Stephen Cope

When Stephen Cope arrived at Kripalu in 1989, he had been out for 20 years. Here's what he discovered about being gay in a community founded on the principles of yoga.

The next time you’re confronted with a difficult moment, give this a try. Find a quiet place to sit, then launch in.

As a teacher, Stephen Cope is often asked to give an explanation for the deep sense of well-being that arises in yoga. Here's how he accounts for it.

Each of us is born with a unique gift—and a sacred duty to fulfill its promise. Do you have a clear sense of your purpose in life?

Here’s a challenge for you: Could you easily name the dozen people with whom you have most deeply connected in this lifetime?

Where we look for answers to this question can make all the difference between fantasies and dreams come true. I’ve been teaching at Kripalu for more than...

An excerpt from The Great Work of Your Life: A Guide for the Journey to Your True Calling In his new book, the Director of Kripalu’s Institute of...

Having a best friend is one of the most powerful experiences in human life, and a launching pad for our highest spiritual aspirations, writes Stephen Cope in this excerpt from his new book.

Steven Cope, MSW, investigates the wisdom tradition of yoga.

Kripalu's research initiative is making significant headway in the quest to understand and document the effects and mechanisms of yoga.

  Excerpt from the Book, The Great Work of Your Life by Stephen Cope. I see my own concerns about fulfillment played out nearly every day of my...

In the process of falling apart, we are sometimes forced to discover a richness of inner resources we had not known existed, writers Kripalu Scholar Emeritus Stephen Cope.

Five longtime Kripalu teachers share stories about what karma yoga—the practice of selfless service—means to them.

Yoga and self-care can seem selfish, daunting, or expensive, especially when viewed through the lens of a perfectly curated Instagram post. However, these practices can, and should, be accessible and affordable.

Research on Kripalu's RISE program shows multiple physical and mental-health benefits, and illustrates the major impact the program makes on individuals' work and home lives.

Caught up in emails, work deadlines, getting to the gym, and an active social life, we can lose sight of our sacred calling, our highest purpose in life.

Ready to get back to yoga school—or enroll for the first time? Here's all the news from the Kripalu Schools.

Self-compassion doesn’t make pain or hardship go away. Instead, it acknowledges that life involves failure and suffering, and gives us “permission to be human."

A diet filled with clean, nutrient-dense, whole foods seems like the way to go, individually and globally. But an enthusiastic backlash has been lobbed at clean eating and those who promote it.

An excerpt from The Science of Yoga: The Risks and the Rewards Drawing from both scientific research and esoteric wisdom, William J. Broad’s The Science of...

Sitting on a cushion isn't the only way to reap the benefits of this powerful practice.

Gratitude involves an understanding of the profound extent to which we’re all interconnected and dependent upon one another and upon the bounty of the world.

Parenting is an incredible and rewarding learning experience. And it’s not for the faint of heart. Yoga, mindfulness, and meditation can all support the journey.

Ommm. It's often the first and last sound in your ears in a yoga class. But what does it mean?

Portland Helmich talks with psychotherapist, Kripalu Yoga teacher, and author Stephen Cope, who describes how yoga practice goes beyond physical gain to create states of well-being, happiness, and generosity.