Yoga on the Ridge owner considers expansion, relocation

Roxborough yoga teacher Theresa Conroy is looking to move her studio up Ridge Avenue a bit, expanding it in the process.

Conroy is planning to relocate Yoga on the Ridge from its current spot at 511 Connaroe St. to a currently-empty space in the strip of stores on Domino Lane, across from the Ivy Ridge shopping center. Conroy talked about the plans at last week’s meeting of the Ridge Park Civic Association.

The space is zoned C1 commercial, which allows mostly retail and not instructional uses, so Conroy will need a variance to run her studio, where she holds classes, does personal client instruction, and therapeutic yoga for Parkinson’s, injury rehab and other medical conditions.

Moving to the new space will allow for a 35-percent expansion in the number of classes and monthly workshops, and the addition of one or two new teachers, she said. Most of the renovations needed are cosmetic, and would create a large yoga studio space with a reception area in front, with an office and private studio space in back. Eventually, she said, the basement could be finished for additional studio or storage space.

The yoga studio has been located at Ridge and Connaroe since May 2008, and Conroy has taught yoga since 2005. In the current location, she had trouble previously with area teenagers hanging out behind the 7 Eleven, partying and being destructive. Things have settled down in recent months.

The move would allow Conroy, a former longtime journalist and area native, to expand her business but stay in the neighborhood.

“I’ve lived here all my life, and I’m not looking to move out of here,” she said.

Board members of the civic praised Conroy’s efforts and said they’d provide a letter of approval to the Zoning Board of Adjustment when she seeks the variance.

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Contact Amy Z. Quinn at azquinn@planphilly.com.