A National Spotlight on the Power of Silence

We were honored when our flagship Kripalu Silent Retreat program was covered in a recent feature story in The Washington Post. National columnist Dana Milbank made the decision to come to Kripalu after repeated recommendations—a testament to the depth of our word-of-mouth advocacy.

In his piece, “I went into phone-free silence. Something disturbing happened,” Dana recounted his personal experience with the retreat and the surprises and ultimate clarity it brought.

“The silent unplugging made me appreciate, in ways I hadn’t fully understood, how much my phone has hijacked my attention. In the notification-free quiet, I wondered: Have I forgotten how to just be?”

His honest reflection resonated widely, garnering more than 500 comments, with many citing the need to unplug from devices and steps they could take in their daily lives as a result of the article. The response underscores a growing societal need: experiences where individuals can disconnect from constant stimulation and reconnect with themselves.

At the heart of this transformative program is Kripalu Lead Faculty Jess Frey. In the article, Jess described the essential inquiry at the core of the program:

“Silence naturally slows us down and gives us a moment to land back inside ourselves, to reinhabit this body that we live in.”

This is just one example of Sacred Education in action. Our faculty are not only instructors; they are architects of transformative experiences that address some of the most urgent challenges of our time: distraction, burnout, isolation, and disconnection.

Your support helps sustain this vital leadership and the care with which these experiences are created. Through the strength of our faculty, thousands of individuals each year are able to step away from the noise of daily life and return home with practices that radiate outward into their families, workplaces, and communities.

Kripalu is a nonprofit organization, and every gift helps sustain our mission of transformation through yoga, mindfulness, and compassionate living. Through the end of June, an anonymous donor will match every gift dollar for dollar, up to $25,000. That means your support will go twice as far in helping more people experience the benefits of Kripalu. Read the full Spring 2026 Impact Report and donate today.