The Art of Chilling Out: The Immersive Workshop

The Art of Chilling Out is a four-night yoga retreat at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, led by recording artist and yoga teacher MC Yogi. It blends mellow yoga, meditation, storytelling and deep guided relaxation, and it welcomes everyone from first-time practitioners to people with a lifelong practice.

What to Expect

The workshop is an invitation to slow down. The yoga flows are gentle and accessible, meant to soothe the body and calm the mind, and the practices aim to cultivate clarity, compassion and inner peace. MC Yogi shares heart-opening tales from his personal journey and teachings, and the atmosphere is laid back, welcoming and a little playful.

The four-night format leaves room that a shorter stay does not. Beyond the flows and storytelling, you can expect extended yoga sessions paired with in-depth meditation, more time for deep guided relaxation, dedicated time for journaling and walking meditation, and space for integration.

The days follow a steady rhythm. Arrival begins at 2:00 pm, with a Kripalu Yoga class from 4:45 to 6:00 pm, dinner, and an evening program session from 7:30 to 9:00 pm. On the full days in between, a Kripalu Yoga class runs from 6:30 to 7:45 am, followed by silent breakfast. A program session fills the late morning from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm, and lunch follows. An afternoon session runs from 2:30 to 5:00 pm, then comes another yoga class, dinner and an evening session. On the final morning there is yoga, silent breakfast, a program session from 9:30 to 11:30 am, and lunch before departure. Actual times may vary, and the schedule given at check-in has the details and room locations.

About MC Yogi

MC Yogi is an internationally known recording artist, award-winning author and seasoned yoga teacher, with nearly 30 years of experience teaching around the world. He grew up painting graffiti in the San Francisco Bay Area, and at seventeen he discovered yoga through his father. The practice redirected his life, and for a time he lived and studied like a monk.

His path led through many teachers and traditions. He mentored with Larry Schultz, who introduced him to Larry's own teachers, including Dorthy Divack and the yoga master Sri K. Pattabhi Jois in Mysore. He studied for years with the Vedanta society of the Ramakrishna order and traveled repeatedly to India. He is a devoted student of Buddhist, Hindu and Christian traditions and draws wisdom from teachers including Shri Neem Karoli Baba, the guru of Ram Dass and Krishna Das. His music, streamed by millions, is a soundtrack to the spiritual path, and his teaching joins music, mysticism and movement.

The Setting

Kripalu sits in Stockbridge, in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, and its accommodations are intentionally simple, designed to help you unplug and feel grounded. You can choose a single-occupancy private room or a community-style dormitory for shared stays. Rooms are ready by 4:00 pm, and a luggage room holds bags until then. Three nutritious meals are served each day, and breakfast is taken in silence.

Before You Go

All levels are welcome, and no prior experience is needed. The program is taught in English. Please bring a journal.

Your stay includes four nights of accommodation, ten or more daily yoga classes, three meals a day, all program sessions with MC Yogi, guided meditation and relaxation practices, and access to the Kripalu grounds and facilities. Healing Arts sessions and purchases from the Kripalu Shop and Cafe are extra. On the day of departure, check-out is at 10:00 am, but you may stay on campus and take part in workshops until 2:00 pm. Online booking is available for one or two guests.