2020 was the year that changed us.

In the Spring of 2020 we had to make the very tough decision to close the yoga studio for the foreseeable future. We learned that many of our neighbors were experiencing food insecurity and small businesses were either closed down or did not have sufficient inventory due to widespread global supply chain issues. We were devastated and not prepared for the way the pandemic was hitting our local Queens community, our families nationwide and the world at large. We were forced to take a step back and ask ourselves, “What does practicing humanity mean in 2020? Do our values still hold true? And what does helping the community look like while navigating our own uncertainties?”

However in the midst of devastation, our environment was reshaping itself. We saw news reports of cleaner air and less pollution across the world due to the population traveling less and slowing down. Despite the current challenges the world faced, there was value in pausing. Pausing helped us pivot and think about ways to support our yoga community and neighbors. We held a virtual fundraiser where all proceeds from the event were given to our yoga teachers who weren’t able to teach at the time. And when we needed help the most, we were overwhelmed by the generosity of our beautiful clients and local businesses. Our small community came together during our time of need and we are forever grateful. 

The pandemic also brought mass media attention to social injustices that had been overlooked for far too long. These harsh truths pushed us to live up to our principles and find more ways to take action. We became more conscious of where our dollars were being spent, and did our best to promote local and BIPOC-owned businesses just like us that would in turn enrich our surrounding communities.

2020 left an imprint on the entire planet. It forced us to sit with ideas and thoughts that can make us uncomfortable. We are forever changed by the events that took place and reckonings that are still occurring to this day. And while it is heartbreaking to see the world around us negatively impacted by the pandemic, neighborhoods such as Sunnyside have proven that obstacles can be overcome when communities come together and organize.