Suryaside Yoga Studio Two Year Celebration
May 8, 2018 By Staff Report
Suryaside Yoga Studio, located at 49-06 Skillman Ave., celebrated its two year anniversary last month.
The studio is now looking to showcase how far it has come as a neighborhood fixture since 2016 and what programs and events it will be offering in the spring and summer.
“Since opening we have helped everyone, regardless of physical capability, level of experience or age,” said studio co-founder Roque Rodriguez. “That is why we have — and will continue to offer — traditional Vinyasa ‘flow movement’ classes for beginners and the more experienced.”
The studio also offers “restorative classes,” in which participants remain mostly in reclined poses, various classes on meditation, as well as yoga instruction for both seniors and kids. A free Vipassana meditation workshop is also scheduled once a month for community members to try.
“We want people who have never tried yoga, or who don’t believe it is for them, to come in and give it a try,” Rodriguez said. “Those are the people who ultimately get the most out of our classes, and we want everyone to see just how welcoming and unintimidating our teachers and fellow members really are.”
Yoga Teacher Training graduates
Among the studio’s past achievements, Rodriguez says that he is most proud of the Yoga Teacher Training program, which graduated four students who are now internationally qualified to be yoga instructors.
One of the students received a scholarship to cover the cost of the program, made possible by a partnership with Hosh Yoga in Greenpoint and Jacob Riis Community Center.
Cristian Matos, the scholarship recipient, has been teaching a free yoga class– a requirement of the scholarship– every week since February at the Jacob Riis gymnasium on Saturdays at 12:30 p.m.
“We hope to continue this scholarship program and encourage other studios to do the same to help bring yoga to people who do not have easy access to it,” said Rodriquez.
Suryaside Yoga is now inviting budding yoga instructors to an intensive 28-day training program in the Dominican Republic this summer.
The program, called “Breath of Life”, will span from June 23 to July 21 at Jarabacoa, a green, lush town in the northern region of the Caribbean country.
In La Confluencia in Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic.
The 200-hour training retreat at a villa will teach yoga fundamentals including asana, alignment, breathing techniques, how to work with different body types, meditation, and anatomy. The program also covers the history of yoga and philosophy, and how to run a successful yoga business.
The training program takes place during weekdays, with the weekends reserved for optional excursions like white water rafting, hiking to waterfalls, zip lining, touring butterfly sanctuaries, and more.
The program includes meals that cover all diets and dietary restrictions, as well as transportation to and from the airport and for optional excursions.
Rodriguez, whose family is from the Dominican Republic, said he has long thought about holding a retreat at Jarabacoa after a trip he took there several years ago. “Its mountains, forests—really gorgeous,” Rodriguez said. “It’s like Narnia.”
The retreat is a collaboration between Suryaside Yoga Studios, Hosh Yoga, and Dou Yoga in Clinton Hill. Roque Rodriguez and Yuuki Hirano, co-founders of Suryaside Yoga Studios, will lead the training.
While the program is primarily designed to train those who wish to become instructors, the last week of the program will be open to all. Those looking for an immersive yoga experience without the commitment of becoming a trainer, for example, can benefit from this section.
For more information on classes at Suryaside Yoga, pricing, or how to apply for the summer retreat, visit Suryaside Yoga’s website.
Suryaside Yoga Studios, located at 49-06 Skillman Ave., was founded in 2016 by Yuuki Hirano, Kana Hirano, Yisraela Rodriguez, and Roque Rodriquez.
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2 Comments
Really nice yoga studio. And the teachers are top notch. I’m glad they have yoga for seniors!
A wonderful place of calm and positivity. I look forward to returning when I am next over from England. Lesley