Trusting the River: Yoga as a Way of Life

Trusting the River: Yoga as a Way of Life is a four-day yoga retreat at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, led by Kripalu faculty member Rolf Gates. It brings yoga, meditation, and breathwork together to explore a teaching found in every wisdom tradition: that we can take refuge in the way things are. It suits practitioners of any level who want a quiet, steady space to rest in the present moment.

The invitation can sound, at first, like a request to accept the unacceptable. The retreat moves past that first impression and into direct experience, asking whether there is something fundamentally trustworthy at the heart of existence.

What to Expect

The days follow a steady rhythm of practice, meals, and rest. You will work with meditation, breathwork, and yoga, along with present-moment mindfulness and a heart-centered community of fellow participants. The aim is to be held in the moment just as it is, and to rest in what the program calls our true nature.

Opening day begins with check-in at 2:00 pm, followed by a Kripalu Yoga class from 4:45 to 6:00, dinner, and a first program session from 7:30 to 9:00 in the evening.

On the full days, a short program session at 6:45 am opens the morning, followed by a silent breakfast. Longer sessions run from 9:00 to 11:30 am and again from 1:30 to 4:00 pm, with lunch between them. Each afternoon includes a Kripalu Yoga class from 4:45 to 6:00, then dinner.

On the closing day, the early session and silent breakfast are followed by a final program session from 9:00 to 11:00 am, then lunch and departure. Actual times may vary, and the schedule given at check-in confirms details and room locations.

About Rolf Gates

Rolf Gates is a member of the Kripalu faculty and guides this retreat each day, drawing on yoga, meditation, and breathwork to explore the practice of taking refuge in the present moment.

The Setting

Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health sits in Stockbridge, in the Berkshires region of western Massachusetts. Its accommodations are intentionally simple, designed to help you unplug and feel grounded. You can choose a private room for solitude or a shared, community-style dormitory if you prefer connection with other practitioners. Rooms are ready by 4:00 pm, and a luggage room is available if you arrive earlier. Check-out on the last day is at 10:00 am, and you may stay on campus and take part in workshops until 2:00 pm.

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

Before You Go

This retreat welcomes all levels, with no prior experience of yoga or meditation required. It is offered in English.

Your stay includes ten or more yoga classes, three nutritious meals a day, meditation and breathwork instruction, program sessions and teachings, and access to the Kripalu grounds and facilities. Accommodation is required in addition to tuition. Healing Arts sessions and items from the Kripalu Shop and Cafe are available for purchase separately.

Online registration is set up for one or two guests. If the program is full, a waitlist is available, and people are contacted in the order they joined.