Meet our instructor of the month, Roger Martin Pressman. Roger is an insightful and inspiring instructor who truly teaches from his heart. When asked what impact yoga can have on a person's life, he said, "For those who take it on, this practice can reflect back the full, beautiful, pulsating, blissful and powerful being that you are." Read on for more inspiration from Roger!
1. When did you start practicing yoga?
I first took yoga in 1997 with a local teacher who held classes in her house. In 2006 I found and Anusara teacher who truly changed my life and became a mentor to me, invited me to teacher trainings and paved the way for me to become a teacher.
2. What has yoga brought to your life?
Yoga has been an amazing gift for me. From deepening and clarifying my relationships, to helping me serve my community, this practice has transformed me in so many ways and it has made transformation sustainable for me. The reflection I have of my life before yoga constantly reminds me of how beneficial this practice has been.
3. Why did you become a yoga instructor?
My passion for educating originated in the inspiration I get from seeing other people experience positive change. My teachers are such good students and as such were constantly in touch with wonderment and excitement with life’s diverse experiences. This taught me to gain as much from my students and studentship as my students hopefully gain from me.
4. What impact can a regular yoga practice have on a person's life? For those who take it on, this practice can reflect back the full, beautiful, pulsating, blissful, powerful being that you are.
5. What advice would you give to someone that is brand new to yoga?
Enjoy it as much as possible! Find a voice that resonates with you, ask as many questions as you can, pay close attention so you can choose what feels and works best for you, and be very patient.
6. What is special about the style of yoga you teach?
The way I was taught to be a teacher was to delve deep into my experience and make it relatable in order to educate and open up to the abundant opportunity we have to choose. It’s special to me because it IS me, it is all my triumphs, all my mistakes; all my experience and what I’ve learned, explained to the best of my ability in a relatable way.
7. What is your favorite yoga posture to teach, and why?
Although the postures are really gateways to our own transformation, I have a true love for teaching handstand. There is so much at stake and so much to learn from taking it on.
8. Please share some words of wisdom or advice for your yogadownload.com yoga students. Find the balance between your ability to be soft and your ability to be strong and use it to take on the challenges of this practice and create opportunities from them.
9. Do you have a favorite quote you'd like to share?
“A little knowledge that acts is worth infinitely more than much knowledge that is idle.” Khalil Gibran
10. What do you like to do "off the mat"? Off the mat, I love experiencing the arts and travelling whenever possible. From visual arts, to music, theatre and dance, I find creative expression in all forms very inspiring. I’ve recently been spending time in Colombia and have a great affinity for the culture there.
Roger practices, studies and teaches Anusara Yoga, a uniquely beautiful and heart-oriented style of Hatha Yoga. With a focus on aligning the body with simple anatomical and biomechanical principles universal to all humans, Roger believes that Anusara practitioners find themselves uniquely empowered to live life more gracefully and invite unlimited qualities to their energy and capabilities. He feels Anusara Yoga teaches us to celebrate life and explore the possibilities available to us. The practice of Anusara Yoga is known to transform challenges into opportunities.
Download or stream one of Roger's inspiring classes today:
The Place in the Middle
Anusara-Inspired Flow
