks who need to fly in, here are two options.
Option #1: Fly into Albany Airport
The fastest and easiest way to get to Kripalu is to fly into Albany airport and book the Kripalu shuttle to the center. The shuttle costs $75 and only operates on Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays, with shuttle pick up from Albany airport at 1:30 pm and 5:00 pm, and shuttle departures from Kripalu at 12:00 pm and 3:30 pm. You can find more details here. Flights tend to be more expensive, but it is definitely worth the cost and will save you much more time compared to option #2 below.
Option #2: Fly into Boston Logan International Airport
If you are flying into Boston airport, catch an Uber to the Back Bay South Amtrak station ($20) and take the Amtrak to Pittsfield ($20). This Amtrak route runs only once per day and takes about three hours total. Once you get to Pittsfield, you can catch an Uber to Kripalu ($15), which takes about 20 minutes. This is how I traveled to Kripalu since I wasn't aware of how much closer Albany was at the time of booking. Although I enjoyed the Amtrak ride through Massachusetts, it was a very long travel day for me. *Note that trains and buses from Boston run very sparingly, and if you are trying to get to Kripalu at a certain time for a session, you might be late.
There are a few more routes you could tak,e but these are the two I would recommend. You can find more options and details here.
What to Pack
I was so worried about lugging a huge suitcase with all the required training books on my trek to Kripalu that I forgot some items that would've been extremely helpful to have! Note that this list is specifically for the Summer, as I have not stayed at Kripalu during the winter.
Pillow! - The #1 thing I would've brought or had delivered was a pillow! You would not believe how hard the pillows are in the dorms. Whether you are flying or driving, this is my main suggestion to bring. It is worth the hassle.
Earplugs - If you are staying in the dorms, you might want earplugs to help you tune out anyone who may stay up later or make unintentional noise throughout the night.
Eye mask - In the dorms, the main room light is required to be turned off by 9:30 pm and the night lights by 10:00 pm. If you plan to go to sleep earlier than that, an eye mask would be helpful.
Sweaters - The Berkshires can get chilly some days and nights. I was unaware of this and only brought one sweater for a month-long stay; more would've been helpful.
Street clothes - I didn't think I would go off campus, so I didn't pack any street clothes. There are usually a couple of days off during a month-long training, and you might want to go explore the town or go to dinner with some of your new friends! At least two to three outfits would be beneficial. I would say t-shirts, jeans, and comfortable dresses.
Here I am with some of my beautiful and wonderful dorm mates. We had 22 women in one room for a month!
My wonderful boyfriend paid me a visit with a bag full of snacks. The avocados were a hot commodity since Kripalu didn't have any during my stay!
Hiking shoes - There are a number of beautiful hikes on rough dirt trails. Since it rains a lot, I would recommend hiking shoes to prevent you from slipping.
Workout shoes - In case you want to go for a run or workout in Kripalu's gym.
Sandals - Comfortable enough to walk to and from the lake.
Water shoes - If you don't like rocky sand areas, which the entrance to the lake has.
Warm & cool PJ's - To go with the changing weather.
Swimsuit - for the beautiful lake, whirlpool, and or sauna.
Snacks - There is a cafe at Kripalu that sells "healthier" versions of snacks like GT's kombucha, Justin’s peanut butter cups, trail mix, chips, etc., but they tend to be overpriced. I would recommend bringing some of your own. Some trainings begin before breakfast time so if you are the type that needs to eat something before you move, snacks will be helpful.
Navigating the Kitchen
More of my amazing new friends eating outside on our last day of training.
An example of what you might find at Kripalu's main buffet for lunch. Yumm!
Here’s an example of what the kitchen at Kripalu serves for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Breakfast:
Buddha bar:
Miso and Vegetable soup
Kitchari
Mung dal
Steamed veggies
Sandwich bar:
Toast
Bagels
Freshly cut melon
Main bar:
Oatmeal or steel cut oats
Quinoa porridge
Yogurt & granola (every morning)
Baked grapefruit
Hard boiled eggs (every morning)
Main option which changes each day - Scrambled eggs w/ veggies and/or cheese, over-easy eggs, frittata, pancakes, or french toast
Turkey or veggie sausage
Pastry - scones or muffins
Lunch / Dinner:
Buddha bar:
Miso soup
Mung dal, Lentil dal, Kitchari
Black bean and carrot dish
Sweet potato
Cabbage
Wakame
Rice cakes with peanut butter and jelly toppings
Main bar:
Sandwich bar:
Hummus
Turkey, BBQ Chicken, Tuna
Roasted Eggplant
Guac and chips (once in a while!)
White and whole-grain bread
Tortillas for wraps
Options to create your own salad
Main protein - chicken (note that it is usually dark meat), shrimp, fish, tofu, tempeh (*Lunch protein was usually a vegetarian option)
Pasta & pizza (usually as main protein so if you do not eat heavy carbs like this, these are the days you have to mix and match from the other bars)
Steamed greens - kale, chard, arugula or spinach
Vegetables - carrots, brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.
Soup
Desserts (@ dinner time) - Brownies, cornbread, muffins, baked sweet loafs, and the amazing chocolate cake!
What To Do
Kripalu and the Berkshires have numerous activities to keep you entertained and relaxed throughout your stay. Since I was at a month-long training, most of my days were booked, but here are some things I was able to squeeze in.
On-site:
Amenities – sauna, whirlpool, and gym
Yoga dance – I highly recommend taking a yoga dance class at least once. It is a beautiful experience to be able to dance without a care in the world and be with some wonderful humans. I recommend Tony’s class on Saturdays at 12:00 pm as she has a live drumming band with her that creates some beautiful sounds to move to. It’s truly an unforgettable experience. Warning – you will not leave without drenching in sweat.
Yoga classes – daily yoga classes at 6:30 am, 12:00 pm, 4:30 pm, and 7:30 pm. I recommend taking Jennifer Reis’ Yoga Nidra class.
Guest lectures – check the board on the second floor opposite the side of the elevator for all of the guest lectures happening during your stay.
Kayaking, paddle boarding, and hiking – if you are an R&R guest, you can sign up for these activities at the front desk. Unfortunately, if you are a part of a training, you are not allowed to participate in these activities unless you purchase an R&R day pass for $95
Lake – you can take a short walk to the lake to go swimming or just lie out on some tanning beds. It’s a beautiful walk through the trees and a view of the lake.
Private yoga or meditation – you can practice or meditate on your own on the 4th floor, where they have small, dedicated rooms for this. I would do this sometimes in the morning. I personally recommend sneaking out of the tent during the lunch hour and doing a personal practice there. The view is beyond beautiful (see picture to the left).
Walking meditation – there are two paths I found to do a walking meditation. One is the Labyrinth located across the south driveway on the way to the lake, and the other is Swami Kripalu's Meditation garden, which overlooks the Stockbridge Bowl.
Off-Site
Tanglewood Music Festival - Tanglewood is a music festival held every summer on the Tanglewood Estates, which is just down the street from Kripalu. The Boston Symphony Orchestra holds a summer residency there, and I was able to catch their live performance of West Side Story. This place is such a gem, and I highly recommend going! Check out their website online here for show dates. Sometimes, if you tell the ticket agent you are staying at Kripalu, they will give you free tickets! You can bring your own snacks, drinks, blanket, and chairs.
Town of Lenox – The town of Lenox is 2 miles away from Kripalu and is absolutely adorable! You can walk the entire thing in 10 minutes as it’s very small. I had lunch at Old Heritage Café, which was highly recommended, but I personally thought the food was okay. There are 2 or 3 more restaurants in the area that you could also try. I would recommend going to Get Lit Wine Bar & Bookstore. It's a small mom-and-pop bookstore with a wine bar connected to it.
Six Depot Roastery and Cafe - A coffee shop, cafe, art gallery, and event space situated in the oldest train station in Stockbridge, MA. The tea and pastries were delicious here! I didn't try the food, but it also looked amazing. This is a perfect place to have breakfast or lunch, or even sit for a couple of hours and do some work. Check out more here!
Prairie Whale - Prairie Whale is a New American-style restaurant in the town of Great Barrington, MA.
The Mount - Edith Wharton's Home - The Mount is a beautiful landmark that celebrates the legacy of Edith Wharton. Every weekend in July and August, the Mount hosts a music night on the terrace. Find more info here.
Capital Steps at the Cranwell Resort - Capitol Steps is a political comedy show held in the Cranwell Resort and runs each summer in the Berkshires. Although I am not a fan of politics, this show was absolutely hilarious. I highly recommend checking it out. You can purchase tickets here.
MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT KRIPALU
The people! I made some wonderful friendships that I will always hold dear to my heart. Living and spending almost every waking hour with the people in my training brought us to be extremely close. They helped me get through the rough times of the training, constantly made me laugh, and overall made my trip extremely enjoyable!
Last Tips to Leave You With
Whether you are going to Kripalu for a month-long training or a short R&R stay, take it all in – the people, the views, the food, the nature, etc. Give yourself a digital detox, get outside as much as you can, meditate, write in your journal, try things you wouldn’t normally do, and get out of your comfort zone. It is truly a remarkable place!
