Kripalu School of Mindful Outdoor Leadership

kripaluschools@kripalu.org

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Program Overview

"I consider myself pretty mindful and attuned to nature and the outdoors, but hiking or kayaking with a guide whose focus is on mindfulness totally opened my eyes to this practice."
—Past KSMOL Participant

The Kripalu School of Mindful Outdoor Leadership is an intensive nine-day immersion providing the experience and skills necessary to become a certified Kripalu Mindful Outdoor Guide. Our mindful outdoor experiences integrate elements of forest bathing, yoga philosophy and practice, Ayurveda, outdoor survival and connection skills, and an overview of relevant research on nature’s health benefits. The training is taught in two convenient modules and designed for those who are called to share nature’s gifts by integrating their love of the outdoors with mindfulness:

Each nine-day module is a hands-on adventure that provides you with the knowledge, skills, and support you need to safely and expertly guide others as they experience the healing power of the natural world. Students receive a badge and certificate for each level completed. Our community of mindful outdoor guides works in a variety of settings and with many different poulations, as mindful ambassadors between people and place.

Spending time in nature is a powerful antidote to the stress of modern living. A growing body of evidence has proven what many naturalists, outdoor enthusiasts, poets, and indigenous cultures have long known: the great outdoors is profoundly good for us on all levels.

Upcoming Trainings

KSA and KSMOL Alumni Weekend: Living into the Five Great Elements | On Campus | April 19-21, 2024 Register Now
Level 1: Forest Community | On Campus | May 3–12, 2024 Register Now
Council of Water and Trees | On Campus | June 6–9, 2024 Register Now
Level 1: Forest Community | On Campus | September 20–29, 2024 Register Now
Level 2: Aligning With Nature | On Campus | October 18–27, 2024 Learn More
Level 1: Forest Community | Online | November 1–December 15, 2024 Registration Coming Soon  
Rewilding Summit | On Campus | November 21–24, 2024 Register Now

 

Faculty

More than just knowledgeable guides, our faculty are a dedicated group of earth stewards and nature lovers deeply committed to sharing with you the wondrous gifts of the living Earth and the "more than human" world. They offer practical outdoor skills to make sure your experiences are safe and enjoyable, as well as insights on how to tune into the subtle signals from the natural world so that you can access your intuitive awareness.

Faculty Micah Mortali

Founding Director of the Kripalu School of Mindful Outdoor Leadership

Faculty Katie Hagel

Kripalu Faculty

Learn More About KSMOL

Go outside. Go within.

Admissions and Certification Requirements

The KSMOL program has an intensive schedule and curriculum that is physically, mentally, and emotionally rigorous. To be admitted, you must demonstrate readiness to fully participate in the demands of this program. In addition, an applicant must be able to support the group-learning process and may be denied admission if it is determined that their participation would in any way compromise a safe and cohesive learning environment. The KSMOL Admissions Committee may require your medical provider to furnish a note confirming that the training is suitable for your capabilities.

Applicants for the Kripalu School of Mindful Outdoor Leadership (KSMOL) must

  • Be at least 18 years of age
  • Display English-language competency
  • Have received a high school diploma or GED
  • Exhibit the ability to contribute to a safe and cohesive learning environment
  • Demonstrate physical, mental, and emotional preparedness to fully participate in all aspects of the program.

Additional Kripalu Mindful Outdoor Guide Training Requirements

  • Must be capable of being outdoors in a variety of weather conditions for up to 10 hours on any given day
  • Must be able to safely and skillfully navigate a variety of outdoor terrain and conditions, including uneven ground, mud, ice, streams, and inclines/declines
  • Must have a regular mindfulness practice—such as meditation and/or yoga—of at least two years

Certification Criteria

  • 100 percent attendance
  • Active class participation
  • Teaching competency and proficiency
  • Maintain safe space for teaching and practicing as a Mindful Outdoor Guide
  • At-home assignments completed on time
  • Professional behavior and ethical conduct

Scholarships

Kripalu Schools are committed to supporting individuals interested in enhancing their life and realizing their full potential through yoga, yoga therapy, Ayurveda, and mindful outdoor leadership regardless of background or financial status. Scholarships are made possible by the generous support of Kripalu’s patrons and donors; and financial assistance is offered when funding is available. Please note that scholarships are limited and awarded on a rolling basis. Thus, those who apply early are given the best chance of securing any available financial support.

Find Out More

Registration

Once you have been notified of acceptance into your program, contact Registrations at 413.448.3152 to confirm your space in the training and reserve your accommodations. In order to register for a Kripalu professional training, with the exception of select 1000-Hour Yoga Teacher Trainings, you must first receive an acceptance decision from the Kripalu School of Yoga. 

Payment, Cancellation, and Refund Policies

Payment Policy
100 percent of total program cost—tuition, housing (or commuter fee), and meals for on campus programs, and tuition for online programs—is due at time of registration to reserve program space. Payment plans are not available.

Tuition Cost
Please note that tuition does not include housing accommodations or meals for on-campus portions of the training. If you are registering for a program that includes on-campus components, you must also register for housing accommodations. Please visit Kripalu’s accommodations page for more information on housing options and costs.

Refunds for On Campus and Online Trainings*
Refunds (less a $50 processing fee) will be given according to the following schedule: for cancelations up to the start of the program, 100 percent of monies paid will be refunded. From program start and up to completion of 25 percent of the program, 75 percent of tuition will be credited to your Kripalu account. Up to completion of 50 percent of the program, 50 percent of program tuition will be credited. Up to completion of 75 percent of the program, 25 percent of the program tuition will be credited. A credit for any unused days related to on campus accommodations (or commuter fee) and meals will also be given. All credits on account will be valid for 1 year from date of issue. No other refunds or credits are available. Kripalu’s standard cancellation policy applies to all other charges such as Healing Arts booking. Please note: cancellation of program involvement also includes dismissal of a student by Kripalu administration due to violations of student agreements and/or guest center policy. For cancelations due to Covid-19, please click here.  

Notes on Terms
For programs offered with multiple on campus and/or online sessions with nonprogram days in between course days, credits on account are based on full program length—meaning total number of days in which the program holds sessions associated with the posted tuition. (E.g. a 200-Hour Yoga Teacher training offered in two 12-day on campus sessions will have one tuition that covers 24 days, and early departure after the first 12-day session would result in a 50% tuition credit plus an additional credit for any unused accommodations/commuter fee and meal charges for program days remaining.)   

For other certifications with multiple modules, program cost is determined based on one module at a time. Program start date refers to the start of each module.

Refunds for Kripalu Schools Scholarship Recipients 
Refunds will be given according to the following schedule: for cancellations up to the start of the program, 100 percent of monies paid will be refunded. From program start and up to completion of 25 percent of the program, 50 percent of the monies paid will be credited to your Kripalu account. Up to completion of 50 percent of the program, 25 percent of the monies paid will be credited. All credits on account will be valid for 1 year from date of issue. No other refunds or credits are available, including any additional consideration for accommodations/commuter fee or meals. Kripalu’s standard cancellation policy applies to all other charges such as Healing Arts booking. Please note: cancellation of program involvement also includes dismissal of a student by Kripalu administration due to violations of student agreements and/or guest center policy. 

Method of Payment 
Acceptable forms of payment are  

  • Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover
  • Personal checks (US dollars)
  • Money orders (US dollars)

*If you are an international student traveling to Kripalu for a training and you are unable to obtain a visa to allow you entrance into the United States, we will refund in full all monies paid toward tuition and housing, including the $50 processing fee. Application fees are non-refundable.