The Practice of Belonging: Why Kripalu Memberships

In this reflection, Eset Rose, Kripalu’s Chief Programming & Innovation Officer, shares the vision behind Kripalu Memberships and how they serve as a pathway to belonging, continuity, and heartfelt connection in changing times.

When we created the Kripalu Membership, it wasn’t just to offer benefits—it was to answer a deeper call.

For decades, people have returned to Kripalu again and again, often describing it as their spiritual home. I know that feeling intimately. Since 2003, Kripalu has been the place I came to make sense of life, to put myself back together, and to reconnect with what is true—so I could return to the world and serve from a place of clarity and wholeness.

But for many, those visits felt too few and far between. The magic faded when daily life took over. Others came as solo guests and longed for a more consistent sense of community, something to return to in between the big moments of awakening. I felt that too. And that longing is what seeded the idea of Kripalu Membership.

At its heart, this is about belonging.

Belonging to a path.
Belonging to a place.
Belonging to the ongoing unfolding of your own soul.

Membership gives that belonging form. It offers rhythm, consistency, and community—something to anchor into across the seasons of your life.

And right now, we need that more than ever.

We’re living in a time of global loneliness, digital saturation, and deep disconnection. And yet, we are wired to flourish in relationship. We are made for love, for shared practice, for spaces that allow us to exhale and remember our wholeness.

Kripalu was born out of community. As an ashram, it was a living container of spiritual practice—a sangha. In many ways, this membership is a continuation of that tradition, made viable for modern life. Through Memberships, Kripalu becomes part of your life—a presence you can return to across seasons, transitions, and the unfolding path of becoming.

We’ve designed three pathways to meet the diverse ways people relate to this place:

Kripalu Friends are those who come multiple times a year. The more you return, the more it gives back. And you can share the experience—one of my favorite benefits is that you can bring a friend to stay for free. For years I dreamed of bringing the people I love most to Kripalu, and now this membership makes that possible.
Kripalu Neighbors are our locals and those who consider the Berkshires a second home. It’s a beautiful way to make Kripalu a part of your weekly rhythm—whether you're attending morning yoga, walking the trails, or relaxing in the sauna. The 2026 add-ons like meal passes and access to workshops make this offering incredibly meaningful.
Kripalu Online is our digital sanctuary. With thousands of classes and curated content, it lets you stay connected from anywhere, weaving Kripalu into the fabric of your daily life—even when travel isn’t possible.

The deeper intention behind all of this is to create more accessible, regenerative ways of growing together. We know the power of inner transformation, but we also know it’s not meant to be done alone.

Healing deepens when we’re supported, seen, and accompanied along the way.

My hope is that this offering continues to evolve, not just as an offering with great benefits but as a living, breathing community. That we continue to create member gatherings, shared seasonal experiences, and spaces where we can deepen into the kind of transformation that doesn’t just change our lives—but ripples outward into our relationships, our communities, and the culture at large.

So whether you live nearby, visit seasonally, or connect from afar—there is a place for you in this community. A rhythm that supports your own becoming. And a path that leads, again and again, toward wholeness.

You’re invited. Come be part of something that grows with you.