Melissa Ratkovich (E-RYT 500) 
Founder & Owner 

Melissa is a devoted yoga teacher and practitioner. A school teacher by trade, she has a  passion and curiosity for learning and sharing. Melissa decided to leave public education and  pursue a career in the wellness and fitness industry. In 2017, while teaching indoor cycling, she  received an invitation to take her very first yoga class. With her unwavering commitment to  growth, she soon found herself immersed in a 200 hour yoga teacher training. After teaching  and practicing yoga for a couple of years, there was a yearning for more. In 2019, while  searching for a more structured and discipline approach, she found Ashtanga Yoga. She loved  and appreciated the dichotomy of this method. The stark contrast between strength and power  compared to grace and surrender would encourage her to continue showing up daily for  herself. 

For the love of continuous learning, she simultaneously enrolled in a 300 hour yoga teacher training, and a 200 hour Ashtanga yoga apprenticeship with her teacher Stacy at Ashtanga  Yoga School Raleigh. She began to assist and teach in the Mysore room, as well as teach  Ashtanga led primary series classes. 

A relocation move with her husband to Savannah, would provide her the opportunity to  continue teaching and practicing at the Ashtanga Yoga Savannah studio. As the lead teacher,  Melissa taught daily classes to the local community as well as their online platform of  practitioners. Melissa also completed two years of mentorship and apprenticeship, which  allowed for deeper study and experience through the lens of both student and teacher. 

Melissa continues to practice Ashtanga Yoga as her daily sadhana. She practices to the end of Advanced B series, better known as fourth series. She currently practices with senior teachers  at Miami Life Center. 

Melissa is founder and owner of The Shala Savannah. Her energy is strong, graceful, and very  supportive. Her open invitation to you is to step onto your mat and experience the profound  transformation that Ashtanga Yoga can cultivate. She highly encourages everybody to come  learn and explore their depths of being through the practice of Ashtanga Yoga.