Micah Mortali

Listen to this astounding conversation between Micah Mortali and Colonel Mark T. Vande Hei from December 13, 2022.

When the world feels too big, problems too overwhelming, complexities too tangled, chaos too pervasive, small spaces bring comfort.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

In this video, Micah Mortali, Director of the Kripalu Schools, invites you to embrace the practice of listening.

Americans spend 90 percent of their time indoors (much of that online). Nature deprivation has become endemic to our culture.

Candle focus is special because fire has a unique effect on the mind.

At different times of life, a different practice is required, writes longtime Kripalu Yoga teacher and practitioner Micah Mortali.

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.

Micah Mortali, Director of Outdoor Education and Programming at Kripalu, reflects on the lessons of this epic tale.

Micah Mortali, Founder of the Kripalu School of Mindful Outdoor Leadership, tells his story of discovering yoga at the darkest time of his life.

Micah Mortali, Director of the Kripalu Schools, offers simple practices for making positive connections and staying grounded during the holidays.

Yoda’s lessons are filled with words of wisdom on selflessness, practicing nonattachment, and allowing the waves of emotions to roll through.

Pratyahara, or turning inward, is one of the eight limbs of classical yoga. But it's not a natural partner to parenting.

The Founder of the Kripalu School of Mindful Outdoor Leadership shares his early experiences of nature connection and and explains the concept of rewilding.

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.

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.

Kripalu Yoga teacher Micah Mortali reflects on how the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita applies to tragedy.

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.

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.

Adapting to the coldest time of the year with a mindful approach.

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.

These meditations can help you drop into the present moment, contemplate your interconnectedness with the earth and all living beings, and honor the planet.

The Deans of our four Schools share their morning routines and offer inspiration for building new habits to start your day.

When we’re able to drop into nature’s silence, we can hear and know ourselves more clearly.

Five longtime Kripalu teachers share stories about what karma yoga—the practice of selfless service—means to them.

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?

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.

Writer and Kripalu faculty member Lara Tupper speaks with Kripalu teachers and friends about their unique approaches to practicing yoga at home.

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.

An interview with Micah Mortali, Dean of the Kripalu School of Mindful Outdoor Leadership.

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.

Ready to get back to yoga school—or enroll for the first time? Here's all the news from the Kripalu Schools.

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.”

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.

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.

We can disrupt the fight-or-flight response and shift to the relaxation response through pranayama, the yogic art of breath control.

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.

The fall equinox is a moment of perfect balance. We’re poised between seasons, with summer just behind us and winter yet to come.

Micah Mortali, Director of the Kripalu Schools, talks about the journey that led him to becoming a Kripalu Yoga teacher.

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.

The Director of the Kripalu Schools and Founder of the Kripalu School of Mindful Outdoor Leadership shares some of his favorite hikes.

Micah Mortali, Founder of the Kripalu School of Mindful Outdoor Leadership, explains how the new school addresses today’s environmental challenges.

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?

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.”

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.

Micah Mortali, Director of the Kripalu Schools, describes the inspiration for Kripalu's 1000-Hour Yoga Teacher Training, and what it offers teachers.

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.

Is Kripalu really kid-friendly? And what can you do with kids in the Berkshires? The answers are "yes" and "a whole lot"!

We are asked our faculty about their favorite ways to get outside, and the most powerful benefits they experience in nature.

Need a great beach read? Here’s what our Schools faculty and staff are kicking back with this summer!