Cynthia Bates started practicing yoga in 1999 and is currently in the second year of a two year, 500-hour teacher training program at the Iyengar Yoga Institute of San Francisco. She studies and apprentices regularly with Joe Naudzunas, who is on the faculty of the Institute, and spent last summer in India studying with Swati and Rajib Chanchani. long-time students of the Iyengars, near Riskikesh in the Himalaya.

Cynthia draws inspiration for her practice and teaching from the Yoga Sutras, the Bhagavad Gita and the B.K.S. Iyengar – attempting to find equanimity and poise within difficult poses and an opening of the heart through the breath. "This is a spiritual practice in physical form" - B.K.S.Iyengar