Kripalu Outdoors: Winter Forest Bathing

Kripalu Outdoors: Winter Forest Bathing is a weekend nature retreat at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. It is for anyone drawn to the quiet of the cold season, whether you are new to forest bathing or already spend time outdoors. Kripalu faculty, including Micah Mortali, lead nature meditations, earth-connection practices and time in the snowy woods, all grounded in yoga, mindfulness and nature-based spirituality.

What to Expect

The winter woods are the teacher here: frozen waterfalls, evergreens wrapped in snow, and cold, clear air that brings the senses to attention. Over the weekend you explore a variety of nature meditations, some of them held beside the warmth of a campfire. You learn practices and skills for connecting with the earth, and you spend time with the stark beauty, silence and stillness that belong to winter. You also learn to read animal tracks in the snow. The aim is that you go home knowing how to meet the season rather than wait it out.

The retreat runs from a Friday arrival to a Sunday departure, with a steady daily rhythm:

- Opening day: check-in begins at 2:00 pm, followed by a Kripalu Yoga class from 4:45 to 6:00, dinner from 5:30 to 7:30, and the first program session from 7:30 to 9:00 in the evening.
- Full days: Kripalu Yoga from 6:30 to 7:45 am, silent breakfast from 7:30 to 9:00, a program session from 9:00 to 11:30, lunch until 1:30 pm, another session from 1:30 to 4:00, evening yoga from 4:45 to 6:00, and dinner from 5:30 to 7:30.
- Closing day: morning yoga and silent breakfast as usual, a final program session from 9:00 to 11:00, then lunch and departure between 11:30 and 1:30.

Actual times and room locations can vary, so check the schedule you receive at check-in.

About Micah Mortali

Micah Mortali is a spiritual teacher and a member of the Kripalu faculty. He is among the presenters who lead this winter forest bathing program, which is offered on different dates with different pairings of teachers. Katie Hagel, Rachel Stine and Tracy Foster complete the faculty, and each weekend is led by two of them.

The Setting

Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health sits in Stockbridge, in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts. Accommodations are intentionally simple, meant to help you unplug and feel grounded. You can choose a private room if you are seeking solitude, or a shared, community-style dormitory room if you would like more connection with other guests. Rooms are ready by 4:00 pm, and a luggage room is available if you arrive earlier. On the last day, room check-out is at 10:00 am, and you are welcome to stay on campus and take part in workshops until 2:00 pm.

Three nutritious meals are served each day, and breakfast is taken in silence.

Before You Go

All levels are welcome, and no prior experience is needed. The practices are accessible to beginners and still offer depth for those with more experience. The program is taught in English.

Your stay includes all program sessions and guided nature experiences, three meals a day, more than ten daily yoga classes, and access to the Kripalu grounds. Accommodation is required in addition to tuition. Healing Arts sessions and items from the Kripalu Shop and Cafe are available for purchase separately, and many guests add a Healing Arts treatment as a complement to the program.

Since much of the time is spent outdoors in winter, plan to dress for cold and snow.