Nov. 26, 2014 By Michael Florio
A new fitness center has recently opened in Astoria.
Unlimited Body, located at 27-18 23rd Ave, took over the business that had previously been Seek Fitness.
Daniel Berrios, the owner of United Body, is very familiar with the location. He had rented a room from Seek Fitness for about two years where he provided massage therapy and private training.
Berrios, who took over the business on Nov. 1, said that when the previous owner was closing, he looked at other locations nearby in order to maintain his Astoria clientele. When he was unable to find such a place, he decided to take over Seek Fitness.
“This has been a dream of mine to take over a facility as a personal trainer and massage therapist,” he said.
Berrios has already brought change to the center– other than a new name. He has added kick-boxing and yoga classes. Seek Fitness had offered kick-boxing classes but stopped doing them about a year ago.
Unlimited Body will honor all class packages that were sold by Seek Fitness in an agreement Berrios struck with the former owner.
Berrios plans to add new equipment, such as punching bags and pads for the kick-boxing classes. He said the kick-boxing classes would focus more on circuit classes, instead of just partnering up and hitting a partner’s pads.
“It will be more focused on technique,” Berrios said.
Berrios will be teaching the class.
The center is not like a traditional gym where a client comes in and works out. The facility offers classes only.
Berrios said Seek Fitness was doing well as a business, although it had slowly been in decline.
He said that Unlimited Body has a positive vibe.
“We got rid of trainers who weren’t motivating the class and got new, more-experienced trainers,” he said.
Berrios claimed that since he had taken over there have been several new clients. He added that a lot of the clients from Seek Fitness have stayed with him.
Berrios said his center will stand out from the rest because it offers a variety of classes in one location.
The center will be getting a new awning in coming months, and the interior is being painted this weekend. He said he hopes to turn the basement into another fitness area. He is not sure what he would use the extra space for but is considering squatting racks, bench press racks, heavier weights and spinning bikes.
Berrios has been a licensed massage therapist for four years and certified personal trainer for 13 years.
Berrios, who lives in Astoria, said he has a great location.
“The area is perfect,” he said. “It has a store front right off the train. It brings a lot of traffic and there’s a lot of people moving into the area.”
He said that there is a need for these services in the area.
“When you have good energy from working out and getting massage therapy, your quality of life is better,” he said.
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