The Silence of Asana: An Iyengar Yoga Intensive

The Silence of Asana is a week-long Iyengar yoga intensive at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, led by Kofi Busia. It is a residential retreat for students who already have a foundation in Iyengar yoga and want to go further into stillness, patience and attention in their asana practice.

Through postures, breathwork and group discussion, the week asks what it means to inhabit your body, and how the silence found in practice can shape the way you live day to day.

What to Expect

The program runs six days, from an opening evening through a closing-day lunch. Opening day begins with check-in in the afternoon, followed by a Kripalu Yoga class, dinner, and the first program session in the evening.

The days that follow share a steady rhythm. Morning starts with a Kripalu Yoga class, then a silent breakfast. A program session fills the late morning, and after lunch there is a second session in the afternoon. A Kripalu Yoga class comes before dinner. Across the week there are more than ten yoga classes, alongside the program sessions.

Kofi's master classes combine the deeper teachings of yoga with a strong Iyengar practice. Themes include patience, time and silence, a reassessment of core values and relationships, and a new conversation with the body you live in. The closing morning has one last program session before lunch and departure.

About Kofi Busia

Kofi Busia is a renowned teacher of Iyengar yoga who leads this intensive. His master classes are known for bringing the contemplative side of yoga into close, hands-on work with the poses. One past participant described him as a wonderful and insightful teacher with an amazing way of seeing people's strengths and weaknesses and adjusting yoga poses.

The Setting

Kripalu sits in Stockbridge, in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, and is a residential center where guests live, eat and practice together. Registration includes access to the grounds, three meals a day, and daily yoga and movement classes. Breakfast is taken in silence, which carries the quiet of the practice into the morning.

Accommodations are intentionally simple. You can choose a private single room if you want solitude, or a community-style dorm if you prefer the company of other participants. Rooms are ready by 4:00 pm on arrival, and a luggage room is available if you arrive earlier. On the last day, room check-out is at 10:00 am, and you may remain on campus and take part in workshops until 2:00 pm.

Before You Go

This program is for people with at least six months of Iyengar yoga experience, so that everyone arrives with a working knowledge of alignment and breath. It is taught in English.

Your stay includes the program sessions and group discussions, more than ten yoga classes, three meals a day, access to the grounds and your accommodation. Healing Arts sessions and purchases from the Kripalu Shop and Cafe are extra. Times may shift, so check the schedule you receive at check-in for details and room locations.