Our teachers

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ERYT500, YACEP 

Owner/Director of Training

Pranayama Teacher 

Ayurvedic Health Educator

After years of attending yoga classes and having two beautiful boys, Andrea became a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) through Yoga Alliance under the direction of Donna Dyer and continued her training at Three Rivers Yoga Institute where she received her RYT500. She has found that regular practice has helped her become a better mother, wife and member of the world community and she loves to share what she has learned with others.

Andrea teaches with an eclectic mix of styles with a playful and lighthearted attitude. She has studied the Hatha tradition, with influences of Iyengar, Ashtanga, Anusara and YinYang Yoga.   She founded Sangha Center in April of 2010 and has since continued her studies with master yoga teachers, The California College of Ayurveda and The Ayurvedic Institute to further her guidance to students in the community towards increased health and vitality.

RYT500

Sangha officer manager

Tammy discovered yoga “by accident”, attending her first class during a girl’s night out. After only a few lessons, it became evident yoga was to become a permanent part of her lifestyle. She found the practice helped her to increase flexibility and strength while decreasing headaches and anxiety. Having worked in the health insurance industry for over a decade, Tammy believes yoga fills an important gap in the overall health and wellness plan of individuals. Therefore, in 2013 she enrolled in the 200-hour teacher training program at Sangha Center for Yoga and Wellness in order to become equipped to share the many benefits of yoga with others.

Tammy’s most influential teachers have been Andrea Kirkham and Libby Black. She feels most connected to the Ashtanga style of yoga, however, she also enjoys practicing SUP yoga on a sunny day. In her free time, you are most likely to find Tammy enjoying a good meal at a new restaurant or researching recipes.

RYT200

Bailey started her yoga journey back in college when she took Yoga as a gym class. While she loved the class it took a few years and her sister becoming a yoga instructor start her journey back up again. As a birthday present she received a 5 class pass to Sangha and after her first class she hasn't left.  Over the next few years she learned as much as she could about yoga and graduated with her RYT-200 certification from Sangha Center for Yoga and Wellness in September 2017.

She is known around the studio as the queen of props because she is trying to lead the charge in taking the stigma away from the use of props. Her wish for new students that may not think yoga is for them is to keep an open mind because even though you may think you are not flexible enough, yoga is a journey and there is so much you can learn about yourself and your body while also learning to touch your toes!

RYT200

Luke was lured into the Sangha yoga studio by his niece and his wife with a five class pass Christmas present and the promise of breakfast afterwards. While the “accidental” level 3 class was a bit intimidating as an introduction, yoga immediately resonated.

Luke became a fixture at Sangha, practicing several times each week and attending workshops. After 3 years of practice and some gentle prodding he began yoga teacher training under the tutelage of Andrea Kirkham and completed his RYT200 in fall 2018. The study of Astangha (the 8 limbs of yoga) solidified the natural connection Luke felt between the asana practice (postures) and the meditative aspects of yoga.

While in college Luke learned meditation in the Soto Zen tradition as part of an eastern religions class. He continued to practice ‘meditation lite’ for the next 30 years. His practice significantly deepened with his yoga practice and the study of the yoga sutras.  Luke completed Meditation Teacher Training with Susan Piver through the Open Heart Project (Samatha) in fall 2018. Luke is not wed to one meditative tradition and believes in working with students until they find a practice that resonates with them.

RYT200

Terry has been interested in health and personal growth 'forever'. Graduating from Jameson Memorial School of Nursing (now: UPMC Jameson) in 1999, Terry has been licensed as RN since then. He began working in home healthcare in 2008. Having added RYT200 and LMT to his credentials, Terry makes himself available to yoga studios, treatment teams, and clients interested in empowerment through information - in personal growth through diligent self-care.

In the yoga studio, Terry leads fun and energetic classes rooted in Hatha fundamentals, conscious breathing, and a deep understanding of anatomy. 

RYT 200

Toni has been a resident of Beaver county since 2017. She is a lifelong veterinary technician and advocate for all living creatures. Toni started practicing yoga on and off in 2000. Shortly after moving to PA, she found Sangha Center and began to practice more regularly. Because of the amazing teachers there, she was inspired to enroll in the teacher training program. It was then that Toni began to learn that yoga was much more than the physical aspect alone. She received her RYT200 and with excitement in 2020.

Yoga has helped Toni to learn how to accept herself for who she is, and has provided her with more mental focus along with physical comforts. Everyone’s bodies are different. Through instruction, offerings of modifications, and focus on the movement of the body with the breath, the goal is to help empower each individual to explore what works for them and to find enjoyment and peace in their own practice.

RYT200

My yoga journey began in 2002 while living in New York City as a wellness practice for both my mind and body. It was instrumental in helping reduce stress and anxiety while increasing strength & fitness needed to thrive at that stage in my life. As an avid surfer and skier, yoga also proved to be the best movement for improving my core strength, stamina and balance on the boards and helped boost my metabolism. But it became more than that for me as it launched me on an inner journey of self discovery. I found space where I could meditate on my spiritual beliefs and relate to them more deeply through the Vedic philosophies and teachings. 

I received my RYT-200 Teacher certification in 2018 and have been teaching consistently since then with a focus on vinyasa flow, strength training, balance and the mind body connection. I also received my Pilates Certification in Berkeley, CA and taught at Synergy Fitness for two years while continuing my personal yoga practice at Elevation Pilates & Yoga in San Francisco. 

My core practice is grounded in the Sanskrit mantra Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu which means: “May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all.”  

RYT 200

Danielle’s relationship with yoga began in 2005. Like many others, her trail was long and winding. She practiced on and off at various studios and at home. However, her practice was not firmly engrained until 2020. She immersed herself after joining the Sangha Center for Yoga & Wellness. Danielle has a Master’s of Science in Counseling Psychology, is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and has been a Corrections Administrator for over 25 years. Her education and experience bring a unique perspective to her teaching style. 

As yoga transformed her mind, body and outlook, she began to explore a way to deepen her practice.  Danielle became a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 200) in 2022. She completed a nine-month certification training at Yoga H’om under the direction of Patty Schmidt and Maggie Borza Petrie. She is grateful for Andrea Kirkham, the Sangha Center Teachers and the teachers who have all lit the way along her path. In the studio, she leads classes that are non-competitive, rooted in mindfulness, and most importantly all inclusive. When Danielle is not on her mat, you will likely find her out in nature. She spends her spare time kayaking, hiking and she is an avid concert-goer.

RYT200

Emily found yoga online in her living room in 2014. Struggling with anxiety and depression, she was craving natural ways to improve her physical and mental health, and yoga proved to be an essential part of her healing journey. Over the years, yoga weaved in and out of her life and always showed up for her when she needed it most. Graduating with a dual bachelor’s degree in Food & Nutrition, and Psychology in 2009, Emily consistently found herself craving more from her career. Becoming a yoga teacher was always in the back of her mind, but self-doubt and a lack of confidence was a barrier between her and her dreams. After years of therapy, and hungry for change, Emily decided it was time to face her fears and find a yoga studio. She had heard about Sangha Center for Yoga & Wellness from a colleague and showed up for her first class in August of 2022. She quickly decided this was the space she wanted to grow her practice. From that moment on, she swears the universe kept showing her opportunities, and she just kept following the signs. She enrolled in the RYT 200 program at Sangha Center in October of 2022. She expected her personal practice to evolve, but never anticipated how transformational yoga teacher training would be for her own personal growth. Upon graduating RYT200 in June of 2023, Emily used her newly found confidence to ask Andrea to join her team of teachers, in which she was graciously accepted. Yoga allows us to learn so many lessons on our mat, that easily translate into our lives off the mat. Emily hopes she can help others to find those lessons for themselves on their mat. She is excited to watch her teaching style evolve, and learn alongside the Sangha Center students and teachers. 

RYT 200

Paula was first introduced to yoga as a child. Her mom and a neighbor would practice some breathing and poses after their walks every once in a while. She was intrigued and the journey began. She took classes and watched videos off and on throughout college and beyond. Encouraged by her dear friend and yoga teacher Katalin Borvendeg-Ng, Paula sought out a teacher training program in the area. She enrolled in a Power Vinyasa Yoga certification program with Sean and Karen Conley at Amazing Yoga in Pittsburgh in 2010. Over the years, she taught classes at No Excuses Fitness by Kelly in Zelienople, Mind-Body Yoga of Butler, and Butler Health & Fitness. 

As a Special Education teacher when not on her mat, Paula also shares her knowledge of yoga practices with her fellow teachers and students for managing emotions and anxiety in stressful situations. In addition, she continued her own yoga journey by pursuing classes & workshops, books, and online resources to deepen her own practice. In 2016, Paula moved to Beaver County and began to take classes at the Sangha Center. In an effort to further develop her skills as a teacher, she completed the 200 RYT training with Andrea Kirkham in June of 2023. She is excited to continue her journey of 13+ years teaching and learning in her new endeavor as an instructor at the Sangha Center.