IYCSD Certified Iyengar Yoga Teachers

Mary Obendorfer & Eddy Marks, Co-Directors 

Mary & Eddy direct the BKS Iyengar Yoga Center of San Diego located in Ocean Beach. They are Senior Iyengar teachers certified at the Advanced level. They have studied with the Iyengars in India 19 & 20 times respectively and spent a year from 2003-2004 and another half year in 2009 studying in Pune, India with the Iyengars. They adhere strictly to BKS Iyengar's methodology and continue their education by studying in India with the Iyengars.

Together they own and direct the BKS Iyengar Yoga Center of San Diego - The first BKS Iyengar Yoga Center in Southern California (est. 1979). They conduct teacher trainings, workshops, and yoga vacations around the world. They have been instrumental in starting yoga programs in corporations through their yoga demonstrations and by providing instructors from their Teacher Training Course. They enjoy the challenge of teaching in diverse communities and are committed to sharing the intricacies and joys of yoga with all.

Mary and Eddy acknowledge the governing influence of BKS Iyengar on their practice and teaching and are grateful to him for his inspired teaching, for his unending efforts to uplift the lives of all those who come in contact with him, and for always being the superlative example of a life skillfully lived.

Eddy Marks

Eddy is a Senior Iyengar teacher certified at the Advanced level. He has been to India 20 times and has practiced yoga since 1976. He has also taught at the Yoga Journal & Asia Yoga conferences. He is currently an assessor for the National Board for Iyengar Yoga Teacher Certification. He has a degree from UCLA in Kinesiology (the study of human movement) and teaches anatomy & physiology for yoga practitioners. He was employed as an exercise physiologist and taught yoga in the cardiac rehabilitation program of the famous Pritikin Longevity Center. There with the guidance of Mr. Iyengar, he was the first to introduce yoga for cardiac rehabilitation which was a great success. He has served as president of his local association (IYASC) and as a board member and archivist for the national association (IYNAUS).

Mary Obendorfer

Mary is a Senior Iyengar teacher certified at the Advanced level. She has been to India 19 times and has been practicing yoga since 1981. She is currently an assessor for the National Board for Iyengar Yoga Teacher Certification. She was one of the few people from around the world to attend the invitation only Back Bend intensive given directly by Mr. Iyengar. She also worked with Dr. Mary Schatz in India documenting the therapeutic yoga that Mr. Iyengar is so famous for. She has served as president of her local association (IYASC).

Beth Birenbaum

Beth is a certified Iyengar yoga instructor. She began studying Iyengar yoga in 2001 and completed the 2-year Teacher Training Course (TTC) here at the Center. Beth has been teaching since 2006 and continually strives to further her teaching skills through apprenticing and participation in workshops with senior teachers. In addition, Beth holds a certificate from UCSD in Exercise Science/Fitness Instruction. Before teaching yoga, Beth taught gymnastics, surfing and snowboarding. She is full of life and intent on helping her students.

Cyndy Cordle

Cyndy has been practicing yoga in the tradition of Shri BKS Iyengar since 1993. She began studying here at the BKS Iyengar Yoga Centers of San Diego as a beginning student and went on to participate in the 2 year Teacher Training Course (TTC) offered at this center. She is now a certified instructor in the Iyengar method and has been a teacher at the center since 1998. She has studied in Pune with the Iyengar family on a regular basis since 2000. Apart from her yoga experience, Cyndy is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Her skills as a clinician make her an empathic and encouraging teacher of yoga. She views yoga as "the greatest 'change agent' available to humanity" enthusiastically bringing that belief to life through her teaching.

Kitty Franklin

Kitty is a Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher who found Iyengar Yoga in 1985 while recovering from a dance injury. With Iyengar Yoga’s focus on technique and alignment, she realized that she had found “the ballet of yoga,” and was instantly hooked. Kitty continued her studies at the Iyengar Yoga Center of San Diego into the nineties and completed the Center’s three-year Iyengar Teacher Training course in 1999. Kitty has studied with the Iyengar family directly multiple times both in India and the U.S. Her teaching style is characterized by a balance between strength and flexibility as well as a concern for the individual student regardless of their level of experience. Kitty believes in yoga as a means for restoring balance in the body, the mind and ultimately, in life. 

Kim Kolibri

Kim is a dedicated yoga practitioner and teacher who has been on the path and mat since 1997. She became a certified Iyengar Yoga instructor in 2003 and is currently certified at the Intermediate Junior 1 level. The subject of Yoga is vast, as is Kim’s interest in it.  The Iyengar approach continues to be the foundation of her personal practice, and teaching. The physical, mental, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual aspects and beneficial effects of the practice of YOG are well known.  Kim is inspired to share what she has learned from her practice and the thousands of hours of student and teacher education.  She has studied with the Iyengar family (BKS, Geeta, Prashant, Abhijata, Sunita) both nationally, and in Pune, India. Her primary and long-time senior teachers are Eddy Marks and Mary Obendorfer.  More recently she has also studied with Gitte Bechsgaard and Gloria Goldberg, completing a Patanjali Sutra Course and continues in advanced studies and the study of Jyotish Astrology. Kim is also a certified Massage Therapist with specialized training is Pre/Peri Natal, Tui Na, and numerous therapeutic western modalities.

Pat McLoughlin

Pat began her Iyengar yoga practice in 1988. She enjoyed the benefits that weekly yoga classes brought to her, over time she developed her own home practice and eventually trained to become an Iyengar certified instructor. Pat currently holds the Intermediate Junior 2 Level of teacher certification. She continues her own yoga training with senior teachers and has made 5 trips to Pune, India to study with the Iyengar family. Pat meets her students where they are and has the ability to adapt asanas to the individual student needs.  Pat teaches in a thoughtful, clear, precise manner; her classes offer a balanced combination of warm-hearted humor and discipline.  Students leave class physically and emotionally balanced with new information to improve their home practice. 

Peter Smith

After many years of working in construction, Peter was drawn to yoga to help with stress and stiffness in his knees. He started practicing Iyengar yoga in 2000. The stiffness in his knees went away quickly, stress too abated as yoga became increasingly integral in his life. In 2006, Peter completed a 2-year teacher training course at IYCSD.  In 2011, Peter earned his status as an Iyengar Yoga Certified Teacher.  Peter is passionate about bringing yoga to students with different challenges and abilities.

Kelly Bowen

Kelly Bowen began her yoga journey in 2007 seeking relief for several injuries she incurred from years as a bass guitarist. She quickly became hooked when she found the practice not only helped with those injuries, it improved her playing, and even eased her many years long struggle with vertigo. Looking to dive into the practice further, she began her teaching path in 2013 apprenticing under Pat McLoughlin at the Center and is now a Level 1 Certified Iyengar Yoga teacher.  Kelly comes to the mat with the dedication wrought of years as a performing musician. In recent years, Kelly's artistry has expanded to include writing and ceramics.  She brings her passion and dedication to the practice, along with a healthy dose of humor and empathy.