Kay Parry

Kay Parry is a devoted student of Guruji, Geetaji and Prashantji.  She first studied at the R.I.M.Y.I in the early 80’s, attended International Conventions around the world and continues to regularly travel to Pune to study.

Kay is a founding member of the BKS Iyengar Yoga Association of Australia. Beginning with the first Introductory Assessment held in Australia in 1987, Kay is continually involved in the assessment process as a teacher trainer, assessor, moderator, and member of the assessment committee. She currently holds an Advanced Junior Certificate.

Kay is a dedicated teacher to her students, many of whom have been practicing with her for as along as she has been teaching.  Kay is joint director and principal teacher at the Iyengar Yoga Institute of Bondi Junction where she shares her knowledge and experience with fellow teachers and students. She had the privilege of being a Co-ordinator of Guruji’s 1992 Australasian Convention and Geetaji’s 1996 and 2003 Conventions. Committed to sharing yoga Kay has written articles for the Yoga Vaani and instigated projects such as the as the development of Teacher’s Study Booklets from conventions to share Guruji’s and Geetaji’s teaching with both current and future students of yoga.

“Guruji continues to remain my deepest inspiration to practice and teach. I am eternally blessed to be one of his students and to impart the gift of yoga that he gave me, to my students.”

 Carole Hart

Carole’s interest, passion and practice of yoga grew after Guruji, BKS Iyengar’s visit to Sydney in 1983.  She has been teaching since the mid eighties and is a senior teacher with the Iyengar Yoga Australia – certified at Intermediate Junior Level 3.  Carole was actively involved in establishing the Iyengar Yoga Association in Australia in the 80’s being the president for some years and producing and editing Yoga Vaani the journal of the association.

Carole has visited the Ramamani Iyengar Yoga Institute in Pune, India on many occasions and has had the privilige of being taught by Guruji, Geetaji Iyengar,  his son Prashant & granddaughter Abhijata.  In 1989, with Kay Parry, she established the Iyengar Yoga Institute of Bondi Junction with the support of an enthusiastic group of Iyengar Yoga devotees.  The ultimate aim in her teaching is to continue to share her passion, knowledge and the wisdom of Guruji’s teachings with students.

“Through the practice of yoga you can explore, understand and enhance your potential, health and wellbeing.  I endeavour to guide and encourage students, through Guruji’s teachings, to persevere and be challenged each time they step onto their mats to practice.”

Kirsten Shteinman

When Kirsten attended her first Iyengar yoga class in 1999, she immediately knew that this was for her.  Coming from a scientific background, she was drawn to the integrity, rigor, and precision of alignment, as well as its ability to adapt asanas for everybody.  After gaining her first Iyengar Yoga teaching certificate overseas, Kirsten returned to Australia and has now been teaching for over 20 years mostly at the Iyengar Yoga Institute Bondi Junction where she is currently a joint director. With a Level 3 certification, Kirsten conducts teacher training programs and is actively involved in the Iyengar Yoga assessment process, supporting the next generation of teachers.

Kirsten has studied in Pune, attending classes and intensives with BKS Iyengar, Geetaji, Prashantji, and Abhijata. This in addition to the teaching and guidance of her teacher, one of Australia’s founding Iyengar yoga teachers, Kay Parry, have transformed her life through her practice of yoga. Kirsten remains dedicated to sharing the teachings of Guruji and his family so that the benefits of Iyengar yoga may be shared by all.

 “For a yogi, the body is the laboratory for perpetual experiment and research”  – BKS Iyengar.

Lisa Tonnelli Smith 

Lisa’s yoga journey began with Kay Parry at Bondi Junction in 2000. Kay inspired Lisa to start teacher training, and delve deeper into the practice that has given her so much, wherever the family has lived.  In 2002, Lisa and her husband relocated to London where Lisa qualified as a certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher. Lisa, in 2025, qualified for her Level 3 teaching certificate.

 Whilst living in London for almost 15 years, Lisa was fortunate to do regular retreats with Christian Pisano in Nice and Faeq Biria in Blacons, France. Whenever Jawahar Bangara and Rajiv and Birjoo Mehta came to London, Lisa was fortunate to be able to practice with them.  After teaching at studios in London, Tokyo and Bali – “I’m delighted to be teaching at the Bondi Junction Institute on a regular basis. Joining  these wonderful teachers is a blessing and I really hope to see many of you on Wednesday’s & Thursdays’s at 10am  Monday’s at 4.30pm”. 

Ruthi Furman

Ruthi’s interest in Iyengar yoga started overseas more than 20 years ago and when relocating to Australia in 2004 she continued to practice & be inspired by her teachers.  She was drawn to the fact that Iyengar Yoga made her feel aligned both physically and mentally – supporting her busy life.   Ruthi continued Iyengar yoga throughout her pregnancies completing her teacher training with Bertha Shakinovsky.  She achieved & was awarded her Iyengar yoga teaching certificate in 2020.   “I feel blessed to have yoga in my life and to be able to share it with others”.

Christine Newman

Christine has been a keen student of Iyengar yoga since the 1990s taking classes and workshops with many teachers in Australia and overseas.  Iyengar yoga has been a continuous presence in her life while her children were growing up and while working in legal and business affairs.  

Inspired by her principal teacher, Bertha Shakinovsky (also a teacher at IYIBJ), with whom she first took classes in London in 1994, Christine decided a few years ago to train as an Iyengar yoga teacher with Bertha to deepen her understanding and practise of Iyengar yoga.

She is drawn to many aspects of Iyengar yoga and in particular the focus on alignment and imaginative use of props to assist people to access poses.  Practising Iyengar yoga has helped her to attain and maintain equilibrium across many facets of her life and she would like to share that quality with others.

Christine is very pleased to join the wonderful team of teachers at the IYIBJ and hopes to see you on the mat soon.

Lou Lemaistre

After years of practising and teaching other styles of yoga Lou found, in Iyengar yoga, a depth and rigour which immediately resonated.  She was drawn to its precision, its methodical approach, and its capacity to reveal yoga as a lifetime practice of inquiry.

Lou decided she wished to share the teachings of BKS Iyengar with others and after extensive study and training with Kirsten Shteinman she achieved the Iyengar Yoga Teacher certification Level 1.  She has also benefited from the guidance of senior teachers Kay Parry and Carole Hart.

Lou values the way Iyengar yoga develops clarity, steadiness and sensitivity, while making the practice accessible and meaninful for a wide range of students.  She feels privileged to share the teachings of Guruji, BKS Iyengar and deeply values the tradition and the teachers who continue to inspire and guide her.