John Schumacher
Can Yoga Wreck Your Body?
Tuesday, March 13th, 2012
The New York Times article “Can Yoga Wreck Your Body” raises many important issues: Who should do yoga? Just what IS yoga? What role does teacher training play in the possibility of injuries occurring? What is dangerous and what isn’t? Can yoga really wreck your body?
Continue...Teaching yoga because you love it
Thursday, February 2nd, 2012
I chuckle at the idea that teaching yoga is an escape from stress. One of the things I tell prospective trainees and employees at Unity Woods is that yoga does indeed help you deal with stress, but it doesn’t make it disappear. Running a center is a full time job with all the demands of any business. We’re not just om-ing the day away.
Continue...A Response to “How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body”
Wednesday, January 18th, 2012
The recent New York Times article, “How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body”, has certainly created quite a stir. My inbox had over forty emails on the subject. Some of the issues the article raises do warrant further examination and discussion.
Continue...The Subjective Nature of Yoga Therapeutics
Wednesday, December 7th, 2011
When you get right down to it, there are some important things that make yoga therapeutic that really can’t be measured all that well. That is one of the reasons why I say that yoga therapy is subjective. Although in many ways it is a science – much about it CAN be predicted, repeated, and measured – yoga therapy is truly more an art.
Continue...Iyengar Yoga’s International Scope and the China-India Summit
Wednesday, September 7th, 2011
The truly international scope of Iyengar Yoga is one of its most remarkable aspects. A student from Unity Woods can go to over 70 countries around the world, from Anguilla to Zimbabwe, and find an Iyengar teacher. And because there is a clear, consistent method, that student will feel at home in a class. The same postures will be practiced, and since we use Sanskrit for the names of the poses (much to the dismay of some), even if you can’t understand the individual instructions, you will know what pose to do
Continue...The Challenges of Marketing Unity Woods
Tuesday, June 14th, 2011
Yoga, by its very nature, is not competitive. The business of yoga is, however. While I trust the universe, I see no reason not to do what I can to grab its attention. Here are some of things we’ve done to catch the eye of the universe—and prospective yoga students.
Continue...Studying with the Iyengars in Pune
Friday, March 25th, 2011
In December, I traveled to Pune, India for two weeks to see my teacher, B.K.S. Iyengar, and participate in the celebration of his 92nd birthday.
Continue...John Schumacher on the Yoga of Teacher Trainings
Friday, March 4th, 2011
This month’s featured offering at iHanuman is part of a series of discussions offered by our very own John Schumacher. Click here to listen to the featured audio, or click here for a comprehensive listing of John’s interviews and writings at iHanuman.
Continue...Yoga Injuries
Tuesday, January 18th, 2011
John Schumacher talks about yoga injuries today in the blog Well+Being, on the Washingtonian.com website. John Schumacher and Suzie Hurley discuss how to avoid yoga injuries and what to do if you should sustain one.
Continue...Whys and Hows of Practice Over Time
Friday, December 3rd, 2010
In my last newsletter I wrote (some called it a rant) about the state of yoga teacher training in the US. I grumbled about a few things, one being the short time that so many training programs require for certification. Another gripe had to do with the lack of prerequisites for enrolling in teacher training. [...]
Continue...