Gentle, Yin, and Restorative Yoga: Restore Comfort and Ease

This yoga retreat at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, offers a weekend of gentle yoga, yin yoga, and restorative yoga combined with yoga nidra guided relaxation. It is led by Sage Rountree and made for anyone who has grown used to pushing: the classic Type A, the athlete, the caregiver who feels depleted and out of touch with rest. No yoga experience is needed.

The premise is simple. Many people come to yoga to get comfortable with discomfort, to find the upper edge of their limits and stay present there. Less attention goes to the other end, building comfort with comfort, so it becomes easy to lose the ability to rest, receive, and recover without guilt. This program takes up that balance between effort and ease.

What to Expect

Over the weekend you practice gentle, yin, and restorative yoga alongside yoga nidra. The emphasis is on seeing the value in doing less, exploring ease as your natural state, and accepting it without apology. You also learn tools for an ongoing practice, so the sense of balance can come home with you.

The weekend runs from a Thursday arrival to a Sunday departure, with a steady daily rhythm:

- Thursday: check-in begins at 2:00 pm, followed by a Kripalu Yoga class from 4:45 to 6:00 pm, dinner from 5:30 to 7:30 pm, and a program session from 7:30 to 9:00 pm.
- Friday and Saturday: Kripalu Yoga class 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 from 11:30 to 1:30, a second program session from 1:30 to 4:00, another Kripalu Yoga class from 4:45 to 6:00 pm, and dinner from 5:30 to 7:30.
- Sunday: Kripalu Yoga class from 6:30 to 7:45 am, silent breakfast, a final program session from 9:00 to 11:00, then lunch and departure.

Actual times may vary, so check the Guest Boards or the schedule given at check-in for details and room locations.

About Sage Rountree

Sage Rountree leads this program as its presenter and teaches the gentle, yin, and restorative practices at its center.

The Setting

Kripalu sits in Stockbridge, in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, and the grounds are open to you throughout your stay. Accommodations are intentionally simple, meant to help you unplug and feel grounded. Choose a private room for quiet and solitude, or a community-style dormitory if you would like more connection. Rooms are ready by 4:00 pm, and a Luggage Room holds your bags if you arrive earlier. Three meals are served each day, with breakfast taken in silence.

Before You Go

All levels are welcome. Practices are adapted from beginners through experienced practitioners, with ample time for relaxation and supported rest. The program is taught in English, and the group is small enough that online booking covers one or two guests.

Your stay includes:

- Three meals a day
- More than ten daily yoga and movement classes
- Access to the Kripalu grounds and facilities
- Accommodation of your choice

Healing Arts sessions and items from the Kripalu Shop and Cafe are available for purchase, and transportation to the venue is not included. For dietary needs, contact the venue ahead of time. Room check-out on the final day is at 10:00 am, and you are welcome to stay on campus and take part in workshops until 2:00 pm.