Yuuki Hirano and Roque Rodriguez
March 24, 2016 Staff Report
Sunnyside resident Roque Rodriguez will open a ground floor yoga studio next month on Skillman Avenue.
The new space, called Suryaside Yoga, will be located at 49-06 Skillman Ave. Rodriguez and his wife are partnering with long time associates, Yuuki and Kana Hirano, who are also co-founders of Hosh Yoga, a not-for-profit, donation-based yoga studio in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
Hirano said that he believed Sunnyside would be a great location for this studio because of how health-conscious the residents seem to be.
“We see people going to the health food stores, buying organic foods and running in the neighborhood regularly,” Yuuki stated. “Since there’s a lot of health-minded people in the area, it’s an idea that made a lot of sense.”
Rodriguez added that the feel of the neighborhood played a big role in why he wanted to start a business in Sunnyside.
“We really like the neighborhood,” Rodrigeuz said. “There’s a lot of down to earth people who make you feel comfortable to be here. We know our neighbors and their dogs by name, and it’s a very welcoming environment.”
“We just thought it’d make sense so we and other people didn’t have to travel to Long Island City or Astoria to find a yoga studio,” he added.
Upon opening, Suryaside Yoga will offer kids classes as well as “gentle classes,” which they describe as more therapeutic, and hope to attract residents of all shapes and sizes.
The space was previously occupied by Hugo’s Tae Kwon Do. The new owners have leased the location for five years, with an option to renew. They expect to open in the first week of April.
Visitors can find more information at their website here.
