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Volunteer Program

Contribute. Gain skills. Grow.

Please note: We are currently accepting volunteer applications for January and May of 2011.

The mission of the Volunteer Program at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health is to cultivate the practice of work as an avenue of self-discovery.

Kripalu is seeking people who are mature, motivated, and committed to excellence. As a volunteer, you will be challenged to grow and deepen in new and dynamic ways, as well as explore what it means to live a life rooted in expanding your capacity to generate life-affirming experiences. Although experience in yoga is not necessary, a strong interest in the process of self-inquiry is required.

Service

The Kripalu community has handed me powerful tools for living with skillfulness, authenticity, and compassion. As I carefully wield these tools, I have moments of beautiful awareness and clarity that reveal my heart’s desires and give me the courage to pursue them.

—Heidi S., Kripalu volunteer in 2008, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Volunteers play a vital role in supporting and creating a positive and transformative guest experience. We require that volunteers contribute 35 hours of service per week, 5 days a week, with 2 days off. As a volunteer, you will serve in one of the following areas:

  • Kripalu Kitchen—The Kripalu Kitchen is a lively, fast-paced environment that serves up to 1500 meals a day. Volunteers in this area will work in veggie prep (cutting vegetables and preparing them for the next meal) or on the dish crew. Due to the pace of this position, volunteers in this area may work less than 35 hours a week.
  • Production Support—Kripalu Production provides excellent customer service and program support to faculty and guests. Our facility hosts over 700 programs a year. Volunteers who work in this area will set up and break down program rooms, deliver supplies, and interact with faculty and guests.
  • Facilities—The Kripalu campus is 125 acres nestled in the beautiful Stockbridge Bowl in the Berkshire Mountains. Our Facilities team maintains our main building and four other campus buildings. Volunteers in this area will paint, move furniture, and assist with general labor in decor renovation projects to improve and maintain our buildings. In addition, general grounds maintenance includes mowing, gardening, spring and fall clean up, and snow removal.
  • Office Support—Volunteers who prefer to work in office functions may serve in integral roles that support Kripalu’s various administrative functions.
  • Household—Volunteers in Household maintain cleanliness throughout Kripalu to support a pleasant experience for guests. Volunteers in this area clean bathrooms, common areas, guest rooms, and program rooms.
  • Other—Depending on the organization’s needs, we may assign volunteers to other areas as well.

Program Curriculum

The volunteer program is an educational service opportunity dedicated to supporting Kripalu’s vision and mission.

The program curriculum is cumulative in nature and addresses two core themes embedded within all branches of yogic inquiry: self observation without judgment and skillfulness in action.

Upon arriving at Kripalu, volunteers will receive a syllabus outlining course topics. Volunteers meet every Tuesday, 4:15–6:00 pm for Off the Mat workshops. The structure of these workshops alternates between lecture-based classes intended to build a cognitive understanding of the philosophy and theory of yoga and experiential yoga clinics that cover a variety of skills and disciplines.

Topics may include

  • Basic Kripalu Yoga
  • Answering the call to adventure
  • An Exploration of the facets of yoga
  • Communication skills
  • Yoga as a Path to character development
  • Meditation
  • The yoga of action
  • A variety of posture clinics.

In addition to Off the Mat workshops, the curriculum includes workshops on conscious dialogue, as well as topics fitting to the volunteer experience.

Community

We encourage a thriving community life sustained through Kripalu’s core values—commitment to authenticity, radical self-trust, the courage to fully express one’s self, and unconditional positive regard for others. We invite each volunteer to take initiative in creating a positive community experience. Full participation in all aspects of the program is expected. Volunteers are encouraged to share their experience and growth through their participation in a variety of community activities.

I embarked on a terrific journey of learning, spiritual awakening, and fellowship! I learned some very important lessons about teamwork and the need to participate fully in the tasks at hand. I look very much forward to my next Seva experience.

—Chuck N., independent business owner, Crystal Lake, Illinois

When you aren’t working you can enjoy

  • Daily Kripalu Yoga and YogaDance™ classes
  • Retreat and Renewal workshops
  • Evening events and programs.

Kripalu Environment

  • Enjoy full use of Kripalu’s facilities, including whirlpool, sauna, fitness room, lakefront beach, nearby hiking trails, labyrinth, and more.
  • Live in same-gender dormitory housing.
  • Enjoy three healthy meals per day from our whole-foods kitchen.
  • Live in a community of people practicing an engaged, modern, spiritual lifestyle.

Application Process

Volunteer positions begin and end the first Monday of January and May, and the Tuesday after Labor Day in September. There is a $50 nonrefundable application processing fee. All non-U.S. applicants must pay with a check or money order drawn on an American bank in U.S. funds, and payable to Kripalu Center. Download an application in Adobe Acrobat format. If you don’t already have Adobe Acrobat, you can download it here.

Note The Kripalu Volunteer Program requires a dynamic inquiry into the deeper practices of yoga. All applicants must be in good physical, mental, and emotional health. Unfortunately, not all applicants will be accepted.

Tuition Fee

A tuition fee of $200 goes toward you four-month stay as a volunteer at Kripalu. This fee is due upon acceptance into the program in order to hold your place in the program. All non-U.S. applicants must pay with either a credit card or with a check drawn on an American bank in U.S. funds, and payable to Kripalu Center.

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel 14 or more days prior to your arrival date, payments made will be refunded in full (less a $50 application processing fee). If you cancel between 13 days and 1 day in advance, a nonrefundable credit (less a $50 processing fee) will be held for one year from date of issue (can be used toward any Kripalu program). No credit or refund is available in the event of the following situations: if you cancel less than 24 hours in advance; if you cancel on arrival day; if you are a no-show; or if you leave the program for a reason other than one that constitutes an emergency.

Click here for more information about Kripalu.

If you have additional questions, please e-mail us, or call 413-448-3123.


FAQs

Can I serve for less than four months?
A minimum four-month commitment is required.

Can I start and/or end on a date other than the first Monday of the month?
To support the community orientation and departmental staffing and training needs, all volunteers start and end on the first Monday of the month.

Are the volunteer programs open to citizens of countries other than the U.S.?
Yes, we welcome volunteers from around the world. If you are accepted, we’ll send documentation that should help you to obtain the appropriate visa.

Can I fax my application or fill it out online?
We do not accept faxes or applications online.

Do you accept credit cards for the application fee?
Not at this time. Please send a check or money order in U.S. funds payable to Kripalu Center.

What happens when I mail in my application?
When we receive your application, we’ll send a confirmation via e-mail. After your application is reviewed, we will contact you to set up a telephone interview.

How are work assignments and schedules decided?
If you are accepted as a volunteer, we determine the best position for you based on our departmental needs as well as your experience and interests. Your assigned department will give you a schedule each week. Your work hours will not exceed 35 hours per week, and your schedule may change according to departmental needs, including evening and weekend hours as well as split shifts.

What are the living accommodations?
Volunteers live in dormitories within the main building and in a separate building that is a five-minute walk from the main building. The dorms have bunk beds with 8–24 residents per room. Please be aware that rooms do not have air conditioning, and it can get warm during the summer months. Fans are provided.

As a volunteer, can I pay for a private room?
No, dormitory living is an essential part of the volunteer program.

What should I bring? How much storage space will I have?
If you are accepted as a volunteer, we will send you information about what to bring and other important details.

What activities can I participate in when I’m not working?
Activities on the Retreat and Renewal schedule are open to volunteers in their free time.

Can I leave the grounds when I’m not working?
Yes, you are free to leave Kripalu when you’re not working.

Other questions?
Please e-mail volunteer@kripalu.org, or call 413-448-3123.