THE KRIPALU TRADITION
“The highest spiritual practice is self-observation without judgment. When performing actions, allow a part of the mind to observe yourself objectively. At first you see only your faults and lower qualities, which is why you must always do your self-observation with love.” ~ Sayings of Swami Kripalu: Inspiring Quotes from a Contemporary Yoga Master, ed. Richard Faulds
Founded by Kripalu Yoga Teacher Jody Myers in 2000, AYTT is grounded in the methods and teachings of the Kripalu Yoga tradition, as influenced by Swami Kripalvandiji (Kripalu).
Born in India, Swami Kripalu lived from 1913 – 1983, spending the last four years of his life at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in the United States. Swami Kripalu was an inspirational model of Yoga from an ancient lineage of Yoga teachers which continues today through the Kripalu Yoga Tradition. He was buried in India, and honoured by the Indian people as a living Saint and master Yogi of the highest calibre.
Kripalu Yoga emerged in North America in the 1970’s through the innovations of Yogi Amrit Desai, a primary student of Swami Kripalu, with the assistance of a group of highly skilled teachers. As a contemporary yoga tradition, Kripalu Yoga encompasses the full range and expression of Yoga as it has evolved over thousands of years.
Swami Kripalu infused traditional Yoga teachings with a deep personal compassion and love for people fostered by dedication to a life-long practice of Yoga. This emphasis on compassion carries on in Yoga in the Kripalu tradition, emulating the very essence of “Kripalu,” which means “being compassionate.”
Health and wellbeing, as well as character development, were important aspects of Yoga for Swami Kripalu, and he encouraged participation and self expression through the arts and sport, as well as through the Bhakti Yoga art forms of chanting, dance, theatre, storytelling and ritual.
AYTT embraces the teachings of Swami Kripalu by engaging the whole person through all of Yoga’s many expressions.
"The training was done in such a way to teach not only asana, pranayama, and methodology, but to ensure we were experiencing a true Kripalu yoga transformation. The comfort level achieved was amazing, knowing people felt free to be themselves.” ~ Rhonda Barrett, Graduate
“My beloved child, break your heart no longer. Every time you judge yourself you break your own heart. You stop feeding on the love which is the wellspring of your vitality. The time has come. Your time to live, to celebrate, and to see the goodness that you are. You, my child, are divine. You are pure. You are sublimely free. You are God in disguise, and you are always perfectly safe. Do not fight the dark, just turn on the light, and breathe into the goodness that you are.”~ Swami Kripaluanandaji (Bapuji)