Pamela wrapped in a dark colored sari with gold details with her hands in prayer pose.

Advanced Teacher Training

300/500 Hour Training:
September 2026-December 2027

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

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Contact us for an application.

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Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. ✨ Contact us for an application. ✨

In this training you will graduate with more than just lifelong friendships. You will embody a deep, authentic connection to ancient wisdom and the refined skills needed to share that light effectively with others.

At Sakhi Yoga School, we believe the spiritual path is never meant to be walked alone. Rooted in the sacred principles of sangha (community) and sakhi (friendship), our school honors the timeless bond between teacher and student.

When you join our "Inward Journey" Advanced Teacher Training, you aren’t just signing up for a series of workshops; you are entering a supportive, diverse family of practitioners. Unlike programs built on disconnected electives, our curriculum is a deliberate, progressive journey. Each module builds upon the last, guiding you toward a profound understanding of both the Self and the practice.

Program Structure

The "Inward Journey" program honors two equally meaningful paths.

For those feeling called to teach at a more advanced level, the training fulfills, and exceeds, the requirements for 500-hour certification with Yoga Alliance. For those drawn to deepen their own practice, and be part of an uplifting community, this program offers a rich container for study, reflection, and personal evolution—without the focus on certification.

This training includes a hybrid mix of 8 in-person weekends and weekly virtual lectures and practices. Each year’s class is restricted in number, allowing for ample one-on-one interaction and rich group discussion.

This advanced training is designed to give you a deeper dive into the practice and understanding of yoga, in a very intentional way.

The Sakhi Yoga School has the unique fortune to offer teachings passed down directly from a living master, Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, of the Himalayan Institute. Our studies build logically and deliberately, as we progress through the program, culminating in a deeper, richer understanding of yoga. Each of the four quarters is focused on one of the Four Gates of Freedom as defined in the Yoga Vasistha.

At the culmination of our program, Pamela will lead an optional pilgrimage to India, where we will travel to sacred sites connected to our tradition and stay in the Himalayan Institute Khajuraho ashram.

“Learning under Pamela was a gift, her vast knowledge of yoga philosophy, anatomy, and teaching methodology created a solid foundation for growth. She teaches with heart, depth, and integrity, and her unwavering support and encouragement throughout the training helped me build both confidence and clarity in my personal practice and teaching voice. What I appreciated most was how Pamela not only shared her own wisdom, but also brought in other experienced teachers to offer diverse perspectives and specialties. Sakhi Yoga School provided a space to expand, not just in knowledge, but in presence and purpose.”
– Crystal W.
“This school changed my life in mind, body, and spirit. The way I thought I would be, or hoped to be, was nothing to what I became in the end, but better. More knowledgeable. Wiser with the knowledge, respect, and faith in the Himalayan traditions. Yoga is more rich than we can ever imagine. This is the place to be if you're looking for deep and meaningful conversations, training, and experiences. Pamela Meriwether IS and will ALWAYS be my teacher.”
– Amie B.
“The Sakhi Yoga School nurtured, equipped and empowered me for both a deeper walk with my own practice and coming to the teacher's seat. Pamela has crafted a comprehensive curriculum and experience. Guest lecturers were also incredibly knowledgeable, experienced and engaging. The community became such a deep source of support and care. It truly did empower me to transform my knowledge, my practice, my teaching and my life. So very thankful for Sakhi Yoga, and it being such an important part of my path to support the wellbeing of others.”
– Vicky S.

A hybrid mix of 8 in-person weekends and weekly virtual lectures and practices.

September 2026 - December 2027
Quarter One – Vichara/Self-Inquiry
- 2 in-person weekends
- weekly virtual lectures: Thursdays 4:00-6:00pm EST
- weekly practices Sundays: 4:30-6:00pm EST
Quarter Two – Shanti/Self-Mastery
- 2 in-person weekends
- weekly virtual lectures: Thursdays 12:00-2:00pm EST
- weekly practices: Sundays 4:30-6:00pm EST
Quarter Three – Santosha/Contentment
- 2 in-person weekends
- weekly virtual lectures: Thursdays 12:00-2:00pm EST
- weekly practices Sundays: 4:30-6:00pm EST
Quarter Four –Sangha/Community
- 2 in-person weekends
- weekly virtual lectures: Thursdays 12:00-2:00pm EST
- weekly practices Sundays: 4:30-6:00pm EST
- Enhance your knowledge of the anatomy of yoga and understanding of physiological problems and structural limitations
- Explore the profound teachings of Sri Vidya that lead you toward embodying the wisdom, power, compassion, beauty, and joy of Sri
- Deepen your understanding of Ayurveda and learn how to apply this ancient science in your practice, life, and teaching
- Understand the five Prana Vayus & how to work with them, using asana, pranayama & mantra
- Explore yoga as a supportive tool for transforming depression and anxiety into resilience
- Experience ancient meditation techniques and learn how to teach them in a meaningful way
- Tap into your internal well of creativity, learning to design practices that will support you and your students in a profound and practical way
- Learn to work with the Koshas (five sheaths or layers) and develop a relationship to those layers in practice and teaching
- Identify your Dharma (life purpose) and how to sustain alignment with it
- Learn ancient mantras and study the science of sound, and Sanskrit language
- Study Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra and The Hatha Yoga Pradipika in-depth, as guides for “living your yoga”, on and off the mat
- Discover your authentic voice, learn to use it more effectively & elegantly, in a variety of arenas
- Refine your skills in purposeful sequencing for specific energetic outcomes
- Develop your online instruction skills and understanding of how to serve students’ needs through this medium
The Secret of the Yoga Sutra ~ Pandit Rajmani Tigunait
The Practice of the Yoga Sutra~ Pandit Rajmani Tigunait
Autobiography of a Yogi ~ Paramahansa Yogananda
Yoga & Ayurveda ~ Dr. David Frawley
Hatha Yoga Pradipika ~ Swami Satyananda Saraswati: commentary by Swami Muktibodhananda
Living with the Himalayan Masters ~ Swami Rama
The Four Desires + workbook ~ Rod Stryker (included with tuition)
Meditation and Its Practice ~ Swami Rama
The Key Poses of Yoga ~ Dr. Ray Long
If you did not complete your 200-hr YTT with Sakhi, please include:
- Asana, Pranayama, Mudra, Bandha ~ Swami Satyananda Saraswati
- The Bhagavad Gita ~ translated by Eknath Easwaran
- The Key Muscles of Yoga ~ Dr. Ray Long
Teacher Path - $3800
Personal Path - $3500
Partial scholarships and payment plans offered on a need basis. Please write to inquire.
- A $200 non-refundable application fee will hold your spot and be deducted from your total rate.
- Four Desires Book, Workbook and virtual Sakhi Manual are included.
- Optional pilgrimage to India January 8-22, 2028 is not included.
- Cash, Check, Zelle, and PayPal payments are accepted, with no additional fees.
- Credit card or “PayPal: Services” payments are accepted, with a 3% fee added to the total.
- You are interested in a deep spiritual path, rooted in ancient tradition and connected to authentic teachings from a true living master. Pamela is a devoted student of Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, Spiritual Head of the Himalayan Institute.
- You want not only to refine and expand your teaching skills, but also to find a deeper connection to your own unique truth and inner teacher.
- You understand the benefits of learning and connecting with others in person for full weekends, and having the undivided attention of your teacher.
- You want the consistency of weekly classes and lectures in a virtual format.
- You are seeking a teacher who is also a devoted student. Pamela and all of the Sakhi 300 YTT faculty (with a combined 100+ years of teaching experience), continue to study with master teachers.
- You want a teacher whose primary focus is to serve her students, and one who will be available to you beyond the scope of the program.
- You are inspired to better understand the energetics of yoga, moving deeper than a purely physical approach.
- You value having a past-graduate mentor throughout the program and being part of a close-knit community going forward.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

✨

Contact us for an application.

✨

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. ✨ Contact us for an application. ✨

Meet the Faculty

Pamela Meriwether

E-RYT 500, C-IAYT, RYS, Y4C, CVMT, YACEP
Founder and Director, Sakhi Yoga School

Pamela Meriwether is devoted to yogic learning and teaching. Certified by the Yoga Alliance as an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher at the 500-hour level, she continues her learning as a dedicated student of Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, PhD. Pamela is a certified Yoga Therapist, Vishoka Meditation Teacher, ParaYoga Teacher, Four Desires Trainer, Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist, and a certified yoga teacher for cancer patients, through Y4C.
Jeanne Heileman

MA, E-RYT 500, YACEP, Founder of Tantra Flow Yoga™
Sakhi 300 YTT Teacher

Jeanne Heileman is the Founder of Tantra Flow Yoga®, Yoga International teacher, and senior guest teacher for many teacher trainings. Jeanne brings over 41 years of yoga practice to her 30+ years of teaching of asana, Ayurveda, meditation, with the added focus of the energetics and subtle body. The yoga practice becomes a complete experience which includes Pranayama and Meditation. A former classically trained actor, she uses humor and theatrics to keep the students interested. Trained in yoga therapeutics and many aspects of Tantra, she specializes in discovering the needs of individuals and gently guides each to their own grace and balance.
jeanneheileman.com
Jeannine McSorley

FNP-BC, C-IAYT, RYT 500
Sakhi 300 YTT Teacher
Jeannine is a family nurse practitioner and nationally certified Yoga Therapist who blends her medical and yoga training to offer a holistic mind-body-spirit approach, both on and off the mat. She provides virtual and in-person private Yoga Therapy sessions, guiding individuals toward optimal wellness through personalized, evidence-informed practices.
Jeannine honors her teachers from the Himalayan Institute, Sakhi Yoga School, Breathing Deeply Yoga Therapy, and the Krishnamacharya tradition, whose wisdom continues to inform and inspire her work.She is the proud mother of two daughters and lives in Washington, DC, near her large Italian family.
Hollace Masino

MS, E-RYT 500
Sakhi 200 & 300 YTT Teacher

Hollace is passionate about making the ancient wisdom of yoga easily accessible and relevant in today’s world. She has been a yoga student for over three decades and a teacher/trainer for nearly two decades including certifications from Kripalu and ParaYoga as well as thousands of hours of formal and informal training with Yoganand Michael Carroll, Yogarupa Rod Stryker, Pandit Rajmani Tuginait, Baron Baptiste, Stephanie Keach, Leslie Kaminoff, Gary Kraftsow, Cindy Lee, Annie Carpenter and many others who have shaped and informed her journey.
Hollace owned and directed a yoga school called Yoga Shala in both Charlotte and Minneapolis for many years. With the combination of yoga and curriculum design skills, she creates meaningful learning experiences that motivate and inspire. She enjoys spending time cross country skiing and spending time with her husband and two dogs.