The 8 Elements are the structural framework of a Kripalu Yoga class. Together they form a template that moves practitioners from external awareness inward through breath, movement, and stillness, and then back outward before the class ends. The arc is deliberate. The elements can expand or shrink to fit different class lengths, and the sequence is flexible, too.
Three pillars underpin the framework: safety, embodied learning, and integration. The elements serve those pillars in order, roughly speaking. Early elements establish safety. Middle elements support embodied learning. Later elements bring integration.
The Eight Elements
1. Welcome, Intro, and Context
The class opens with a welcome and a brief introduction. This is where the teacher sets the tone, names any theme for the day, and establishes that the space is safe and open to anyone. This element lays the foundation for the three pillars.
2. Opening Centering
A shift from the outside world to what is happening in the body. Students bring their attention inward through breath, sensation, and awareness. This element bridges safety and embodied learning by establishing a present, mindful state.
3. Pranayama
Breath practices warm the body and connect students to their breath before the physical practice begins. Common practices include dirgha (a three-part breath through belly, ribs, and chest) and ujjayi (a slight contraction at the back of the throat that gives the breath an audible quality). Pranayama can also return later in the class as a transition into relaxation or meditation.
4. Warm-ups
A gradual progression of movements that prepares the body for the more intensive or static postures that follow. The pace is unhurried. Warm-ups protect the body and let students settle further into the practice.
5. Asana
The physical heart of the class. Postures build gradually to a peak and then cool back down. Longer holds invite the practice of Riding the Wave, which is staying with strong sensation rather than moving away from it. The arc within a hold or a sequence can also be understood through the Focus, Flow, and Let Go framework.
6. Relaxation
The bridge between embodied learning and integration. Typically, this means savasana, lying on the back. Relaxation lets students integrate the physical and mental experiences of the practice and prepares them for meditation and the closing.
7. Meditation
A period of internal reflection that supports integration. This can take many forms: a breath-based meditation, a body scan, an awareness practice, or a longer sit that moves through Focus, Flow, and Let Go. BRFWA is also a common way to support this element.
8. Closing Centering
A brief return outward. This element completes the arc, emphasizes integration, and offers a smooth transition back to the external world.
Structure and Freedom
The framework is flexible. Elements can appear more than once (pranayama and warm-ups often do), and the length of each element depends on the class. The template gives teachers a shared structure while leaving room to bring their own voice and choices to each element.