Kripalu Yoga: A Guide to Practice On and Off the Mat

A few years ago, I had the good fortune to take a class with a Kripalu teacher. I had heard of it but was very unfamiliar with the style. The class was a pleasant surprise - there was no ego in the class - not with the teacher or the students. We were all very different with various abilities and limitations - but rather than dwelling on it, we were encouraged to embrace ourselves exactly as we were. The emphasis was on acceptance - not some lofty physical goal. "Kripalu Yoga" by Richard Faulds captures the spirit of Kripalu yoga in a beautiful manner. Kripalu means 'compassionate' and this is an apt description of this style of yoga. Named after Swami Kripalu, a guru whose teachings were brought to America in the 60's by disciple Yogi Amrit Desai, this gentle yoga form encourages breathwork, inward focus and meditation in motion. Faulds gives clear instructions to help the reader begin to apply these principles to their own yoga practice. Breathing exercises are featured and here you'll find the ujjayi breathing (ocean breathing or "victorious breath") clearly explained. For some, this is a difficult breath to master - but the techniques in this book help anyone comprehend how to tap into it. There are many pictures of poses along with good instructions. Routines are included as well. I also enjoyed reading the stories of other Kripalu student's experiences. It certainly will convince you of the benefits of yoga! Also featured in this book is information on chakras, fasting, yoga philosophy and spirituality, and meditation. While this may sound like a lot to process, Faulds explains everything an easy going and gentle manner. There is nothing here that feels intimidating at all. No matter what shape you are in, no matter what background you come from, no matter what spiritual belief system you are tuned in with, Kripalu is the most accessible form of yoga. I would especially recommend this book for people who are new to yoga and a bit put off by the acrobats that are now dominating the current yoga scene.

With no prior yoga experience, I spent a week at a retreat at Kripalu—then came home and bought this book. It radically expanded my understanding of yoga, which I had mistakenly viewed as a practice undertaken solely for physical well-being. Instead, it invited me to explore a more nuanced relationship between body, mind, and self—what some might call the soul, spirit, ki, chi, or simply awareness—and the ways in which they intertwine. Many sections of the book were philosophically engaging and intellectually invigorating, while the more technical discussions of poses interested me less (I found a local class to satisfy that curiosity). What captivated me most were the insights that illuminated phenomena I had experienced in meditation but had never fully understood—an unexpected delight. Ultimately, this book opened a door to new ways of thinking, offering intriguing concepts to explore and paths I look forward to following.

My yoga teacher is a Kripalu yogi. This break is like the text book to go along with her class. You can read it from beginning to end. Or use it as a reference for specific asanas that you want to study. The pictures are good, and the instructions are excellent. Definitely recommended.

Over 25 years of doing yoga I have read many books. I hesitated to buy yet another book on yoga. So very glad I did. This book is one I will keep and refer back to. There is a great balance of on the mat information as well as off the mat yoga guidance. A gem with many, many pearls of wisdom for beginners to seasoned yoga practitioners. Well written, easy to understand, wonderful perspectives on yoga from the senior teachers at Kripalu. I will use this book with my yoga clients as well as my natural health education coaching clients that I am recommending a yoga practice to.

This was required reading for my yoga teacher training and I loved it. I learned SO much. I recommend it to anyone who wants to dive deeper into their practice.

easy read and nice format

My book came quickly and was in good condition.

Enjoying the yoga deeper with more insight from the book