Mama Nirvana's New Yoga, Amherst

Jayan Schumer possesses an almost all-encompassing understanding of how the human body moves. An accomplished martial artist, swimmer, and conditioning coach, he always knew he'd spend his life in the world of health and fitness. After completing his BS in physical education at the University of Massachusetts, he found himself attracted to the bodily discipline reflected in the yogic arts. This curiosity led him to the Ananda Seva Mission in Santa Rosa, CA, where he studied the ins and outs of yoga therapy. His training also strengthened his powers of meditation, helping him master techniques found in the Zen, Vipassana, and Sahaj systems. Now a registered yoga therapist with more than 500 hours of dedicated training under his belt, he blends his understanding of exercise physiology and mental clarity into the classes at Jayadeva Yoga Schools.

Here, Jayan leads a 15-person team of instructors, who, like the director himself, bring a diverse background of movement and fitness to the studio. They each infuse their unique personality into the schedule of classes, which includes traditional yoga, Vinyasa, and fusions of yoga with Pilates and meditation. Students looking to get more involved can even take advantage of the school's teacher-training programs.