Becoming the Sky Archer: A yogic Journey of Riding the Waves of Emotions with Devotion
with Olivia Rokotnitz
Oct 1-4, 2026
In this yoga retreat, you will experience the joy of Himalayan Kriya Yoga and Meditation. Olivia Rokotnitz (e-RYT500, Lead Teacher Trainer and Founder of Delta Groove Yoga School) will be instructing an early morning Puja (Shakti Activation) and giving a Kriya Meditation Initiation daily. These practices are optional and will happen before breakfast. Since learning this practice in India, she has not missed a day! These practices are beautiful, subtle, & profound.
The mid-morning & afternoon Yoga classes will be based on Vayu Vinyasa classes which are inspired from Tibetan and Himalayan Vedic wisdom traditions. These practices are explorations of the body, mind, breath, and emotions via moving & still meditations. Each class focuses on one or more Vayus (inner winds) to bring more awareness into our emotions and provide an energetic opportunity for us to cultivate clear, balanced intentions and imbue them into our mind/body energy field for all future experiences. This in turn also begins to activate the infinite creative energy within, aka Kundalini Shakti! These winds and our emotions run in tandem, so each class is a journey into learning to ride the waves of emotion with devotion!
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Nature as Teacher: When we are not in the awe-inspiring, forest yoga studio or enjoying some of the purest & tastiest food this side of the Mississippi in the lodge ... we will be spending much time in nature enjoying the silence of nature's symphony, exploring moss covered trails, sweating in a wood fire burning sauna, plunging in a cold spring tub, chanting in a stone circle, breathing in the pure air, dancing in clear streams rolling over limestone, and basking beside a sacred waterfall.
Each of these special spaces on Gray Bear's land will be an opportunity to cultivate deeper intentions. The winds of this land teach all of us to honor the sacredness of nature and have reverence for our practice with it. They even sometimes whisper and/or howl the solutions to your inquiries!
Come ride the waves of devotion with us! Learn to channel the inner emotions with Grace in community at Gray Bear this fall.
About the instructor
Olivia Rokotnitz, E-RYT500 is the founder and lead teacher of Delta Groove Yoga School. Yoga has been in Olivia's life since she was a teenager. She taught her first yoga class in 2000. You will find her constantly reading and studying different aspects of Yoga and continuing her education with evolutionary teachers from around the world. It is her love and passion for Yoga that inspired the creation of Delta Groove Yoga that existed as a vibrant, physical Yoga Studio space from in 2013-2025 in Midtown Memphis on Overton Square. She founded the Delta Groove Yoga School in 2016 and continues to lead Yoga Teacher trainings online and in collaborative Yoga spaces around the MidSouth.
Olivia teaches regular livestream classes weekly and some private classes in person. She also facilitates retreats that bring conscious communities together to illuminate and upgrade our energy bodies. Her teaching approach is dynamic, playful, and uplifting! It is inspired by the Vedantic Tantric Yoga Lineages and Tibetan Buddhism. Her classes combine Kundalini Yoga, Himalayan Kriya, Pranayama, Mantra, Meditation, Vinyasa, Hatha, and Gentle Yoga with many wisdoms woven in between.
Who should attend
This retreat is open to all; no prior experience required though some mediation practice is helpful.
Registration/Retreat Cost
Full retreat price is $650 if paid in full by Aug 1 2026. After Aug 1, price increases to $725.
To reserve your place please register by sending your full payment to: Gray Bear Lodge, PO Box 682, Hohenwald, TN 38462. Price includes tuition, shared lodging, all meals and full use of facilities. A limited number of private cabins are also available for an upgrade; please inquire if interested.
Payment: Mailing a check, PayPal, Venmo or MC/Visa all accepted. Upon filling out registration form and acceptance into retreat; Gray Bear will contact you with preferred payment link.
Space is consciously limited; first come, first serve basis. Confirmation letter and additional information (including directions to Gray Bear) will be sent following registration.
Arrival Departure Schedule
We'll begin with guests arriving Thursday, between 1:00-4:00 pm. First yoga class is 4:15, dinner is 6:00. Orientation & opening circle follow.
Sunday finishes with closing circle followed by lunch. Checkout time is 11:00 . Gray Bear is a two hour drive from the Nashville airport and 3.5 hours from Memphis. Please plan arrival/ departure time with this in mind
What to Pack
Gray Bear is home to 400 acres of rolling hills, thick forest, natural springs, and even a waterfall. You can experience the wonders of nature while sitting in a hand-built wood fire sauna; hear the silence of nature's symphony lying on a hammock while curled under a blanket; and revel in clear air and water while using shower outdoors.
With all of this nature we have some suggestions to consider when packing:
- Working flashlight ...it gets dark with only the light of the stars to guide you!
- A bathing suit ... good for the hot tub, sauna, and Watsu massage pool
- Water bottle ...Gray Bear does not use disposable cups. Purified water is available in the Main House and the Yoga Room
- A bath robe/sarong
- House slippers or socks to wear indoors ...no shoes inside please
- Comfortable walking shoes/sandals for an inspired nature hike
- Warm clothing ...mornings & evenings can be cool
- Comfortable clothes for exercising/yoga
Please do not bring any drugs, alcohol, or pets. Gray Bear is a non-smoking, pet-free and alcohol-free facility.