Winter Ayurveda Retreat: Harmony, Rejuvenation, and Rest

The Winter Ayurveda Retreat is a residential Ayurveda retreat at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, for anyone who wants rest and renewal through the cold, dry months. Led by Emilie Reid, it brings together Ayurvedic self-care, gentle yoga, meditation and seasonal cooking over five days. Newcomers to Ayurveda and those with some experience are equally welcome.

What to Expect

The retreat explores how to align with the rhythms of nature in winter. You will learn about your unique constitution and how to eat seasonally, cook meals that support digestion, and practice abhyanga, the Ayurvedic self-massage meant to nourish and invigorate the body. Balancing yoga practices gently awaken body and mind, and meditation offers a way into inner stillness. The emphasis throughout is on slowing down, warming your bones and resetting your nervous system, in the company of others.

The days follow a steady rhythm. Opening day begins with check-in at 2:00 pm, a Kripalu Yoga class from 4:45 to 6:00, dinner, and a first program session from 7:00 to 8:30 in the evening. On the full days in between, Kripalu Yoga starts at 6:30 am, followed by a silent breakfast at 7:30. Program sessions run from 9:00 to 11:30 in the morning and again from 1:30 to 4:00 in the afternoon, with lunch between them. Another yoga class at 4:45 and dinner at 5:30 close the day. On the final morning there is yoga, silent breakfast and a last program session from 9:30 to 11:30, then lunch and departure. Actual times may vary slightly, and the schedule provided at check-in gives room locations.

About Emilie Reid

Emilie Reid is a meditation teacher and a member of the Kripalu staff. She is an Instinctive Meditation guide who specializes in seasonal self-care solutions to manage stress, enhance mental clarity and boost energy naturally. For more than ten years she has helped women live a healthier and more fulfilling life by exercising, eating and living in sync with their natural rhythms.

The Setting

Kripalu sits in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, near Stockbridge, and the grounds are open to guests for walking and reflection in the winter landscape. Accommodations are intentionally simple, designed to help you unplug and feel grounded. Options include private rooms with a private bath, shared rooms with two to three beds and shared bath facilities, and community-style dormitories. 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, but you may stay on campus and take part in workshops until 2:00 pm.

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

Before You Go

Your stay includes accommodation, three meals a day, more than ten daily yoga and movement classes, guided meditation, Ayurveda instruction, cooking classes, and access to the grounds and facilities. Healing Arts treatments, which complement the program well, and items from the Kripalu Shop and Cafe are available for purchase. Oils and materials for abhyanga are not included, though instruction is.

Bring layers for outdoor sessions, and clothes that let you massage your arms and legs with oil. The retreat is taught in English and is open to all levels.