Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of Ayurvedic services does Kripalu offer?
Kripalu’s services will include more than a dozen Ayurvedic rejuvenation treatments that use traditionally prepared aromatic oils with herbs to aid in detoxification and relaxation as well as restoring the body’s balance. Kripalu Center will also offer a five-day program of cleansing and rejuvenation, Panchakarma, that features body type (dosha) analysis, pulse evaluation, lifestyle counseling, herbal recommendations, yoga exercises, diet assessment and meditation classes.

Why has Kripalu introduced Ayurvedic services?
For more than 30 years, Kripalu Center has served as the largest retreat center for yoga and holistic health in North America. Ayurveda and yoga grew from the same ancient Indian traditions and are intrinsically linked. Kripalu is dedicated to presenting ancient yogic principles in a contemporary, accessible, yet profound way and to providing participants with tools they can apply to their daily lives. Ayurveda is one more powerful tool that we are proud to be able to offer to our guests.

Does the addition of Ayurvedic services to Kripalu Center reflect a certain trend?
Yes. An unprecedented number of Americans are seeking alternative and complementary health and wellness options. 16.5 million Americans now practice yoga, while 10 million practice meditation. We believe that many people who have discovered yoga’s benefits are eager to take their exploration of holistic Eastern lifestyle, health and healing practices to a new level. Kripalu’s Ayurveda programs will offer this opportunity for exploration.

How long has Ayurveda been practiced in the U.S?
Ayurveda became popular in the United States in the 1980’s. Deepak Chopra’s books on healing helped bring Ayurveda into the limelight. Vasant Lad and Sunil Joshi are also credited for bringing this ancient science to America.

What is the benefit of experiencing Ayurvedic treatments within the context of the Kripalu environment?
Surrounded by more than 300 wooded acres in the beautiful Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts, the retreat center offers guests a respite from the stressors of daily life (TV, telephone, computers etc.). We offer lifestyle enhancement workshops, healthy gourmet meals, and a supportive, professional staff. Kripalu specializes in creating a safe and comfortable atmosphere where guests can experience deep transformation. Individuals can explore Ayurveda within this very nurturing setting.

Describe program director Hilary Garivaltis’ training and background.
Hilary Garivaltis, D.Ay, began her training at the New England Institute of Ayurvedic Medicine in Worcester, MA (now known as the International Ayurvedic Institute) which is recognized by the World Health Organization. She also studied at the Rishikesh College of Ayurveda in Rishikesh, India. After completing her studies in India, she was awarded the title of Ayurved Bhishak by the Indian Council for Ayurved Promotion. Garivaltis also holds diplomat status in Ayurveda through the American Ayurvedic Association. She focused her post graduate studies on the art of panchakarma with leading teachers in the field including Dr. Vasant Lad of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Bri Maya Tiwari of Candler, North Carolina, and Dr. John Douillard of Boulder, Colorado. Garivaltis has been in private practice since 1998.

What features are unique to Kripalu’s Ayurvedic programs and services? What makes them different from programs offered at the Himalayan Institute, The Chopra Center, Malibar or Ayoma?
Our food, lodging, treatments, consultations and classes are all-inclusive, making our programs more affordable and accessible. While our Ayurvedic programs and the way they are offered are most similar to the Himalayan Institute’s programs, we offer a far broader range of treatments and daily classes in yoga, meditation and personal growth. There will be similarities in all programs, but Kripalu’s specialty is creating safe and sacred space where guests can experience renewal. In January 2005, we launched the Kripalu School of Ayurveda, a 2-year program featuring some of the world’s most renowned teachers of Ayurveda.

Who performs the Ayurvedic treatments?
Members of Kripalu’s Healing Arts staff, many already trained in several healing modalities, completed 200 hours each of study and practice including lectures and practicum.

How do these Ayurvedic services complement existing services?
Kripalu’s Healing Arts currently offers almost forty health and healing services from facials to aromatherapy, footwork to deep massage. All of our treatments - including these new offerings - are designed to cultivate deep relaxation and integrate body, mind and spirit.

What is an Ayurvedic consultation?
Because Ayurveda is a very individual-specific approach to health, a one-on-one meeting with an Ayurvedic specialist is advised. The practitioner/consultant is a teacher and a coach whose job is to help guide the client toward a more balanced life by addressing diet, lifestyle and individually designed cleansing protocols. The expert gathers information about imbalances within the body by reading several pulses on the radial artery of the wrist. Other evaluation tools that are used during the consultation include lifestyle and body type analysis, observation and client history.

Are dietary changes recommended? Are they important?
Yes, diet and nutrition are an integral part of any restorative health program. In Ayurveda, each individual’s diet is analyzed and specific changes are recommended. Food is considered a healing tool as much as any other therapy that is prescribed and is often one of the most important ingredients to good health.

Does Ayurveda address the problem of stress?
Yes. Ayurvedic tradition recognizes that disease is a result of stress on the body and that when alleviated, the body can return to a state of harmony and health. Stress has received much attention lately as the modern medical community has published numerous studies on the affects of stress reduction on our overall health. The Ayurvedic approach to stress reduction is unique in that each program is designed specifically for the individual. Because people are diverse, Ayurveda identifies these differences and designs specific programs that will work with each person’s own particular strengths and weaknesses.

How are herbs used in Ayurveda?
During an Ayurvedic Consultation, a practitioner may recommend herbal formulas to bring the body back into balance. Herbs are used in Ayurveda to help awaken the body’s own healing response. The body’s bio-receptors are designed to recognize the vibration of other biological organisms such as plants. These receptors lock and recognize one another. Stimulation occurs, reminding the body to work towards maintaining harmony. Ayurvedic herbs and herbal formulas are a gentle and highly powerful therapeutic tool used with great reverence in this tradition.

Does Kripalu have an herb dispensary?
Herbal formulas are available in the Kripalu Shop.

Is detoxification prescribed as part of the Ayurvedic approach?
Yes. We all build up toxins in our bodies through unhealthy habits and exposure to pollutants. In Ayurveda, a cleanse or detoxification of the system is highly recommended during the changing phases of the seasons. Your Ayurvedic consultant can design a comprehensive program of cleansing techniques for you. These can vary from the simple addition of herbs, to dietary recommendations, to the full Panchakarma program of cleansing and rejuvenation.

What is the Panchakarma program?
Panchakarma, with roots in ancient Indian tradition, is a complete detoxification and rejuvenation program for the body, mind and spirit. Each participant in our new Panchakarma program will receive a phone consultation a few weeks before the program begins. A trained Ayurvedic consultant will prescribe a cleansing protocol to begin at home, which will be followed for one to two weeks. Once at Kripalu, each participant will be welcomed with a private consultation and an orientation to the five-day program. Guests receive two hours of Ayurvedic treatments per day along with a specific healing diet prepared exclusively for Panchakarma participants. The guests can attend gentle yoga, meditation and pranayama classes as well as Ayurvedic lectures to enhance their own personal knowledge. Each guest will receive a final consultation to evaluate changes and will be provided with a "take home" plan for continuing the healing process at home. Guests are encouraged to keep in touch with the Ayurvedic consultant for a few weeks for support during the transformational process.

What is special about the Ayurvedic treatments received during Panchakarma?
Some of the treatments that guests receive during the Panchakarma program are ’tandem’ treatments in which two Healing Arts professionals work on one guest at the same time. Because the body softens and releases more each day during Panchakarma, the treatments build throughout the week. Participants receive a gentle energy balancing on the final day, leaving them feeling calm and energized for the journey home.

How is yoga integrated into the Panchakarma experience?
Yoga and Ayurveda were born of the same ancient Indian tradition. They are linked by the underlying premise that the awakening of consciousness results in the awakening of healing. Kripalu teaches a variety of yoga postures (asanas) that address specific imbalances in the body and help to awaken this healing process.

Is meditation integrated into the Panchakarma experience?
Yes. Ayurveda recommends the practice of meditation because of its ability to bring balance back into one’s daily life. Studies across the board have proven that meditation can have powerful and beneficial affects, from alleviating the symptoms of disease to increasing stamina and clarity.

Key Terms in Ayurveda:

Ayurveda: Translated as "the science of life." An ancient system of health from India dating back 5,000 years.

Body Type Analysis: Body type analysis is simply a study of each person’s traits and characteristics including body shape, coloring, etc. It has been found through time that certain body types function more efficiently under certain parameters such as temperature, climate, activity level, diet, etc. Ayurveda uses this quantitative analysis to help design individual strategies for health.

Dosha: During the consultation process, guests learn about their predominant dosha - these are bodily humors or energies that are present in their body and psycho-emotional being. This helps in evaluating other traits such as appetite, stamina, temperament, even tolerance for climate. The three doshas - vata, pitta and kapha - reflect the principal forces of nature - Space, Air, Fire, Water and Earth - and how they are combined uniquely within each of us.

• Vata - Space and Air. This governs movement in the body.
• Pitta - Fire and Water. This influences the transformational processes in the body.
• Kapha -Water and Earth. This is responsible for structure and growth in the body.

Kitchari: Kitchari is a dish made from mung dahl (beans), basmati rice and specific herbs and vegetables. This dish is very gentle on the digestive system and highly nutritious. It is given traditionally during Panchakarma because it does not overtax the body and is easily digested while giving strength during the cleansing process. The body feels satiated during the detoxification process rather than deprived and exhausted like many other cleansing programs.

Panchakarma: A deep cleansing and rejuvenation immersion program, which includes Ayurvedic healing techniques applied by a trained practitioner. These techniques are designed to disarm the nervous system and convince it to let go of deep blocks which hold us back from experiencing our lives to their fullest. It is also used for those who are already weakened by stress and disease. Panchakarma offers deep nourishment on many levels.

Pulse Analysis: Pulse analysis is an ancient, Ayurvedic diagnostic tool used to identify imbalances in the body. It can provide insight into what the body’s energies are currently attempting to correct. Pulse analysis provides access to the body’s own intelligence.