Kripalu Yoga

Kripalu Yoga was developed at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Massachusetts and named after Swami Kripalu, the Indian master who inspired the community's work. The style emphasizes compassion toward oneself, self-acceptance, and cultivating inner wisdom over achieving perfect external form.

The Three Stages of Kripalu

Kripalu teaching organizes practice into three stages:

Stage 1 — Learning the Postures: Focus is on alignment, breathing, and developing body awareness. Props are encouraged. This stage corresponds to most yoga classes.

Stage 2 — Holding the Posture: Poses are held longer to develop concentration, witness consciousness, and willingness to be with intensity.

Stage 3 — Meditation in Motion: Advanced practitioners allow the body to move spontaneously in response to inner prompts — a moving meditation where poses emerge organically from within.

Philosophy of Self-Acceptance

What distinguishes Kripalu from alignment-focused systems is its emphasis on listening to the body's wisdom rather than forcing it toward an ideal. Teachers often say "honor your body" and encourage students to modify, rest, or skip poses as their bodies require.

Accessibility

Kripalu's non-judgmental approach makes it particularly accessible for:

• Beginners intimidated by more rigorous systems
• Practitioners with body image challenges
• Those recovering from physical or emotional injury
• Anyone seeking yoga as therapy rather than performance

The forgiving, gentle approach works well with a comfortable, cushioned mat that allows practitioners to focus inward rather than on surface performance.