Why This Yoga Queen Thinks Everyone Should Start Their Day With “Puppy Cuddle Time”

Welcome to Our Morning Routine, a spin on our cult-fave series about the a.m. rituals of wellness gurus—now featuring pets, too. We teamed up with ORGANIX®, America's number one organic pet food brand, to get all the details of how healthy pet parents handle the morning rush.

Sarah Levey, Wrinkles, and Zoe
Y7 co-founder; English bulldogs and expert cuddlers

Depending on my day, which is usually pretty different, I’m usually up and moving around 7:30 a.m. I usually try and do a class in the morning because as my day goes on, it just gets away from me. We’re very lucky that our office is in the same building as New York Pilates on Bowery, so I’ll go there a lot, or I’ll do a Y7 class. [My husband] Mason and I will also train together at a personal training gym called S10.

Both Wrinkles and Zoey sleep in bed with us. We just measured our bedroom for a king size bed, because we’re like, "We can’t do this anymore!" Zoe snorts all night long. When we first got them, I was like, "I’m never going to be able to sleep again!" But you get used to it. Now, when I don’t hear her when I wake up, I’m like, "What’s she doing? Is she pooping in the living room? What’s happening?"

When I first wake up, I reach over and kiss their faces. I allow myself 10 minutes before I get out of bed, which I call "puppy cuddle time." They're so great in the morning—they’re just these big lumps of skin and cuddle-ness. Wrinkles is usually in between the pillows against the wall. That’s his favorite spot.

I always have an apple cider vinegar shot mixed with water. It’s still pretty gross, but it feels like it clears me out because I’m not really a great eater. I may have had a piece of pie last night! And then I have a coffee, just using the old 12-cup pot from the grocery store. I always take it black, and then I take a Source Naturals vitamin and use EltaMD SPF 46.

I usually eat breakfast at the office because I’m not really hungry the second I wake up. If I’m bringing my own, it’s either some overnight oats and fruit or hardboiled eggs and fruit. I love berries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries. I use steel-cut oats and almond milk, and most of the time I add chia seeds and a scoop of almond butter.

"Every dog is different, so it’s important to find out what works best for them. "

For Wrinkles and Zoe, it’s really important for their skin and coat to feed them ORGANIX®, which always features either organic, free-range chicken or turkey or real lamb or salmon as the first ingredient. We’re careful with what we feed them, and they don’t get any table scraps or anything. Every dog is different, so it’s important to find out what works best for them. 

Wrinkles is usually dragged out of the apartment in the morning, and then he pees and immediately goes back to the door. They get afternoon walks, because we have a dog walker who comes. Zoe loves walking, and when Wrinkles is in the mood, he will too. He just has a mind of his own and he only wants to go on a walk when he wants to.

Overall, for me, it all starts the night before. I’m really bad—even as an adult, I could sleep until 2 p.m. But it’s really kind of setting yourself up for success the night before. I listen to a meditation at night, but my morning is just about energizing. And for me, my workout is my meditation. It’s my time to be with myself and it really sets me up for the day.

Want to keep your pet healthy? They’ll love America’s number one organic pet food brand, which always features either organic, free-range chicken or turkey or real lamb or salmon as the first ingredient. Learn more about ORGANIX® at castorpolluxpet.com

Top photo: Ryan Brady for Well+Good