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Today I have a delightful conversation with John Schumacher.

John began practicing yoga in 1970 and teaching in 1973. A former professional musician, he was drawn to yoga through a deep interest in consciousness and transformation. In 1975, he encountered Light on Yoga, which eventually led him to study with B.K.S. Iyengar in India in 1981. That relationship profoundly shaped his practice, teaching, and life.

John is a certified Advanced Iyengar Yoga teacher and the founder of Unity Woods Yoga Center in Maryland. He has taught for over 40 years, leading workshops across the U.S. and internationally. 

In our conversation, John recalls the intensity of his first experience in Pune, as well as the sweet memories of hosting Guruji in his home. 

If you’ve been enjoying On the Light and would like to support the podcast, consider making a small monthly donation. Your support helps cover production costs and allows me to continue sharing meaningful conversations like this one. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a difference — and I’m truly grateful for your support.

Namaskar

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Welcome back to On the Light. In this episode with Prashant Iyengar, he gives us a lot to consider about the proper approach to practice, and he gives us some insight into the difference between practice and Sadhana. He discusses the importance of pranayama and the pranayamic aspect in asana. 

For the listeners, I have an advantage with all of these interviews on the podcast, especially in the episodes with Prashantji, because through the process of preparing the episodes to go out, I get to listen to them multiple times. Through that process I pause the recording often and really contemplate what Sir is teaching us. As many of you know, Prashantji has a beautiful way of orchestrating the presentation of his teachings. If you don’t already do so, I encourage you to listen to the orchestration again and again, the same way you would listen to a musical masterpiece. 

If you’ve been enjoying On the Light and would like to support the podcast, consider making a small monthly donation. Your support helps cover production costs and allows me to continue sharing meaningful conversations like this one. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a difference — and I’m truly grateful for your support.

Without further ado, please enjoy this episode of On the Light. 

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Welcome back to On the Light. In today’s episode, I have the pleasure to be speaking with James Murphy. 

James began practicing Iyengar Yoga in 1988 and was a founding member of the Iyengar Yoga Institute of New York in 1992. He studied extensively in India with B.K.S. Iyengar, Geeta, and Prashant, making over 25 trips. A former professional dancer, James trained under Mary Dunn and assisted her until her passing. James teaches a wide range of classes at the institute from Level 1 to Level 4, Specific Needs, and a free weekly class for the LGBTQ community. He also mentors teachers through the Institute’s Teacher Education program. 

This was such a fun episode for me to record. I enjoyed Jame’s positive outlook. He is very humble and sweet and personable. 

If you’ve been enjoying On the Light and would like to support the podcast, consider making a small monthly donation. Your support helps cover production costs and allows me to continue sharing meaningful conversations like this one. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a difference — and I’m truly grateful for your support.

Please enjoy this episode of On the Light.

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Welcome back to On the Light. In today’s episode, I have a meaningful conversation with George Dovas. Originally from Australia, George moved to Hong Kong in 2001 where he is now the director of the Iyengar Yoga Centre.

I had the good fortune of meeting George this past January during my trip to Bellur for Prashantji’s teaching. One afternoon in the dining hall, my friend Sara Russell and I were searching for a place to sit for lunch. George, who was sitting with James Murphy, noticed us looking around and they kindly invited us to join them. Both George and James were warm, welcoming, and easy to talk to. We ended up having a great conversation AND I was able to get them to commit to interviews for the podcast! I felt like I left the table after lunch with two new friends … and I don’t say that lightly. 

Please enjoy this episode of On the Light.

If you’ve been enjoying On the Light and would like to support the podcast, consider making a small monthly donation. Your support helps cover production costs and allows me to continue sharing meaningful conversations like this one. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a difference — and I’m truly grateful for your support.

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Welcome back to On the Light. In today’s episode, I ask Prashantji about the history of Iyengar Yoga. As always, he is able to take a mundane question and offers a response filled with depth and insight. In this conversation, he reflects on his father’s teaching and practice, offering a unique perspective that only he can provide. I’ve listened to this recording multiple times, and each time, I discover something new. I encourage you to listen closely — there’s a wealth of wisdom here. Please enjoy this episode of On the Light.

Please consider supporting the podcast by making a monthly donation. ✨

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Welcome back to On the Light. In today’s episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Stephanie Quirk. Stephanie shares the story of her first Iyengar Yoga class and the deep, lasting impact it had on her. Stephanie’s journey took her to the Iyengar Yoga Institute in Pune in the early 90s — a visit that turned into a two-decade stay. During that time, she gained a rare depth of insight into how the Iyengars taught and how Guruji approached his practice. In our conversation, Stephanie offers reflections on those teachings, along with personal stories and memorable interactions she had with Guruji.  I’m delighted to share this rich and thoughtful conversation with you. Please enjoy this episode of On the Light.

Please consider supporting the podcast by making a monthly donation. ✨

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In this episode of On the Light, I had the distinct honor of speaking with two of Guruji’s daughters: Vanita, the second eldest, and Savita, the youngest. It was a truly special conversation, and I was deeply moved by their warmth and generosity in sharing their time and stories. With grace and joy, they reflected on their parents’ lives, the profound role Geetaji played in their family, Savita’s journey in dance, their connection to music, and much more. I’m grateful to share this meaningful episode with you. Please enjoy this episode of On the Light.

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Welcome back to On the Light. In today’s final episode of season 2, I have a delightful conversation with Patricia Walden. Patricia met BKS Iyengar in 1976.

In this interview, she shares memories and insights from her decades of experience studying under B.K.S. Iyengar. 

Please enjoy this episode of On the Light

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Welcome back to On the Light. In today’s episode, I have a very engaging conversation with Joan White. Joan began her studies with BKS Iyengar in 1973. In this episode, Joan will talk about Guruji’s incredible power of observation, his continuum of practice over the years, how he loved to be a grandfather and much more.

Please enjoy this episode of On the Light.

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Welcome back to On the Light. In today’s episode, Prashantji discusses the auspiciousness of yoga. He explains anustanum and emphasizes that yoga is not merely about practice but also about exploration and understanding the self. He encourages us to aspire to a higher level of understanding in our practice of yog.

Please enjoy this episode of On the Light. 

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