John first encountered B.K.S. Iyengar in 1975, when a friend gave him a copy of Light on Yoga. At the time, it seemed like a small, passing moment, yet it ultimately set him on a path that would lead to India in 1981, where he began studying with B.K.S. Iyengar. John often reflects on how profoundly his practice changed under Mr. Iyengar’s guidance. From his own experience, he knows that learning from a deeply dedicated, highly experienced teacher can reshape not only the practice itself, but also the way we relate to the world and to our own inner life.
With more than five decades of yoga practice, John Schumacher has made a lasting contribution to the field. He founded Unity Woods Yoga Center in 1979 and, in 1985, opened the Washington area’s first full-time yoga studio. Over 33 years, he studied regularly in India with B.K.S. Iyengar, who personally certified him as an Advanced Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher (CIYT). He also spent many years studying with the internationally respected teacher Dona Holleman.
Known for his clear, precise teaching and warm sense of humor, John became one of America’s leading yoga teachers. In 2007, he served as a keynote speaker at the first NIH conference on alternative health. In 2013, he helped curate the Smithsonian’s widely praised exhibition Yoga: The Art of Transformation. Two years later, Yoga Journal honored him with its Good Karma Award for spending “40-plus years sharing [his] practice to help authenticate yoga in America today.” He has written for a range of publications, appeared in numerous local and national media outlets, and continues to speak around the world about the practice and benefits of yoga.
For 21 years, he taught at Feathered Pipe Ranch, including 19 years alongside Patricia Walden. He currently teaches weekly classes and workshops online at Unity Woods Yoga Center.