#WCW Sarah Levey | Founder of Y7 Studio
September 12, 2018
Here at LIVELY, we’re constantly surrounded by swoon-worthy women that are killin’ it in their businesses. We're launching #WomenCrushWednesday to celebrate the boss babes who provide us with a constant flow of inspiration, support, and endless girl-crushes.
Up next: Sarah Levey, the founder of Y7 Studio, a yoga studio that combines classic Vinyasa yoga with hip-hop music.
Where are you from? What was it like growing up?
I grew up in Michigan, in a suburb of Detroit. I loved growing up there—we were always outside or on the lake. That is one thing I really miss about living there.
How did you get the idea to start Y7, and how did you make it happen?
Y7 was started for people who thought that yoga wasn’t for them. I was one of those people; I was feeling frustrated with the yoga classes I was attending. I always left class feeling unsatisfied by the workout and bad about myself. We started as a pop-up on the weekends—I had no idea that other people would feel the same frustrations as I did, and the concept just grew organically from there.
What is your process when approaching your creative work?
I find the best way to spark new ideas or flesh out a concept is by talking it through.
What’s the best advice you’ve received from a mentor?
One of my mentors told me, "You can't screen for sanity". That phrase has really stuck with me—sometimes, no matter how accommodating and generous you try to be as an employer, there will be situations in which you will still be looked at as the bad guy. And that’s okay. Just do your best and be confident in yourself.
What does the most intense part of your day look like?
The mornings are always really intense for me. We open the studios at 5:30am, so by the time I get to my desk at 9, most of my morning at the studios is already finished. There always seems to be endless catching up to do.
When do you feel most empowered?
When I finish my to-do list!
What advice would you give on finding healthy work-life balance?
Do what feels good for you. There are no rules. You don’t need to face mask everyday to have balance in your life. Your idea of balance isn’t going to be the same as someone else’s, and vice versa.
What’s the biggest myth of starting your own business?
That you make a lot of money.
When was a time you failed and how did you overcome it?
There have been countless numbers of times that I have failed. You just have to move on from it and onto the next idea.
What is your advice to women that want to start their own business, but have no idea how?
Reach out to someone who has started their own business, and ask questions to anyone you think could help you.
Describe your personal aesthetic.
I’m a jeans and t-shirt gal, when I’m not in leggings. :)
How would you describe a life well lived?
A life lived in the moment.
3 fave LIVELY pieces?
Mesh trim bralette
Seamless bralette
Seamless deep v bodysuit
*All prices shown on the blog are in US dollars.
