What is Kripalu Yoga? (And Why It’s Not Just Another Workout)

Katherine McLain
2 days ago
2 min read

If you walk into a typical yoga studio today, you might expect a "follow the leader" experience: loud music, fast-paced flows, and a teacher telling you exactly where to put your feet.

Kripalu Yoga is different. Often called the "Yoga of Compassion," Kripalu isn't about how deep you can bend or how long you can hold a handstand. It is an inquiry-based practice designed to help you reconnect with the wisdom of your own body.

If you are new to yoga—or if you’ve tried yoga before and felt like you didn't "fit the mold"—here is what makes the Kripalu tradition a "Soul Spring" for your nervous system.

1. It’s About the "Felt Sense," Not the Photo

In many styles, the goal is to make your body look like a specific "shape" on a poster. In Kripalu, the shape of the pose is just a laboratory.

Instead of focusing on "perfect alignment," we focus on Spanda—the internal pulse of your breath and the subtle sensations in your muscles. We ask: What are you feeling right now? > The Kripalu Secret: Your body is the ultimate authority. The teacher provides the "map," but you are the one driving the car.

2. The Three Stages of Kripalu

Kripalu meets you exactly where you are and evolves as you do. We typically move through three stages of practice:

Stage 1: Willful Practice. Learning the basics, finding your breath, and building a safe foundation in your physical body.
Stage 2: Will and Surrender. This is the "sweet spot." You hold a pose long enough to feel the intensity, then you learn to stay calm and curious in the midst of that sensation.
Stage 3: Meditation in Motion. The body begins to move spontaneously, guided by your own internal energy (Prana) rather than a set sequence.

3. "Breathe, Relax, Feel, Watch, Allow" (BRFWA)

If there is a Kripalu "mantra," this is it. It’s a 5-step tool we use on the mat that works wonders in "real life," too:

Breathe: Deeply and consciously.
Relax: Drop unnecessary tension in the jaw, shoulders, and mind.
Feel: Notice the heat, the tingle, or the quiet.
Watch: Observe your thoughts without judging them.
Allow: Let the experience be exactly what it is.

4. Compassionate Self-Observation

Most of us are our own harshest critics. Kripalu teaches us to replace that "Inner Critic" with Witness Consciousness.

On a Kripalu mat, if you fall out of a balance pose, we don't call it a failure. We call it Leela—divine play. We observe the wobble with a sense of humor and kindness. This "compassionate self-observation" eventually follows you off the mat and into your relationships, your work, and your self-image.

Is Kripalu Yoga Right for You?

Kripalu is a "Somatic" practice, meaning it focuses on the internal experience of the body. It is perfect for:

Beginners who want a safe, non-competitive environment.
Experienced Yogis looking to move past the physical "gym" aspect of yoga.
Anyone experiencing stress or burnout who needs to soothe their nervous system.

At Soul Spring Yoga & Somatics, we blend this ancient Kripalu lineage with modern functional anatomy and Hakomi principles to create a practice that feels like coming home to yourself.