Workshops & Events
Expand & Deepen Your Practice with Workshops
Improving Your Teaching Skills With John Schumacher -- Part One, The Ways And Whys Of Teaching A Pose Twice
Please join us for this exciting opportunity. John Schumacher will be doing a special series of workshops for Path of Yoga that will explore ways we can become stronger teachers. In this first workshop of the series, John will focus on ways to use multiple teachings to enhance understanding, whether teaching a pose in stages or using a reteaching to help correct mistakes or deepen the pose. Why is it helpful to teach a pose twice, and how can you most effectively do that? Come explore ways to improve your teaching skills in this new series of workshops with one of the world's most premiere teachers.
The workshop will be recorded and the video will be available for 90 days after the event. It is open to Certified Iyengar Yoga Teachers (CIYTs), those in training to become CIYTs, and to other experienced students with a regular practice.
John Schumacher is the founder and director of Unity Woods Yoga Center, based in the metropolitan Washington D.C. area. John began studying with B.K.S. Iyengar in 1981 and is one of the few teachers in the U.S. to have been awarded an advanced teaching certificate from Mr. Iyengar. John’s clear, precise style and his engaging sense of humor have made him one of America’s leading teachers. He has taught thousands of students, trained hundreds of teachers and continues to give weekly classes and workshops on line. His teaching is directed toward guiding students to explore the many levels of their being with courage and curiosity.
Questions? Feel free to email Raina Fishbane at raina.fishbane@verizon.net.
2026 Yoga Vacation in Jamaica
For over 40 years John and Barbara have welcomed yogis to join them on their annual trek to Negril, Jamaica. Negril is a relaxed beach town on the west coast of Jamaica, one of the Caribbean’s most beautiful and lush islands. It is a wonderful place to unwind and restore the soul. Negril is vibrant and brought alive by Jamaicans, their spirit, and a sultry climate perfect for rest and renewal.
THE TEACHERS
John Schumacher, a teacher for over 50 years, is one of the most prominent and respected teachers in the Iyengar tradition and a senior certified teacher in that method. The director of Unity Woods Yoga Center, John continues to teach weekly online classes as well as online education workshops for teachers. The precision, clarity, humor, and directness that John incorporates in his teaching help to guide students toward experiencing the richness and vitality that are possible through the practice of yoga. He lives with his wife, Suzie Mann, in Chevy Chase, MD and Berkeley Springs, WV.”
Barbara Benagh’s unique teaching style draws from many traditions. A soloist with no fealty to any method, Barbara has a quirky style that combines breathwork, movement, and philosophy with alignment and enquiry based poses. Her unique voice and language invite you to listen more than look as you are guided into a deep practice that encourages asana to grow from the inside out- very slowly. With good humor, she teaches patience and attention with the goal of creating a yoga practice that is interesting, economical, effective, and elegant at any age. She lives in Durham, NC with her pup, Robin, and teaches livestream 3 times monthly.
Barbara and John got to know each other in 1982 while sharing a long flight to Pune, India and, while their yoga paths have diverged over the years, they have relished this annual get together. Their very different, and somehow compatible, teaching styles are witness to how Hatha Yoga can be respectful, informative, and complementary in a way that inspires students to be authentic their own practice.
Over the decades, we have weathered storms- from nature bringing Hurricane Gilbert in the 80s and 2024’s “The Wave”, to the pandemic, and logistical pivots. Through it all, Jamaica has been the stage with yoga as the star, and the reason we persevered. We’ve met wonderful yogis along the way, many of whom have loved this trip as we have! Only after much thought and reminiscing , we’ve come to the bittersweet decision that 2026 will be our final Yoga Vacation in Jamaica. We hope lots of familiar faces, as well as some who have “always wanted to come to the Yoga Vacation” will join us to celebrate this epic trip! ~Barbara and John
FOR 2026, WE HAVE CHANGED THE REGISTRATION PROCESS FOR THE YOGA VACATION IN JAMAICA:
THE VACATION – $890
• THE VACATION includes yoga classes (twice daily, Monday – Saturday), a reception on Monday, and a Saturday dinner party. You can add the following options to your reservation:
ACCOMMODATIONS
• THE WEST SIGNATURE (formerly Coral Seas Cliff Hotel)
The Yoga Vacation will continue to be based at The West Signature. The cliffside hotel has been renovated into studio or 2-bedroom units with floor-to-ceiling windows, a kitchenette, and a balcony just steps from the beautiful Caribbean. As in past years, a number of our group will stay there. At this time, The West Signature is fully booked. Barbara is happy to add you to a wait list or help you find lodging nearby.
• OFF CAMPUS
Many of the yogis stay off campus. Email Barbara for information about nearby lodging.
AIRPORT SHUTTLE – $75 round-trip
The Yoga Vacation is Sunday to Sunday. Clive’s Transport Services will meet you at Montego Bay airport (MBJ) upon arrival. Your driver will take you to your lodging in Negril. For your return you will be picked up approximately 4 hours before your return flight departure.
DAILY BRUNCH – $175
A buffet brunch will be served, following the morning class, at The West Signature – Monday to Saturday and 9:00 am on Sunday.
HOW TO REGISTER
A $450 non-refundable deposit per person, per week is required to register. Newcomers are welcome to let Barbara know if you plan to register and she’ll add to our growing wait list. Questions? Email – barbara@yogastudio.org.
Tuition may be paid by Zelle (617-803-0918 or barbara@yogastudio.org), Venmo (@Barbara-Benagh), PayPal (barbara@yogastudio.org) or check to Barbara Benagh, 1107 Oakland Ave., Durham, NC 27705.
For more information and to register click here.
Further questions? Email Barbara: barbara@yogastudio.org
Balance On The Path: A Yogic Journey of Self-Actualization with Patricia Walden & John Schumacher
When we think of balance in the context of Yoga, we usually conjure up images of Tree Pose (Vrksasana) or Warrior Pose (Virabhadrasana III). When we stand on one leg, these poses clearly involve balance.
On a certain level, however, ALL asanas are balancing poses. Finding stability requires practice and skill in even the most basic poses. Observe the adjustments the body makes to stay balanced in Mountain Pose (Tadasana).
In the vast realm of Yoga, balance involves so much more than being steady in pose. There is the balance between effort and letting go (abhyasa and vairagya), between the pairs of opposites (dvandvah), between firmness and comfort (sthira and sukha), and more.
During our week-long retreat, we will explore the experience of being balanced on many levels: physical, energetic, emotional, mental, intellectual, and spiritual. The conscious practice of asana and pranayama is an unparalleled vehicle for delving into the subtleties of existence and consciousness. This is, of course, one of the brilliant aspects of the Iyengar method.
Join senior-most Iyengar yoga instructors Patricia Walden and John Schumacher journey of self-actualization, practicing the tangible, the experiential, to open the doors to the ineffable, the mystical, and make it all work in our daily lives.
Daily Schedule:
8am — Breakfast
9:30am-12pm — Active asana practice
12:30pm — Lunch/free time
4pm-6pm — Inversions and pranayama
6:30pm — Dinner/free time
7:45pm — Free time to enjoy community and simply be
*There will be two evening Q&A sessions and final evening Follies!
Patricia and John will each teach one class per day. They will trade off so that each will teach a morning class one day and an afternoon class the next. The morning class will be a more active dynamic class; the afternoon class will focus on Inversions and preparations for and the practice of pranayama.
PRICING & REGISTRATION:
Program Tuition & Basic Accommodations: $2795
Invite a friend(s) new to the Feathered Pipe and you each save $100!
Registration deposit required: A $500 non-refundable deposit is required to secure online registration. Full payment is due eight weeks before the start of the program.
Tuition fee includes: Triple Occupancy Main Lodge, Shared Yurt/Deluxe Wall Tent/Sai Condo, or Single Tipi/Tent, plus meals and use of all amenities – our bathhouse, sauna, hot tub, as well as all the Feathered Pipe Ranch facilities and grounds. Upgraded accommodation are available.
Additional lodging upgrade pricing: Click here
Full description of accommodations options: Click here
The retreat will include:
— 6-nights indoor or outdoor accommodations (upgraded accommodations require an additional fee)
— All daily classes and group sessions, suitable for all
— Delicious and lovingly prepared vegetarian cuisine
— Shuttle service from/to Helena Regional Airport on arrival/departure day
— Full access to the extensive Feathered Pipe grounds (including the hot tub and sauna)
Not included:
— Airfare
— Bodywork & Massage
— Montana Accommodation Tax $25
— Staff gratuities
— Laundry
Shuttle service: Shuttle service from/to Helena Regional Airport on arrival/departure day is complimentary (free) for all registered guests! Please note that if you are needing pick-up or drop-off on any other day, that there will be a $50 one-way charge.
Arrival and departure: Please plan to arrive at the Feathered Pipe Ranch no later than 3pm on the arrival day (Sunday, 5 July) of your retreat so you can join us for a tour of the grounds before dinner at 6:30pm and our group evening orientation following dinner. Please arrange to leave the Ranch in the morning or early afternoon of departure day (Saturday, 11 July). Checkout is at 9am, and guests are welcome to stay at The Ranch until their flight leaves that day.
Interested, but still need more information? Visit our FAQ page, drop us a message including your contact details here, or give us a ring at (406) 442-8196.
Thanks and look forward to seeing you!
40th Annual Yoga Vacation in Jamaica with John Schumacher & Barbara Benagh (Attend WEEK 1, WEEK 2, or BOTH.)
For over 40 years John and Barbara have welcomed yogis to join them for their annual trek to Negril, Jamaica. Negril is a relaxed resort on the west coast of Jamaica, one of the Caribbean’s most beautiful and lush islands and a wonderful place to unwind and restore the soul. Negril is vibrant and brought alive by Jamaicans, their music, and a sultry climate perfect for rest and renewal.
THE TEACHERS
John Schumacher teacher for 50 years, is one of the most prominent and respected teachers in the Iyengar tradition and a senior certified teacher in that method. The director of Unity Woods Yoga Center in Bethesda, MD until 2023, John continues to teach weekly classes as well as continuing education workshops for teachers online. The precision, clarity, humor and directness that John incorporates in his teaching help to guide students toward experiencing the richness and vitality that are possible through the practice of yoga. He lives with his wife Suzie Mann in Bethesda, MD.
Barbara and John got to know each other while sharing a long flight to India and, while their yoga paths have diverged over the years, they relish this annual get together. Their very different teaching styles demonstrate how diverse interpretations of Hatha Yoga can be respectful, informative, and complimentary in a way that inspires students to create an authentic practice.
Barbara Benagh’s unique teaching style draws from many traditions. A teacher since 1974, Barbara has a quirky style that combines breathwork, exploratory movement, yoga philosophy and alignment-based poses. Her unique voice and language invite you to listen more than look as you are guided into a deeply meditative practice that encourages asana to grow from the inside out- very slowly. With good humor, she teaches patience and attention with the goal of creating a yoga practice that is economical, effective, and elegant. She lives in Durham, NC .
Weekly Package (Inc. lodging, brunch, 2 evening events, and yoga). Travel is Sunday-Sunday with two classes daily Monday- Saturday.
Single Room – $1750 Double room -$1335 Companion $860
Class Only (Inc. all yoga + 2 evening events) $810 Unavailable at this time. Please inquire if interested in being waitlisted.
HOW TO REGISTER
Registration will open on August 1, 2023. A $300 non-refundable deposit per person, per week is required to register. Newcomers are welcome to let Barbara know if you plan to register and she’ll add to our growing wait list. Questions? Email – barbara@yogastudio.org.
Tuition may be paid by Zelle (617-803-0918) or barbara@yogastudio.org), Venmo (@Barbara-Benagh), PayPal (barbara@yogastudio.org) or check to Barbara Benagh, 1107 Oakland Ave., Durham, NC 27705.
For more information and to register click here.
Further questions? Email Barbara: barbara@yogastudio.org
Day for Teachers: Observation and Adjustment in the Age of Zoom with John Schumacher
As yoga teachers, we strive to improve our students’ experience by guiding them to safer and more effective ways to practice. One of the ways we accomplish this is by adjusting their poses. Of course, in online classes, hands-on adjustments are not possible; we can adjust the students either verbally or visually.
First, however, we must see what is to be done. Observing what is happening, who needs attention, where to go first: all are key elements of effective teaching. Then comes the art of adjusting.
In this workshop, we will focus on seeing a class and the students in it and examine what to look for, what to avoid, and the mechanics of observation. We will also study and practice some of the techniques you can use to make effective adjustments verbally and visually.
The class will be recorded and will be available to all registered participants. There is no expiration date.
This class is eligible for Continuing Education credits for Yoga Alliance and IYNAUS.
$45
Day for Teachers - Turning the World Upside Down: Inversions in the age of Zoom with John Schumacher
The benefits of inversions - physical, physiological, and mental - are vast. It takes B.K.S. Iyengar several pages to list them in Light On Yoga.
In this class, we will learn about the basic inversions (Sirsasana [headstand], Sarvangasana [shoulderstand], and Halasana [plow]; how to prepare for them; how to practice them safely; and effective ways to teach them, especially online.
$45
39th Annual Yoga Vacation in Jamaica with John Schumacher & Barbara Benagh (Attend WEEK 1, WEEK 2, or BOTH.)
For nearly 40 years John and Barbara have welcomed yogis to them for their annual trek to Negril, Jamaica. Negril is a relaxed resort on the west coast of Jamaica, one of the Caribbean’s most beautiful and lush islands and awonderful place to unwind and restore the soul. Negril is vibrant and brought alive by the people, their music, and a sultry climate perfect for rest and renewal. These two weeks in February, with all events outdoors, will be our return to February in Jamaica after three years away. Excited!
THE TEACHERS
John Schumacher is one of the most prominent and respected teachers in the Iyengar tradition and a senior certified teacher in that method. He is the director of Unity Woods Yoga Center where classes are available online. The clarity, humor and directness that John incorporates in his teaching help to guide students toward experiencing the richness and vitality that are possible through the practice of yoga. He lives in Potomac, MD.
Barbara Benagh’s unique teaching style draws from many traditions. A teacher since 1974, Barbara has a quirky, slow style that employs evocative language and conscious breathing to encourage an internal, yet technical, approach to yoga. With good humor, she teaches patience and attention with the goal of creating a yoga practice that is economical, effective, and elegant. She lives in Durham, NC .
Barbara and John got to know each other on a long flight to India and, while their yoga paths have diverged over the years, they relish this annual get together. Their very different teaching styles demonstrate how diverse interpretations of Hatha Yoga can be respectful, informative, and complimentary in a way that inspires students to create an authentic practice.
Weekly Package (Inc. lodging, brunch, 2 evening events, and yoga):
Travel is Sunday-Sunday with two classes daily Monday- Saturday.
Single Room – $1,750 Double room – $1,335. Companion (no yoga) $860
Class Only (Inc. all yoga + 2 evening events) – $810
There are also two studio apartments with a kitchenette and one discounted room, the only room with no ocean view. Please ask Barbara for information.
HOW TO REGISTER
Registration is OPEN! Questions? Email – barbara@yogastudio.org.
Tuition may be paid by Zelle (617-803-0918) or barbara@yogastudio.org), Venmo (Barbara-Benagh), PayPal (barbara@yogastudio.org) or check to Barbara Benagh, 1107 Oakland Ave., Durham, NC 27705.
For more information and to register click here.
Further questions? Email Barbara: barbara@yogastudio.org
A Day for Teachers: Deepening Your Practice and Teaching
Deepen your practice and teaching. You’ve said it; I’ve said and written it. What does it actually mean? And how do you do it?
Deepening means to move from an external, superficial, or peripheral level to a more internal, essential, core level.
In this class, we will explore how the concept applies to asana in particular and yoga in general and look at techniques to employ those concepts in practical how-to ways.
$45.
A Workshop with John Schumacher
Saturday and Sunday, January 7th & 8th
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST
For more information and to register contact Bobbi Goldin@yogamiami.com or click here.
iYoga Del Rey Beach - Special Class
iYoga is thrilled to welcome Senior Certified Iyengar Instructor John Schumacher back for a surprise class. John has been teaching the Iyengar method since 1981 and owned Unity Woods Yoga Studio for 40 years. John was under the tutelage of BKS Iyengar for many years. He knows first hand that studying with a committed teacher not only transforms one’s practice, it transforms how we connect to the world around us and most important to ourselves. His teaching is clear, concise, precise and infused with humor. Don’t miss this special class!
$40. Check out schedule page here. Scroll down to January 2nd for more info and follow prompts to register for special class.
Recording will be provided for two weeks to all registrants.
For questions or to register please contact 254-295-6121.
A Day for Teachers: Secrets of Skillful Sequencing
Secrets of Skillful Sequencing
Zoom workshop with John Schumacher
Sequencing, the flow of one event into another, is an inherent part of our lives. It is also a key element in the practice and teaching of yoga. In this workshop, we’ll examine some basic principles of sequencing and learn guidelines for putting a pose, a class, a session, a year together in ways that help you and your students make progress.
10:00 AM - 12:30 PM EST
$45