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Sarah Levey, co-founder of New York City-based hip-hop influenced yoga studio Y7 (Y is for yoga, and the 7 is for the seven chakras), has the city sweating. What started as a Williamsburg pop-up studio in 2013 has blossomed into six candlelit, infrared-heated yoga studios in NYC (the newest and most luxurious is on Third Avenue on the Upper East Side) and one in Los Angeles and boasts models, athletes, and celebrities (Zosia Mamet is a longtime client) as devotees.
We checked in with the NYC-based entrepreneur to see how she winds down on the weekends and what she does in order to reset for the week ahead.
What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?
I locate my dogs Wrinkles and Zoey so I can grab them for cuddles. They sleep in bed with me and my husband, and by the time morning comes we are usually a tangled pile of limbs. I always find them and drag them to either side of me so we can have some quality time.
What are your favorite things to do for yourself on the weekends?
I love to sleep in! I am always up around 6 a.m. on weekdays so being able to lie in bed with nothing to do is a really big treat for me. I also love reading—it’s such a great escape from the craziness of real life and allows my mind to relax and be transported somewhere else. And, of course, long, lazy booze-filled brunches with friends.
How do you unwind?
Honestly, for me it’s just laying on the couch in my sweatpants with my husband and dogs binge watching shows. That is really my happy place. Most recently, we have gotten into the Showtime show Billions…so good.
How do you deal when you’re away for the weekend?
It is definitely a struggle for me since my business is open seven days a week. Whenever I travel for the weekend, I definitely get the “Sunday scaries,” so I try to always get back into town no later than 5 p.m. so I have time to settle in, have dinner with my husband and get to bed at a reasonable time.
What are the activities or errands on your “must-accomplish list” every weekend?
As far as activities go, I always make a point to take a class at our Williamsburg location, which is so close to my apartment. Otherwise, I like to keep my weekends open so there is room for spontaneity. My weeks are so scheduled that it’s nice to be able to do things on a whim. I am so awful with errands. I tend to take care of them on an as-needed basis, but I really try to always clean out my fridge, vacuum, and do laundry.
What do you do on Sundays to prepare for the week ahead?
I always make sure that I look at my calendar for the week so I am not surprised by anything that may pop up for the week ahead. I also like to plan my workouts to make sure that I am making time for myself. I am in bed by 10 p.m. so I’ll be refreshed and ready for the morning.