A woman with short gray hair wearing a yellowish top, extending her hand forward, smiling softly, against a plain gray background.

A 5,000-year-old lineage of the Himalayan Masters.

Yoga is ultimately about breaking through your limits to live with fearless confidence and genuine happiness.

Skilled teachers serve as living examples of this potential— catalysts for this transformation, humble guides who ignite your inner strength and inspire you to fully embrace the boundless potential of life.

This is the focus at the heart of our training programs.

About Sakhi Yoga

A 5,000-year-old lineage of the Himalayan Masters.

Founded on the ideals of friendship and community, The Sakhi Yoga School is dedicated to serving its students and the greater community through providing the highest quality of yoga and meditation education, rooted in a living connection to the ancient wisdom tradition of the Himalayan Masters.

Sakhi शाखी (suh-khee) - is a Sanskrit word that means friend, assistant, companion.

This name for our school was chosen as a reminder of the ancient teachings that emphasize the importance of walking our paths together, in friendship and support of one another. One of the unique benefits of enrolling in the Sakhi Yoga School is becoming part of a living tradition, and a supportive community that welcomes teachers and practitioners of all backgrounds.

Sakhi offers a depth and breadth of study that is unparalleled.

200 HOUR
Teacher Training

Multiple hands displaying henna designs on their palms and wrists.

200HR | August 2026

300 HOUR
Teacher Training

Group of people sitting on the floor in a circle, participating in a yoga or meditation class in a bright room with large windows.

300HR | September 2026

"Diving into the deepest places within myself, this program completely changed who I am as a person, how I love, how I view the world around me, and how I see others. This journey has been nothing short of magical and I thank those who were a part of it from the beginning as well as those who joined me along the way. Yoga has become a part of my entire being and I look forward to sharing all this love, passion, and knowledge with my friends, my family, and my community."
– Jeanean
“Sakhi Yoga School is not only a place to learn and grow in yoga teaching and foundational principals, but for me, it has been and continues to be a place for my soul to land and feel safe, purposeful and nurtured in the process!”
–Alison T.
“The best decision I could have made was choosing this school to deepen my understanding of the vast practice and philosophy of yoga. Pamela is a true teacher who guides you through the entire experience while also allowing space for your own personal growth and discoveries, which is essential in a program like this. The training goes far beyond just the physical practice of yoga. It also explores important aspects such as meditation, mantras, and the deeper teachings that make yoga such a transformative practice.”
– Brigitte T.
“If you're looking for a school rooted in the ancient and sacred teachings of Yoga, then this is the right school for you. Pamela has spent decades studying and practicing Yoga and the Eight Limb Path. Her wisdom and loving personality really sets this program vastly apart from others in the area if not the entire country. Her direct lineage to the Himalayan Yogi Masters is not to be taken for granted. And her complete embodiment of the Yoga philosophy is something rarely encountered within the yoga community. Not only did her school provide me with the physical and intellectual knowledge regarding asana but also the mental, emotional, and energetic work that yoga encompasses.”
–Sierra S.
“I had no idea how life-changing the teacher training program with Sakhi Yoga would be! The comprehensive nature of this training, the nurturing and caring mentors, and the vast array of experience that Pamela brings to the program are just a few of the things that set this school apart. Not only have I gained knowledge, skills, and confidence to teach yoga and deepened my personal practice, I've developed a true sense of mindfulness and living a yogic life that I carry with me off my mat and into my daily life.”
–Julie M.

Pamela sits with her teacher, Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, PhD.

Our Lineage

The Sakhi Yoga School’s primary teacher, Pamela Meriwether, is a devoted student of Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, PhD, a modern-day master and living link in the unbroken Himalayan Tradition.

More than meets the mat.
Our focus is on both depth and breadth of authentic yoga education. Rather than solely focusing on the physical aspects of yoga, we cover that and so much more. The true measurement of whether our practice is working is found by observing what is happening in our lives off the mat. At the completion of our program, you will have a deeper understanding of yoga and the experience of truly "living" it. Through your own transformation, you will cultivate the ability to effectively lead others in a meaningful, life-changing yoga practice.

Fulfillment and Self-awareness.
At the heart of our curriculum is the intention of guiding each unique individual toward their own inner wisdom and a life of fulfillment. As Pamela's first teacher, Rod Stryker, so eloquently put it, “The ultimate aim of Yoga is to live joyfully and fearlessly. A master teacher embodies this promise and is an inspirational and knowledgeable force, capable of empowering others to fully celebrate all that life has to offer.”

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.
Liza Barbee

RYT 500
Sakhi 200 YTT Teacher
Liza Barbee has been teaching yoga since 2015 after earning her RYT 200 certification through Sakhi Yoga School. Her journey began by volunteering at Camille Griffin Graham Correctional Institution, where she led yoga classes for incarcerated women. This experience inspired her to pursue trauma-sensitive training, earning certification as a Trauma-Informed Yoga teacher through Street Yoga.
Liza later worked with veterans and service members through Big Red Barn Retreat, deepening her focus on healing-centered practices. In 2024, she became certified in Level One iRest® Yoga Nidra, further expanding her work in restorative and meditative healing practices.
She completed her 500-hour certification through Himalayan Institute in 2019. In addition to yoga, Liza is a licensed cosmetologist, holds a Bachelor of Science in Retail Management from University of South Carolina, and is the owner of Roots Studio, LLC, where she promotes holistic health and well-being. She feels deeply honored to share yoga as a path toward healing, balance, and connection.
Debbie Gilikin

RYT 500
Sakhi 200 YTT Teacher

Debbie began teaching yoga in 2012 after over a decade of practice, completing her 200-hour training at Sakhi Yoga in 2012 and her 300-hour certification in 2020. She maintains her commitment to deepen her studies. She has focused on deepening her practice and knowledge through various specialty trainings, including Restorative, Adaptive, Yin and wall yoga as well as pranayama and meditation. Debbie is passionate about sharing yoga, and loves growing as both teacher and student. Off the mat, she enjoys cycling and exploring the world.
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
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.
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.
Anne Miller

E-RYT 200, Yoga for Autism
Sakhi 200 YTT Teacher
Anne was born in Ohio but has called Columbia home for more than forty years. A wife, mother, and active member of her church and community, she believes wellness begins with connection, compassion, and purpose.
A former dance major at Columbia College, Anne spent years as an ACE-certified fitness instructor, personal trainer, and business owner before discovering yoga through YogaFit. What began as continuing education quickly became a lifelong passion.
Today, Anne is a 230-hour Yoga Alliance-certified instructor who is also certified to teach children with autism and trauma informed yoga . She views yoga not as perfection or performance, but as a personal journey toward balance, healing, joy, and living fully within the community.
www.rootedyogasc.com
Simone Mori Reed

E-RYT 500
Sakhi 200 YTT Teacher
Simone is a Hatha trained instructor with certification in Yin, Chair, and Children's Yoga. Through her personal practice, she has experienced how reconnecting the body, breath, and mind can be a powerful and transformative process that supports overall well-being and quality of life.
She is passionate about guiding students toward greater awareness of the mind-body-breath connection, inviting balance to the physical and emotional bodies through asana, meditation, and pranayama. She creates a welcoming and inclusive environment, offering classes that are thoughtfully structured while remaining intuitive and responsive to the needs of each group.
As a lifelong learner, Simone values continually returning to the seat of the student to deepen her own practice and understanding. She is also inspired by the principles of Ayurveda and holds a deep respect for the interconnectedness and prosperity of all beings.
Vicki Saye Van Horne

E-RYT 500
Sakhi 200 YTT Teacher
Vicky Saye Van Horne is a certified yoga teacher, specializing in trauma-informed techniques for self-regulation. Her practice of yoga began in 2007, initially coming to the mat to better manage anxiety stemming from a major life shift. In 2018, she became certified to teach through the Sakhi Yoga School and finds purpose in supporting others in their wellness journeys.
She has received training in trauma-informed yoga (Veterans Yoga Project), Yoga for the Mature Body (Diane Saccone, Asheville Community Yoga, NC), Chair Yoga (Carey Sims, Charlotte, NC), and iRest (Integrative Restoration) Yoga Nidra (iRest Institute, San Francisco, CA).
Angela Yong

E-RYT 200, Yoga for Cancer & Master Thai Bodyworker
Sakhi 200 YTT Teacher
Angela Yong is the owner of Fit Columbia in Five Points, celebrating 15 years in 2026. Since graduating from Sakhi Yoga School in 2014, she has studied yoga, bodywork, meditation, and strength training, bringing a non-traditional, accessible approach to movement and whole-body wellness—offering modalities like aerial yoga, wall yoga, yoga with animals, acroyoga, and more.
Inspired by her longtime mentor Pam Meriwether, Angela’s work is rooted in sangha (community) and breathwork—the belief that connection and breath are the foundation for living well.
Beyond the studio, she is the founder of Tour of Tea SC, a nonprofit that celebrates Asian culture and brings people together through shared experiences.
Learn more about Angela here.