Teacher Bios

Nicole Chemi, ERYT
Nicole took her first Yoga class at the age of eleven while attending a performing arts camp. After her daughter was born in 1997, she came back to Yoga as a way to center herself and reduce the stress of being a first time mom. Nicole began to deepen her Yoga practice and study Yoga philosophy. In 2001, Nicole studied and was trained as a teacher at Yogalife Institute, an affiliate of The Yoga Institute in Mumbai, India.

	Nicole Chemi and Joe Finnerty

Nicole has taught classes on yoga postures, meditation, and philosophy for adults and children at all levels of practice. As a senior instructor, Nicole taught yoga postures and teaching techniques to aspiring yoga instructors in a teacher training course. She developed and taught a Yoga and Weight Loss program that included a three hour seminar and six private Yoga therapy sessions. In 2005, Nicole was able to pursue her dream of directing her own Yoga center with her best friend and partner, Joe Finnerty. East Eagle Yoga opened January 2005 in Havertown, Pennsylvania where she shares her experience and love for Yoga in a nurturing and warm teaching style.

As a writer, Nicole has been published nationally in Lillipoh Magazine and was a regular columnist in Yoga Living Magazine. She has been featured in Philadelphia Magazine.

In 2003, Nicole choreographed and starred in Missfit Fitness Video for teens. Nicole is a member of The Yoga Alliance and The Himalayan Institute Teacher's Association.

In the February, 2005 issue of Philadelphia magazine Nicole's private yoga practice was featured in "Philly's Top Workouts". Read what they have to say...

Nicole is a graduate of The Institute for integrative Nutrition (IIN) in New York City. IIN is associated with Columbia University and is the largest nutrition school in the world. She is certified as a Holistic Health Counselor and counsels clients interested in discovering what dietary approach works best for them and how they can live a happy and healthy life filled with energy and vitality.

Joe Finnerty, CYT
My yoga journey began in the summer of 1995. I had a burning desire to find out the purpose of my life at this time. Why am I here? What is life about? Is there more to life than collecting a pay check, socializing, etc…? Something felt empty and I knew there had to be something more. 

I had always been intrigued by yoga. Being an athlete, something about the postures seemed interesting. I began to read, and with the help of books and tapes, I began to practice daily and it felt wonderful. The feeling of savasana (pose of relaxation) was indescribable. After 9 months of practicing every day, I finally took my first yoga class and met others who were searching for something deeper than materialistic living. Shortly after, I started substitute teaching and my personal exploration of yoga began to shift to learning about the philosophy. I soon found a teacher well-versed in the philosophy, and I began working at his center, teaching full time after completing teacher training. 

As my dedication progressed I was rewarded with a scholarship to go to India and study at an ashram. In November 2001, I flew to Mumbai, India and entered The Yoga Institute of Santa Cruz, the oldest organized yoga center in the world. Learning from Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra and his wife Hansaji was truly life changing. Upon returning home, I met my girlfriend, Nicole. In January 2005, we opened our center in Havertown. I find daily inspiration in life and as a teacher from the Bhagavad Gita. In February 2006, I was certified as a massage therapist from The Pennsylvania School of Muscle Therapy. 

Please accept our invitation to join our spiritual community and begin your journey to happiness and joy. I am ever grateful to all my past teachers and those who help shape my journey and taught me to walk the path of yoga.

Kate Halligan, RYT
I discovered yoga while on a trip to California years ago, and after my first class was hooked. The feeling of connection that I had between body and mind had never been so strong in my life. During that first yoga class I actually felt at home in my body, a completely foreign feeling to me, yet one that I wanted to experience more often. 

Upon my return to the east coast, I found a yoga studio that was, ironically, across the street from where I was living at the time. The owner of the studio took me under her wing and I became a devout student – taking as many classes as I could with her – even practicing on my own in the studio on a daily basis. It was with this mentor that I was given the opportunity to teach yoga. It was one of the greatest gifts in my life and influenced my physical, mental and emotional well being more than anything ever had in the past. 

Since 2004, I have taught yoga at corporate centers, a summer camp for children, a number of local studios, and for private clients. Ever interested in opportunities to learn more and grow as a teacher, in 2008 the stars aligned and I was able to be a part of the Teacher Training at East Eagle yoga. I feel completely blessed by the intensive training that both challenged and carried me to the place in life that I am at today.

Yoga is truly a door to new awareness for me. I learn on the mat and I try to take it off the mat and apply it to life. I don’t EVER want to stop growing and evolving and I think that my practice continues to encourage me to work towards being the person I am truly meant to be on this earth. I will ALWAYS be a student who has room to grow and learn, and I believe that the students actually make the best teachers. It is a privilege and an honor to share what I have been taught with others on their journey at East Eagle.

Andrea Sarko, RYT
Andrea began studying yoga in 1995 in California where she lived and worked as a  personal trainer. She taught yoga to compliment the rigorous training regiment  she designed for both professional and amateur athletes. In 2000, she began a  new career as a history teacher and fitness center director here in Pennsylvania  and yoga continued to be an integral part of her personal and professional life  as she worked to incorporate it into the daily lives of students and faculty.  She attended Columbia University’s Teachers College for her Master’s in  Educational Leadership and Administration. In 2006 motherhood changed her course  from full-time education and administration to full-time mom! 

In the Spring of 2010, Andrea entered the teacher training program at East Eagle  Yoga. The ten month in-depth study and practice would become the catalyst for  yoga to become her daily guidepost. Her personal practice brings balance to her  life as she embraces her roles as mother, partner, student and teacher. Yoga has  provided the tools for her to live her life joyfully every day.

Andrea’s areas of special interest are in prenatal yoga, yoga for athletes and  yoga for children. Her prenatal classes are a great way to prepare for the  marathon of pregnancy, labor and delivery. The classes focus on the mother/baby  connection, lower body strength, breath work and relaxation.

Andrea finds joy in every yoga class whether she is a student or teacher. Her  teaching style provides detailed feedback and postural guidance. She enjoys  teaching students of all levels in a safe and welcoming environment.

Noelle Hammerbacher, MS, RYT
At the urging of a friend, I took my first yoga class about 12 years ago and was totally captivated. I was fascinated with the fact that by simply focusing on my breath, I could empty my mind of the myriad of thoughts going on in my head and just be present in the moment. When I noticed that the physical and mental benefits of yoga were beginning to benefit my life outside the studio, I decided to truly dedicate myself to regular practice. 

Over the next few years, I took yoga classes at various studios in the area to search for the right “fit,” all the while loving the fact that my mind was getting exercise as well as my body. When I walked into East Eagle Yoga about five years ago, it felt like home; I had finally found the perfect place to cultivate my yoga practice. 

I signed up for Yoga Teacher Training at East Eagle Yoga, eager to learn more about the philosophy of yoga and to understand why my practice had such a profound effect on me. I was surprised to find that I truly enjoyed sharing my yoga practice with others. In fact, my personal practice was enhanced by teaching, and this was a benefit I was not expecting. 

Since 2009, I have taught as a substitute at East Eagle Yoga and various other studios in the area. I have also taught yoga to children and adults for the Township of Haverford during the 2010-2011 Fall and Winter sessions. I am so pleased to be given the opportunity to share my practice with fellow students at East Eagle Yoga.