Last week, I returned to Kripalu, a place that feels like a home for my practice and personal growth. I arrived just after lunch, with a few hours before anything was officially planned. In years past, this would have been a green light for me to jump into “maximizing” my time — mapping out a hike in the woods, a stroll by the lake, and maybe squeezing in a class or two. But this time, I did something different. I did pretty much … nothing.
The signs around Kripalu invite you to slow down. One in particular has always caught my eye: “Breathe. You’ve Arrived.” In previous visits, it took me a few days to even begin slowing down. My mind would race through an itinerary of activities, trying to wring every drop of value from the time there. This time, however, I wanted to truly embrace that invitation right from the start.
Now, when I say I did “nothing,” I don’t mean I literally sat still for hours. Instead, I began with a simple practice — a walking meditation in the halls. I consciously slowed my pace, feeling my feet connect with the floor, syncing my breath with each step. Walking meditation is one of those practices that seems deceptively simple, but it brings a deep sense of grounding. As I continued, I came upon the 3rd-floor meditation room. I sat for a while, but I did not find the chairs to be comfortable.
So, more walking meditation it was.
This time, my steps led me to a room I hadn’t discovered before — the 4th-floor “Personal Yoga Space.” With mats, blankets, bolsters, blocks, and more available to use, it felt like a hidden sanctuary. I settled in, sat for a while, and let the stillness envelop me. This time, there was no rush to be somewhere else, no pressing need to do something productive. The quiet was its own healing.
After I put away my props, I exited that room and, as if by chance, another room right across the hall immediately caught my attention — a meditation space even more inviting than the last, with a glorious view. So I sat again, letting the stillness deepen, embracing the ease of simply being.
Finally, after the peace of the meditation room, I moved outside and sat on a bench, soaking in the surroundings, the gentle breeze, and the peace within.
This simple practice of slowing down, of breathing, of being present, had a profoundly healing effect.
How You Can Apply This in Your Own Life
In our fast-paced world, we’re conditioned to believe that every moment must be filled with activity, that productivity is the ultimate measure of worth. But what if we gave ourselves permission to simply breathe and be? Here are a few simple, practical ways to start:
- Practice Walking Meditation: You don’t need a yoga retreat to do this. The next time you walk, even if it’s just down the hall or to your car, slow down. Sync your steps with your breath. Notice how it feels to walk without rushing. This mindful practice can be done anywhere and is a powerful way to connect with the present moment.
- Create Your Own Sanctuary: You don’t need a special room like the one I found at Kripalu. Create a small, peaceful space in your home — a corner with a mat, blanket, or cushion. Sit there for a few minutes each day. Let the stillness be enough.
- Embrace Doing Nothing: It’s not easy to slow down, especially if you’re used to being constantly in motion. But allowing yourself time to just sit, breathe, and observe without needing to “do” anything can be incredibly restorative. Start small. Give yourself 5-10 minutes each day to practice this. Or perhaps just start with 2 minutes
- Breathe. You’ve Arrived. Whenever you catch yourself rushing or feeling like you need to maximize every moment, pause. You might just notice how your are breathing. Or take a deep breath. Remind yourself that simply being present is enough. You’ve already arrived.
The simple act of breathing, of slowing down, is deeply healing. It’s not about escaping the demands of life but about finding peace in the present moment. This is something we can carry with us, whether we’re at a yoga retreat or in the midst of our daily routines. We don’t need to wait for the perfect setting to cultivate ease — we can breathe right where we are.
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