Roman Szpond: From Crisis to Gratitude - Transforming Lives Through the Four Pillars of Freedom
In early 2018, Roman Szpond faced the fight of his life.
Battling cancer, everything he thought he knew about strength was put to the test.
But it was in those darkest moments that he discovered what would become his life's work: Gratitude as the ultimate inner strength.
"I learned that many things can be taken away. I can be in physical pain, facing uncertainty," Roman reflects. "But one thing I always have the power to choose is gratitude."
This wasn't just positive thinking—it became his survival strategy, his partner through chemotherapy, and ultimately, what he believes saved his life.
Roman Szpond
When Roman relocated to North Carolina after his recovery, he discovered a yoga studio called Gratitude.
Originally planning to name it Inner Strength Yoga Raleigh, he saw this as a sign.
The name Gratitude stayed, marking the evolution of over two decades of teaching into something far more powerful.
Roman's journey to this breakthrough began over 20 years earlier.
His first transformative visit to India set him on a path of deep study with senior Iyengar and Anusara teachers, as well as mentors like Francois Raoult, Baron Baptiste, and Rod Stryker.
But unlike his teachers, who he felt focused on individual aspects of yoga, Roman began synthesizing their wisdom into something more complete.
In 2002, he opened Inner Strength Studios in the Boston area, expanding it into three successful locations that became renowned for their powerful and transformative yoga.
But even then, gratitude was quietly at work.
When a devastating five-alarm fire destroyed his studio in 2012—just as his partner was pregnant with their second child—Roman instinctively asked himself: "What can I be grateful for about this tragedy?"
Within 24 hours, he had turned the crisis around.
Using his construction background and leading with gratitude, he rebuilt the studio in just 50 days, recovering 110% of what was lost.
Looking back, he realizes gratitude had been his secret weapon all along.
This realization led Roman to develop what he calls the Four Pillars of Freedom—a revolutionary integration of everything he'd learned.
Drawing from Power Yoga for physical empowerment, physical and spiritual Alignment work for connecting with true nature, Emotional intelligence teachings, and Yoga's authentic spirituality, Roman created an alchemical approach that addresses the whole person.
"My influences seemed separate, each focusing on one area," Roman explains. "The Four Pillars brings them together—it's not just physical yoga, it's a complete system for accelerating human growth and helping people 'grow through' challenges rather than just get through them."
The results speak for themselves.
Over the years, many cancer patients have found strength through Roman's gratitude-based approach during their own chemotherapy journeys.
Students dealing with job loss, relationship challenges, success stress, and grief have discovered that gratitude isn't just feel-good philosophy—it's practical psychology that works in real life.
After YogaWorks acquired Inner Strength Studios in 2018, Roman's cancer experience and recovery gave him renewed purpose.
He purchased Gratitude Hot Yoga in Raleigh, then Element Hot Yoga (now Gratitude's second location), and began franchising this refined approach.
The response has been extraordinary.
When Roman opened Gratitude's first franchise in Falmouth, Massachusetts, in 2022, former Inner Strength students flocked back, filling the studio within the first quarter.
The same phenomenon happened with Gratitude Sudbury in 2024.
Even before opening their flagship 4,000+-square-foot Waltham location, emails are pouring in from people who remember the impact of Roman's work.
Today, Roman is building a sustainable movement—not thousands of studios, but quality locations with partners who truly understand that gratitude is more than a practice; it's a way of life.
With new locations opening in Eastern North Carolina and Asheville by 2026, Roman's vision extends far beyond yoga studios.
He's creating a network of transformation centers where people discover that everything they need to overcome any challenge already exists within them.
As an E-RYT500 teacher, successful businessman, and someone who has walked through fire—literally and figuratively—Roman Szpond offers more than yoga instruction.
He offers a proven path to turning life's greatest challenges into your greatest strengths.
To learn more about how to bring Gratitude to your area, email Ro at rszpond@gmail.com