Doorways of the Heart: A Tibetan Yoga New Year Retreat

Doorways of the Heart is a four-day Tibetan yoga retreat at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, held over the New Year. It is built for anyone moving through grief, loss or transition who wants a steady, embodied way to meet it. The retreat draws on the Bardo Thodol, often translated as the Tibetan Book of the Dead, and is led by Dr. James Bae, author and doctor of Chinese Medicine.

What to Expect

The retreat treats the in-between moments of life as doorways. They are hard, and they also hold the possibility of spiritual awakening and emotional release. Dr. Bae offers the Six Bardos as a step-by-step roadmap for working with change and transforming grief.

You will learn and practice Tibetan Buddhist yoga and traditional meditation methods linked to these wisdom teachings, grounded in body, breath and mind. Alongside the practice, the group gathers to honor who or what has passed, to celebrate what is here, and to heal in a supportive community.

The days follow a clear rhythm. The 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 7:30 to 9:00 in the evening. On the full program days, an optional session runs from 7:00 to 8:00 am, followed by silent breakfast. Main sessions run from 9:00 to 11:30 am and again from 1:30 to 4:00 pm, with lunch between them and a Kripalu Yoga class before dinner. On the closing day there is an optional early session, silent breakfast, and a final session from 9:00 to 11:00 am, then lunch and departure.

The last day coincides with Contemplative Week at Kripalu, when the dining rooms are silent during meals. That gives you a quiet setting in which to absorb what the retreat has opened.

About Dr. James Bae

Dr. James Bae, DACM, is a yoga teacher, author and doctor of Chinese Medicine. He brings his training in Chinese Medicine together with the Tibetan Buddhist teachings of the Bardo Thodol, offering practices that are embodied and practical as well as reflective.

The Setting

Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health sits in Stockbridge, in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts. Accommodations are intentionally simple, meant to help you unplug and feel grounded. You can choose a private room for solitude, a shared room with one other guest, or a community-style dorm for a more communal stay. Rooms are ready by 4:00 pm, and a luggage room is available if you arrive earlier. Three nutritious meals are served each day, and breakfast is silent.

Before You Go

All levels are welcome. Beginners and experienced practitioners alike can take part, and no prior knowledge of Tibetan Buddhism, yoga or meditation is needed. The retreat is taught in English.

Your stay includes more than ten yoga classes each day, three meals a day, access to the Kripalu grounds and facilities, and all program sessions with Dr. Bae. Healing Arts sessions and items from the Kripalu Shop and Cafe are available for an additional fee.

On departure day, room check-out is at 10:00 am. You may remain on campus and take part in workshops until 2:00 pm. Times can shift, so check the Guest Boards or the schedule you receive at check-in for details and room locations.