Columbia, South Carolina
President - Malai Roper
Meet Malai Roper
Malai Roper is a dedicated holistic wellness practitioner, Reiki Master Teacher, Licensed Massage Therapist, Sound Alchemist, and Yoga Teacher, blending ancient healing traditions with the rich heritage of her Lowcountry roots and African ancestry. As the Chapter President for the Holistic Professionals of Color in Columbia, South Carolina, Malai is committed to fostering a community where holistic practitioners of color can thrive, collaborate, and support one another in their healing work.
She is the owner of Peaceful Pause Healing in Irmo, South Carolina, where she specializes in holistic energy work, massage therapy, and sound alchemy. Malai is passionate about teaching and mentorship, offering Reiki and Sound Healer trainings to empower new practitioners. A native of Charleston, SC, she has resided in Columbia, SC for more than 25 years, integrating her cultural roots into her work. Her approach is centered on guiding others toward energetic balance, inner power, and ancestral wisdom.
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In addition to her healing practice, Malai hosts wellness retreats for women of color, providing sacred spaces for rest and renewal. In 2024, she led a retreat in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and she is preparing to host another impactful retreat this year.
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Malai has been featured on Reiki Radio with Yolanda Williams and the 2024 Reiki Rays Healing Summit, sharing her expertise in Reiki and holistic healing. She is also in the final courses of her PhD in Natural Medicine through HPOC University. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina at Columbia and two graduate degrees from Cambridge College in Cambridge, MA.
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Her extensive training includes certifications in Usui Holy Fire® III Reiki, Sound Alchemy, Sound Healing using therapeutic sound bowls, trauma-informed yoga, meditation, and yoga nidra. Malai trained as a Reiki Master with Ifetayo White of the Lowcountry School of Reiki and studied Sound Alchemy with Dr. Falami DeVoe in Atlanta, GA. She is a registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and is currently completing her 300-hour yoga training, with a focus on restorative, trauma-informed, and energetic yoga practices.
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As a mother of two divinely guided adults, Mari and MJ, Malai understands the importance of balancing family, personal growth, and spiritual grounding. She creates safe and nurturing spaces for both clients and fellow practitioners to expand their healing journeys. When she’s not guiding others, she finds solace in nature—often by the coast or in the mountains—reconnecting with the elements and recharging her spirit.