A Message about the Future of Delta Groove Yoga

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the closure of Delta Groove Yoga’s physical studio, effective 9/27/2025. The announcement sent to our community on June 20 is below, and FAQs with additional information follows.

Dear DGY Tribe and Family,

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the closure of Delta Groove Yoga’s physical studio, effective 9/27/2025.

The decision to close our doors after 13 years in Overton Square has not come easily. We have worked tirelessly to adapt our operations amidst rampantly increasing expenses and challenging economic conditions. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we’ve come to the realization that it’s impossible for us to continue to sustain the studio in its current form.

This is not the end. We are at a turning point and as a small, independently owned business, we must realign with our deepest values. Yoga is not an industry: It is a spiritual path. We choose to pursue this path in the most coherent and creative way possible. 

This is not the end. We are entering a time of re-visioning, a time for incubation and rebirthing — in alternative spaces, without such high overhead and expenses that pertain to a system we do not align with. We are actively exploring options for what this looks like. 

We’re considering sharing space with community partners, we’re considering alternative forms of incorporation and ownership, we’re also considering becoming online only. There’s also the possibility that something entirely new will fill the void left by Delta Groove Yoga’s closing, we just don’t know yet. We trust that the beautiful community that has crystallized around our sanctuary and rippled connectedness throughout our ailing city will show up to help DGY rise again from the muddy waters. 

In the short term, we will offer some livestream classes, and we’re actively building a video-on-demand platform. Delta Groove Yoga was originally created to host high quality yoga teacher trainings. Over the past 13 years, we have trained more than 100 people, and we will continue to do so, both virtually and in hybrid forms. Stay tuned for more exciting Delta Groove Yoga School offerings in the form of workshops, continuing education, and teacher trainings!

To our beautiful students, essential staff, and stellar instructors — thank you!! Your trust and dedication have meant the world to us. We cherish the memories and the community we’ve created together. We are deeply grateful for the love, support, and spirit each of you has brought to our space. 

Delta Groove Yoga has always been more than just a yoga studio — it has been a sanctuary, a community, and a place of growth and belonging. We are proud of everything we’ve built together, and we are excited about what the next phase of Delta Groove Yoga will bring.

One of our favorite Kundalini Yoga mantras is SA TA NA MA — INFINITY, EXISTENCE, TRANSFORMATION, REBIRTH. We are taking the hint to continue to walk our talk, embracing the cycles of creation and transformation, and walking the edge of grace.

Please reach out to either of us if you have any questions.

With Infinite Love and Gratitude,

Olivia & Valentine

🕊️ 💞 🦋

Owners, Delta Groove Yoga

Additional Details on the Closing of Delta Groove Yoga

When will be the last day that Delta Groove Yoga will be open?

Our last day open to the public and hosting classes will be Sept. 27, 2025. Our last day in the building will be Sept. 30, 2025. 

Will there still be a full schedule of classes? Will Delta Groove Yoga continue operating normally until close?

Yes, we want to continue to offer our full schedule of classes until we close, and we hope you will stick with us until then. We will continue operating normally until then except we will no longer be selling longer-term memberships. We’ll continue with our class schedule, we’ll offer all of the workshops currently planned, and the boutique will continue to be open. 

What about my membership and/or class packs? Will there be refunds?

We will end all contracts effective Sept. 27, 2025. If you have a prepaid annual membership, you’ll have the option to either convert that membership to online and continue to take online classes from Delta Groove Yoga — supporting those teaching online through this transition — or you can request a prorated refund for the remainder of your contract. Individuals with class packs are encouraged to use their class packs before our last day of classes, which will be Sept. 27, 2025, or use them to take online classes after that date. 

What classes will be offered online?

We are still working out what classes will be available online. We'd love to hear from you if you have requests. We'll communicate more information as it becomes available.

What happens next for the Delta Groove Yoga community?

Those of us who have been in the Memphis yoga community for a while have seen transitions like this before. When one community hub closes, our community comes together to transition to something new. We have no doubt that will happen in this case as well. What that turns out to be is the unknown. And anytime we face the unknown, it can be both scary and exciting. 

We’ll continue to communicate through our newsletter, website, and social media, so make sure you follow us on Instagram and Facebook and subscribe to our newsletter on www.deltagrooveyoga.com to stay in the loop. Sat nam.

Yoga Beginners: Here’s What to Expect in a Yoga Class

If you’re looking for a way to move your body, ease your mind, calm your nerves, or even find relief from chronic pain, yoga is a great option. It’s no wonder the number of people who practice yoga in the United States has tripled in the last 20 years.

We love yoga beginners at Delta Groove Yoga in Midtown Memphis, and we understand that it can be intimidating to try something new. In this blog post, we’ll break down what you can expect from your first yoga class. 

What happens in a yoga class?

At Delta Groove, yoga classes start with a period called centering where you are invited to set aside whatever was on your mind before you arrived or anything you have to do later and drop into your body. You do that by noticing sensations and concentrating on your breath. Each teacher does this in their own style, and techniques might include:

• Scanning your body and noticing areas of lightness or heaviness

• Following the path of your breath as it travels through your body

• Bringing your attention to different parts of your body

• Working with different breathing styles, otherwise known as pranayama

After centering, classes move into a warm up where you start with slower movements that open the body and start to work different body parts. Most styles of yoga follow an effort arc, where you warm up at the beginning, have a period of effort in the middle, and then cool down at the end. The period of effort varies based on the class though. For example, in a gentle class, the middle will be a less vigorous form of effort than in a slow flow or vinyasa class. And in restorative and yin classes, there will be less of an arc altogether.

>> Read more about the different styles of yoga here. 

Every yoga class ends with a resting and integration period known as savasana. During savasana, you lie still on your mat and surrender to relaxation, letting go of physical effort and letting the practice work on your body. 

What should I bring to a yoga class?

We have everything you need. Unlike many studios, we let you borrow mats for free rather than rent them, and we supply props like blankets, blocks, and bolsters for use during the class. Our yoga teachers will give you prompts for how and when to use yoga props to support your practice. 

>> Read more about how to use props to support your yoga practice here. 

Many people decide to purchase their own yoga mat, and some bring their own props to class as well. The Delta Groove Yoga Boutique has all of these items for purchase if you decide you’d like to have your own. Otherwise, just bring your beautiful self and an open mind. 

What should I wear to a yoga class? 

The most important thing to keep in mind when dressing for yoga is that you can move freely and that you’re comfortable in whatever you’re wearing. Some people choose to wear stretchy yoga pants, others prefer loose cotton clothing. Really it’s up to you and what feels best on your body as you move.

Keep in mind that depending on the class, you might want different clothing. A more dynamic class might involve a lot of stepping forward and back, so pants with baggy legs could get in the way during that class. However, during a gentle class or restorative class, where most positions are on the floor and movement is much slower, baggy pants or looser clothing might be just fine. 

Tips for yoga beginners

One of the most important things to remember as you begin your journey into yoga is that it is for you and only for you. I assure you that there is not a teacher at the Groove who is judging your ability to get into a pose. The thing that impresses us the most is the ability of our students to take care of their own bodies and meet themselves fully where they are today. So a few other tips:

Tell your teacher if you’re new to yoga. They’ll make sure to provide you with some ideas for modifications and tips on how to use props and they’ll keep a general eye on you to provide support along the way. Yoga teachers love nothing more than helping new students grow their love for yoga. 

Remember that it’s your practice. You’re doing yoga to benefit you, not to prove anything in class. If you need a break, take a break. If you need to skip a pose, do it. If a teacher cues a pose that doesn’t feel good in your body, just come out of it. And that goes double if it feels like joint pain. In yoga, we work with our edge, and that might mean effort and it can mean muscle soreness, but it should never mean pain.

Embrace the beginner mindset. There’s no graduating from yoga. No matter how long you’ve been practicing, there’s always something new to learn — and that’s part of what makes yoga so interesting! It’s a journey into your body and how things feel in your body. So continue to listen to cues and search for them in your body. Continue to inquire into what different poses feel like and how making small micro adjustments in your body changes the pose, maybe giving you exactly what you need out of that pose. Yoga is a process of self discovery and it never ends. Treat every class like it’s your first class and you’ll learn something new every time. 

Find the right class for you. Delta Groove offers more than 40 classes per week, ranging from gentle to slow flow to vinyasa to kundalini. There’s no better way to find the right class for you than to try a number of classes, so don’t be shy about checking a class out and adjusting the class for your body. 

Read more about our yoga classes and find the right one for you. There’s no better time than now to start your yoga journey. See you on the mat! 

What is Kundalini? Exploring the Vital Life Force Energy Within Each of Us

At Delta Groove Yoga, one of the styles of yoga that we teach is called Kundalini Yoga. Also known as the “Yoga of Awareness,” Kundalini Yoga employs specific postures, hand positions, meditation techniques, and chanting with the underlying goal of awakening Kundalini. 

But what is Kundalini itself? Is Kundalini Yoga the only path through which one can awaken Kundalini? And what does it mean to awaken your Kundalini, anyway? In this blog post, we’ll explore these topics. 

Kundalini Yoga Sadhana

What is Kundalini?

Kundalini is the life force energy that exists in you and every other living thing on this planet. It is the stuff of creation itself, the will to thrive, the transcendent quality that makes you want to climb that mountain, paint that masterpiece, love to your heart’s fullest, see the beauty in everything that exists, and understand the inherent connectivity of everything. 

It is not something you achieve, but, instead, Kundalini exists in you already because you are alive. Kundalini exists in every person, and the beliefs, conditioning, trauma, habits — the stuff we acquire as humans living on this planet — obscures this transcendent energy's full potential and it lies in wait.

According to the Upanishads, Sanskrit texts dating to around 800 BCE, Kundalini sits coiled like a serpent at the base of the spine, waiting to be awakened in every person. By arousing this divine creative energy and coaxing it up the sushumna nadi, which is the central energetic pathway in the subtle body and follows the path of the spine, it moves upward through the chakras, clearing karma and energetic blocks, eventually reaching the crown chakra. 

Yoga is the technology by which a person attempts to awaken the Kundalini, clear away karma, purify the body, and eventually unfold the path of enlightenment. Different lineages of yoga do this in different ways:

• Karma yoga is the way of action.

• Bhakti yoga is the way of devotion.

• Jnana yoga is the way of knowledge. 

• Raja yoga is the way of meditation. Also known as the “royal path,” Raja Yoga was codified by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras and includes the eight limbs of yoga most modern practices are based on today. 

All types of yoga have the same aim: liberation of the human spirit, also known as enlightenment. 

What does it mean to awaken your Kundalini?

When I first began studying yoga, I thought enlightenment was something that you achieved from the outside in. I imagined a golden ray of light descending upon someone meditating on a mountain top and them living in a different state of being from that point forward, half here and half somewhere else. In reality, the concept is much more nuanced and subtle than that. 

From the moment we are born, our brain begins to form based on the conditions that surround us, the people that nurture us, and the society and communities we belong to. These are all aspects of karma, and they obscure our true nature, which is pure, concentrated awareness. 

Think about a baby: how they look around at the world, at new faces, how they react to new things. It’s with an innate sense of curiosity. As we grow older and those families, experiences, and communities color our perspectives, that curiosity is covered by layers of conditioning. We think we know what will happen given a certain set of circumstances because we’ve seen it before, or because our caretakers’ opinions on a subject became our own, or because the mythology of the society we were raised in teaches us what the outcome of a situation will be. 

To understand this more concretely, think about the last time you had to speak in front of, or even socialize with, a new group of people. Did you react with pure, open curiosity? Probably not. You probably had some preconceived ideas about what the people would be like, how you would be received, how you would feel, and what the outcome would be. 

Enlightenment is the process by which you become aware of these habits, behaviors, and conditioned beliefs (aka your ego). Once you are aware, you can decide what to keep and what to discard with the goal of connecting and engaging with that innate curiosity and consciousness that exists at your core — and recognizing that this is what’s at the core of every other person as well. And it's believed in the yogic traditions that the way you do this is by activating or awakening your Kundalini. 

Kundalini energy moves through the subtle body.

What is Kundalini Yoga?

Kundalini Yoga falls under the Raja Yoga lineage and is closely related to Kriya Yoga and Laya Yoga. The Kundalini Yoga Upanishad describes the Kundalini Yoga process as one of using bandhas, pranayama, and shaking. Now, 3,000 years after that description was first written, this method of yoga — like all methods of yoga — has evolved as it has grown and spread around the world. 

Kundalini Yoga was originally a closely guarded practice passed on from family to family under the guidance of a guru. The fascination with Kundalini in the West began long before a man commonly referred to as Yogi Bhajan popularized it in the 1960s amidst hippie counterculture (The psychologist C.G. Jung gave a seminar on Kundalini in the 1930s!) . It’s important to note that this man did not invent Kundalini Yoga and that it continues outside of his teachings. 

This style of yoga involves the use of kriyas, which can be thought of as recipes or formulas, that are specifically designed to engage energy in different ways. Components include:

• Asana: These are physical body positions that open energy channels to allow for the flow of energy; they create balance and strength in the body to help us perform the other parts of yoga.

• Pranayama: Often described as breath control, pranayama is actually much more. Prana is the carrier of life force energy that exists in everything in the universe. We access it through our breath. 

• Mantra: Mantra is sound vibration. Sound waves, light waves, even matter particles all vibrate. Mantra uses vibration and repetition to help us move energy and dissolve into oneness with existence.  

• Mudra: Mudras are typically hand positions but can employ other areas of or the entire body. They channel energy and help arouse particular states of mind. 

• Bandhas: Yoga tells us there are locks, or gates, throughout the body that must be engaged in order to allow for energy to flow freely. Engaging bandhas open or close these gates, encapsulating and releasing energy. 

• Drishti: This is a focal point employed with the eyes, even when closed. A common one is between the brows about an inch or two inward, which corresponds with the third eye. 

• Sadhana: Sadhana is personal spiritual practice and refers to the idea that Kundalini awakening is a process that you work on for years (truly lifetimes). It takes discipline to the path and to connecting with your inner core, your higher self over and over. 

As you can see, Kundalini Yoga employs a very diverse group of practices. Any of these practices on their own can lead to a Kundalini awakening, but Kundalini Yoga uses them together for a truly powerful practice. 

Ready to explore more about Kundalini and Kundalini Yoga? Check out our yoga class schedule and swing on by!

Want to go deeper? Consider enrolling in the Delta Groove Yoga School Kundalini Yoga Training. Our next cohort begins this fall in Chattanooga, or sign up to get notified about future trainings.