ABOUT

IYENGAR YOGA

ALIGNMENT · MEDITATION IN ACTION · PRECISION

Iyengar yoga was a form of alignment-based yoga developed and taught by the world renowned B.K.S Iyengar, who was credited with popularizing yoga practice in India and around the world.Iyengar yoga emphasizes on alignment, precision of poses to achieve balance, flexibility, strength and stamina.

Iyengar teaches that yoga practice should be accessible to all, regardless of age, body shape, and physical conditions. Therefore, the use of props, such as blocks, straps, and blankets are commonly used as a tool for practitioners who need them to adapt the poses to their individual needs, prevent injury, and isolate certain muscle groups. Props help support students to stay in the asana for longer, as well as to address specific imbalances. Iyengar yoga focuses on developing the muscles around the joints. For this reason, it is very well adapted for those looking to prevent and heal injuries.

Certified iyengar teachers are held to an extremely high standard. Teachers follow the syllabus and standards set by B.K.S Iyengar, with regular practice and rigorous teacher training for three to five years before they teach others.

TEACHERS

Kathy Cook

Senior Iyengar Teacher
Lead Instructor of Desa Yogi

Kathy Cook is a seasoned yoga teacher and practitioner with over three decades of experience in the field. Her yoga journey began in the mid-90s in California, where she studied under Iyengar teacher Tony Briggs. Later, she moved to Hong Kong, where she completed her teacher training under the guidance of several senior Iyengar teachers and began her journey toward Iyengar certification.

During her time in Hong Kong, Kathy co-founded the Hong Kong Yoga Association, which brought yoga to the community and introduced Iyengar Yoga to Hong Kong by bringing senior Iyengar instructors from overseas to teach in the region. She also made regular visits to the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute (RIMYI) in Pune, which she considered a pilgrimage to deepen her understanding of yoga.

In 2008, Kathy moved to Bali, where she continued to teach and organize multiple retreats focused on a yogic lifestyle. She has since traveled extensively to teach various classes, workshops, retreats, and teacher training in Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore, and Malaysia.

Kathy is a member of the Southeast Asian Iyengar panel of assessors, which qualifies students’ advancement in the certification process. Her extensive teaching experience in Asia has given her in-depth knowledge of the cultural and anatomical differences in students, enabling her to adapt her teaching style to meet each individual’s specific needs.

Kathy is passionate about promoting proper health practices to promote longevity and demonstrates how to live a yogic lifestyle both on and off the mat. Her dedication to Iyengar Yoga and her commitment to spreading its benefits have made her a highly respected and sought-after teacher in Asia and beyond.

Rany Fetrix

Rany is a certified Iyengar yoga teacher based in Indonesia, began her Iyengar Yoga journey under the tutelage of Rita Kosasih.

She received her Iyengar certification in 2013, guided by Olop Arpipi, a renowned senior Iyengar teacher. In 2015, she taught at various Iyengar centers in Jakarta.

She established C Studio Jakarta in 2017, a venue for regular yoga workshops, and has hosted teachings from several senior yoga instructors, including Bobby Clennell, Judith Adank, Olop Arpipi, Nanda Kumar, and other local certified teachers. Rany also faciliated a teacher training program at C Studio Jakarta for Olop Arpipi.

In 2018, she had the privilege of studying in Pune, India with notable figures such as Geeta S. Iyengar, Prashant Iyengar, Abhijata Iyengar, Raya Uma Datta, Uday Bhosale and other senior teachers at the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute (RIMYI).

She has deepened her yoga knowledge by attending senior Iyengar teacher workshops in Jakarta, Bali, Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong.

In 2019, she participated in the Teachers Refreshing Course Nanda Kumar program in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

During the pandemic, she initiated an online workshop for senior teachers, with participants including Olop Arpipi, Bobby Clennell, Dr. Eyal Shifroni, Jawahar Bangeraji, and David Meloni.

Today, Rany continues to learn and teach. She’s now taking advanced programs under the guidance of Olop Arpipi and Abhijata Iyengar. She teaches at Desa Yogi Iyengar Yoga Shala in Bali and serves as the secretary of BKSI Yoga Bali Indonesia.

Lisa McKnight

Lisa is a Level I Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher, known for her fun, uplifting, and encouraging teaching style. After years of intensive weight training, she discovered yoga and quickly realized its power to bring greater kindness, awareness, and balance to the body.

She began her journey exploring vinyasa yoga before finding her true home in Iyengar yoga in 2001. The precision, alignment, and depth of the practice resonated with her immediately—her very first Iyengar class brought a sense of transformation she had never experienced before. From that moment, she committed herself to a path where the mind guides the body toward strength, clarity, and freedom.

Lisa owned and operated her own yoga studio in Australia for four years before traveling and teaching across Nepal, India, the Philippines, Australia, and Bali. Since 2013, she has made regular study trips to Pune, the home of Guruji B.K.S. Iyengar, and in 2015 trained with senior teacher Br. Rudra Dev in Rishikesh.

Based in Bali, Lisa began her Iyengar mentorship with Kathy Cook and Sri Nanda Kumarkumar in 2021 and continues her Level II mentorship today. She is dedicated to sharing only what she has experienced to be true, offering students practical wisdom, intelligent sequencing, and a joyful approach that helps them open both body and mind.