Beach yoga instructors score another court win

San Diego Beach Yoga Saga Gets Another Twist

The longest-running yoga class in San Diego history just scored another win in court, though not a total knockout.

U.S. District Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo ruled Monday that yoga instructors Steven Hubbard and Amy Baack can move forward with their First Amendment claims against the city of San Diego and its park rangers. The judge found that citing Hubbard for lecturing in a park and teaching yoga via YouTube livestream from his own home was, in her words, obviously unconstitutional.

Yes, you read that correctly. Park rangers showed up at Hubbard's house to ticket him for teaching yoga online. His students were gathering at his usual Pacific Beach spot to follow along on their phones, which apparently was enough for the city to send enforcement to his front door.

The ruling was not a clean sweep for the instructors. Bencivengo dismissed their civil rights claims, granted the park rangers qualified immunity on some counts, tossed the Fourteenth Amendment freedom of movement argument, and dropped claims against Chief Park Ranger Mark Ruiz.

This is just the latest chapter in a saga that started in 2024 when San Diego amended its street vending ordinance to classify yoga instruction as a prohibited commercial activity requiring a permit. Hubbard and Baack, who offer free donation-based classes at Sunset Cliffs and Pacific Beach, have been fighting the city ever since.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the yoga ban unconstitutional back in June 2025, declaring teaching yoga is protected speech. The city appealed and lost again in September 2025.

Attorney Bryan Pease called the latest ruling a positive development for free speech and questioned the competency of the City Attorney's Office in directing rangers to issue citations at a private residence.

The case continues, and so do the downward dogs.

Sources: Courthouse News | CBS 8 | NBC San Diego | 10News | FOX 5