Micah Mortali
Lead Kripalu Faculty
Micah Mortali, MA, is a visionary leader and expert in mindfulness, rewilding, and nature connection. He is the Founding Director of the Kripalu School of Mindful Outdoor Leadership, a pioneering training program that certifies mindful outdoor guides to lead experiences that promote deep connection, awe, and healing in the natural world. Micah's passion and dedication to his mission have inspired countless individuals to realize their full potential and experience the transformative power of nature. He is the author of the book Rewilding: Meditations, Practices, and Skills for Awakening in Nature, which found its way onto the International Space Station in 2022 and profoundly impacted US astronaut Colonel Mark T. Vande Hei's record-breaking mission.
Micah holds a Master's degree in Health Arts and Sciences from Goddard College and is deeply committed to the belief that humans are a self-aware expression of the living earth. He recognizes that our future depends on recognizing this truth and rekindling our communication with the systems that sustain life on this planet. Micah lives in the Berkshires with his wife and children, where he embraces the great outdoors and spends time listening to the Earth, sitting by a fire, or enjoying the sounds of a brook.
Learn more about this presenter’s work:
- Rewilding: Meditations, Practices, and Skills for Awakening in Nature
- Sounds True Podcast about Rewilding (free download)
- Simple and Easy Ways to 'Rewild' Your Life by Going Outside
Upcoming Programs
- October 6–December 17, 2023
- December 20–22, 2023
Overview Effect, Rewilding & Meditation on the International Space Station
Resources
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Overview Effect, Rewilding & Meditation on the International Space Station
Listen to this astounding conversation between Micah Mortali and Colonel Mark T. Vande Hei from December 13, 2022.
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The Little Reset: The Necessity of the Small in Challenging Times
When the world feels too big, problems too overwhelming, complexities too tangled, chaos too pervasive, small spaces bring comfort.
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Plug Into the 'Wood Wide Web' at Kripalu
Explore how the Kripalu School of Mindful Outdoor Leadership is a training program where people who value the practice of mindfulness and being in nature can combine their passions while helping others connect with the “more than human world.”
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Walking Meditation to Connect with Your Environment
Join Kripalu Faculty member Micah Mortali for a Take a mindful walk through the woods, in your backyard, or through your neighborhood with Micah Mortali's guided meditation.
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Six Practices to Honor the Winter Solstice
The solstice is an ideal time to gift yourself with an embodied experience of the peace and stillness that can be found in nature during this season.
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Overcoming ‘Place Blindness’: How to Connect with the Land You Live On
The more time we spend learning about the flora, fauna, history, and ecology of the land, the more bonded we feel to the places we call home, says Micah Mortali, Director of Outdoor Education at Kripalu.
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Nature Distancing Not Suggested
We have been “nature distancing” for decades, resulting in a host of health issues. This time of isolation and increased screen use, difficult as it is, holds an opportunity to reconnect with the natural world.
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How Meditating with Nature Can Ground and Connect Us
In uncertain times, the cycles of nature—her ups and downs, her constant change within familiar timetables—can offer reassurance and a sense of perspective.
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A Mindful Spring Practice of Planting Seeds
There are many ways that we can bring the natural world into our indoor spaces, and it's so important to maintain that connection as we enter this most unusual spring.
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Attuning to Winter Through the Sense of Smell
All year round, but especially during the winter, we can often easily find natural areas where the wonderful smell of pine fills the atmosphere, freshening the senses and stimulating the mind.
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The Yoga of Star Wars
In yoga, the life force is referred to as prana, and its definition is identical to that of the Force. In the words of Obi-Wan Kenobi, the Force is "an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us, it penetrates us; it binds the galaxy together."
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From Indoor Forest Bathing to the Woodwide Web: Tapping into the Natural Pace and Peace of the Season
When the dark and cold surround us, and the days draw short, we are given the gift of longer nights of sleep and opportunities to do less and connect more with ourselves and those we love.
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4 Tips for Transforming Your Kripalu Trip into a Mindful Outdoor Experience
Heading to Kripalu? Here's how to make your trip not only a fun getaway, but also an opportunity to connect with nature and with yourself.
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Small Victories in Parenting
I had had a long day at work and I probably had too much coffee and drank too little water. That plus hours on e-mail and multiple meetings back to back left me feeling frazzled, ungrounded, and dizzy.
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The Practice of Listening
In this video, Micah Mortali, Director of the Kripalu Schools, invites you to embrace the practice of listening.
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Five Symptoms of Nature Deficit Disorder, and How Mindfulness Can Help
Americans spend 90 percent of their time indoors (much of that online). Nature deprivation has become endemic to our culture.
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Quest for Fire: The Power of a Single Flame
Candle focus is special because fire has a unique effect on the mind.
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Yoga Practice for the Busy Householder
At different times of life, a different practice is required, writes longtime Kripalu Yoga teacher and practitioner Micah Mortali.
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This Year, Make Black Friday ‘Nature Friday’
A day of gratitude, in which we are called to reflect on nature’s abundance and our blessings, is followed by a day of shopping, fueled by anxiety and massive spending. Something needs to shift.
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The Wisdom of 'Star Wars' for the Age of Technology
Micah Mortali, Director of Outdoor Education and Programming at Kripalu, reflects on the lessons of this epic tale.
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Finding Sanctuary in Kripalu Yoga
Micah Mortali, Founder of the Kripalu School of Mindful Outdoor Leadership, tells his story of discovering yoga at the darkest time of his life.
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Communicating with Compassion
Micah Mortali, Director of the Kripalu Schools, offers simple practices for making positive connections and staying grounded during the holidays.
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A Long Time Ago, in a Galaxy Not So Far Away
Yoda’s lessons are filled with words of wisdom on selflessness, practicing nonattachment, and allowing the waves of emotions to roll through.
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My Son, the Pratyahara Detector
Pratyahara, or turning inward, is one of the eight limbs of classical yoga. But it's not a natural partner to parenting.
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Rewilding: An Excerpt from Micah Mortali’s New Book
The Founder of the Kripalu School of Mindful Outdoor Leadership shares his early experiences of nature connection and and explains the concept of rewilding.
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Practicing Presence, on Father’s Day and Every Day
As a dad, being present means doing your very best to show up, says Micah Mortali. It means putting the phone away and giving your kids your undivided attention, even when it’s hard.
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Sleep Tight with Ayurveda: How to Create a Balanced Bedtime Routine for the Kids
When Kripalu faculty member Micah Mortali tell other parents that his kids are usually asleep by 6:00 or 6:30 pm, they usually scoff or choke on their coffee.
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Selfless Service—A Reflection on Boston
Kripalu Yoga teacher Micah Mortali reflects on how the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita applies to tragedy.
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Appreciating Trees with All Five Senses
Without trees, life as we know it would cease to exist. A part of every breath that we take is the gift of a tree.
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Going Inward in the Season of Darkness
The winter solstice serves as a marker for human beings, a day when we celebrate the turn back toward the light as the days begin to grow longer.
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Embracing Winter, Kripalu Style
Adapting to the coldest time of the year with a mindful approach.
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5 Ways to Embrace Winter, Kripalu-Style
Create new, healthy routines, learn how to take cold-weather comfort food to the next level, and adventure into the snow-covered woods this winter at Kripalu.
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Six Nature Meditations for Earth Day (and Every Day)
These meditations can help you drop into the present moment, contemplate your interconnectedness with the earth and all living beings, and honor the planet.
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Morning Practices from the Kripalu Schools
The Deans of our four Schools share their morning routines and offer inspiration for building new habits to start your day.
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The Benefits of Being Quiet in Nature
When we’re able to drop into nature’s silence, we can hear and know ourselves more clearly.
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What Is Karma Yoga?
Five longtime Kripalu teachers share stories about what karma yoga—the practice of selfless service—means to them.
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Crystal Clear: Can Stones Really Heal Us?
Yogis and meditators have integrated the use of crystals into their practice, but do crystals really have powers other than the ones we assign to them?
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How to Love Winter
If you’d like to do more than simply endure another winter, here are some ways to thrive during the frostiest time of the year.
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There’s No Place Like Home: How to Cultivate a Home Yoga Practice
Writer and Kripalu faculty member Lara Tupper speaks with Kripalu teachers and friends about their unique approaches to practicing yoga at home.
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The Yoga of Listening: Lend an Ear, Open Your Heart
The Yoga of Listening offers a powerful antidote to the oftentimes relentless cacophony of modern-day life. Listening deeply can foster greater connection and understanding in all our relationships, both personal or professional.
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Yoga, Seva, and Naps: A Q&A with the Founder of the Kripalu School of Mindful Outdoor Leadership
An interview with Micah Mortali, Dean of the Kripalu School of Mindful Outdoor Leadership.
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Seven Tips from Our Teachers for Simplifying Your Life
Here are a few practices from our faculty and presenters that can simplify your life by bringing you into the moment and clarifying what matters.
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What’s New in the Kripalu Schools
Ready to get back to yoga school—or enroll for the first time? Here's all the news from the Kripalu Schools.
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The Eight-Limbed Path of Yoga
Each of the eight limbs addresses a different aspect of our multifaceted being, and together they act as a road map to what we call “yoga off the mat.”
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5 Yoga and Ayurveda Tips for Happy, Healthy Travel
Get ready for the road with yoga and Ayurveda tools that can counteract some of the common physical and emotional issues that often come with travel.
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Celebrating the Summer Solstice: Six Practices for the Longest Day of the Year
While it seems like summer has just begun, this Sunday marks the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere—when the sun reaches its highest altitude and there are more hours of light than on any other day of the year.
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How to Do Three-Part Breath (Dirgha Pranayama)
We can disrupt the fight-or-flight response and shift to the relaxation response through pranayama, the yogic art of breath control.
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The Powerful Energy of the Super Blood Wolf Moon
Every full moon has a special magic, but this month's Wolf Moon, which reaches its peak Sunday night into Monday, offers a rare spectacle.
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Five Questions to Ask Yourself on the Fall Equinox
The fall equinox is a moment of perfect balance. We’re poised between seasons, with summer just behind us and winter yet to come.
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Kripalu Perspectives: Becoming a Yoga Teacher, with Micah Mortali
Micah Mortali, Director of the Kripalu Schools, talks about the journey that led him to becoming a Kripalu Yoga teacher.
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Volunteering for a Longer Life
According to a study on health and longevity, we need to spend time not only focusing on taking better care of ourselves, but on taking care of others.
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Top Five Berkshire Nature Walks
The Director of the Kripalu Schools and Founder of the Kripalu School of Mindful Outdoor Leadership shares some of his favorite hikes.
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Yoga and the More-than-Human World: A Q&A with Micah Mortali
Micah Mortali, Founder of the Kripalu School of Mindful Outdoor Leadership, explains how the new school addresses today’s environmental challenges.
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How Being in Nature Helps Kids Thrive
Did you know that time spent in green spaces can boost your child’s test scores, lower the symptoms of ADHD, improve their health, and spark creativity?
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The Path of the Wounded Healer
The practice of yoga can be so profound and transformative that we become inspired to help others navigate their own healing journeys. This is the path of the “wounded healer.”
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Yoga Outside the Comfort Zone: Confronting Your Edge with Courage
We asked a few Kripalu faculty members which yoga poses test their edge and how they cultivate equanimity in the face of discomfort, without pushing themselves too far.
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The Future of Yoga Education: A Q&A with Micah Mortali
Micah Mortali, Director of the Kripalu Schools, describes the inspiration for Kripalu's 1000-Hour Yoga Teacher Training, and what it offers teachers.
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Yoga’s Ethical Guide to Living: The Yamas and Niyamas
The yamas and niyamas are like a map written to guide you on your life’s journey. Together, they form a moral code of conduct.
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Five Ways to Spend Family Time at Kripalu and in the Berkshires
Is Kripalu really kid-friendly? And what can you do with kids in the Berkshires? The answers are "yes" and "a whole lot"!
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Why I Love Being in Nature
We are asked our faculty about their favorite ways to get outside, and the most powerful benefits they experience in nature.
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Great Summer Reads from Kripalu Schools Faculty and Staff
Need a great beach read? Here’s what our Schools faculty and staff are kicking back with this summer!
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