Micah Mortali
Founding Director of the Kripalu School of Mindful Outdoor Leadership
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.
Upcoming Programs
- September 19–28, 2025
Overview Effect, Rewilding & Meditation on the International Space Station
Resources
-
Embracing Winter, Kripalu Style Adapting to the coldest time of the year with a mindful approach.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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…
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
What Is Karma Yoga? Five longtime Kripalu teachers share stories about what karma yoga—the practice of selfless service—means to them.
-
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"!
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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…
-
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…
-
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.
-
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.
-
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!
-
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?
-
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?
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.”
-
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.
-
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 …
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
Ready for Your Own Transformation?
Join us for life-changing experiences.
On Campus and Online Programs