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5 NYC Grounded Gurus Share Their Wellness Knowledge

By Phebe Wahl By Phebe Wahl | March 15, 2023 | Lifestyle

From mindfulness apps to diet hacks, NYC's grounded gurus have a wealth of wellness knowledge to share.

PORTRAIT COURTESY OF SUBJECT

LILLY HARTLEY

Model and founder of Candescent Films TV/Docuseries Projects

A fierce force in both the fashion and the entertainment industries, model and actress Lilly Hartley stuns both in front and behind the camera as the founder of Candescent Films—a production company that produces powerful content with a unique and innovative approach. Her company has produced award-winning content that includes the Goya Award-winning documentary film Sons of the Clouds, about human rights in the western Sahara. She is dedicated to telling stories that inspire and empower people to take action, and she is an advocate for diversity and inclusion in the entertainment industry. She is also an avid supporter of mental health awareness, and she frequently speaks out to bring attention to this important issue. Here, the style setter shares her script.

Hartley’s breakfast of choice COFFEE PHOTO BY ALVAREZ/ISTOCK
Hartley’s breakfast of choice

BREAKFAST:

Coffee

WAKE-UP TIME:

Around 9 a.m.

NEMESIS:

I don’t hate anyone.

ESCAPE:

Driving away

WEAKNESS:

Pints of Häagen-Dazs chocolate chocolate chip ice cream

An off-duty look from Leonard Frisbie. BRAND PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAND
An off-duty look from Leonard Frisbie

UNIFORM:

Gabriela Hearst

HOTEL:

Le Bristol Paris

WORKOUT:

Nonexistent

SUPPLEMENTS:

Anything and everything by Pure Encapsulations

WELLNESS APP:

What?

MENTOR:

My nephew Leo

WORKOUT SHOES:

Chloé Nama sneakers

WORKOUT OUTFIT:

Leonard Frisbie

WORKOUT PLAYLIST:

I still need help setting up my Spotify account.

BEST ADVICE:

Life could be a comedy or a tragedy; it’s what you make it.

PHILANTHROPY:

Candescent Films

STREAMING NOW:

Vikings: Valhalla

PODCAST:

Crime Junkie

DINNER:

Tomo21

SOULMATE:

Romeo (my Swiss Italian puppy)

BEDTIME:

Whenever I feel like it

ON MY NIGHTSTAND:

The Sun Also Rises

THEME SONG TO YOUR LIFE:

‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’ by the Rolling Stones

3 DESERT ISLAND ESSENTIALS:

A knife, a camera and Persols

YESTERDAY:

I had a great day.

ZODIAC:

Scorpio

ENERGIZED BY:

Laughter

GROUNDED BY:

My friends

TONYA LEWIS LEE

Entrepreneur, film director, writer and founder of Movita Organics

TONYA LEWIS LEE PORTRAIT COURTESY OF ONYX

Tonya Lewis Lee has been making an impact in the entertainment industry for over two decades. She has worked tirelessly to bring meaningful content to marginalized communities and to explore the personal impact of social justice issues, health and wellness. Her recent documentary Aftershock, which examines the Black and brown maternal mortality crisis in America, premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival and has received critical acclaim. The film director, writer and producer also founded Movita Organics in 2015, a premium vitamin supplement brand, to continue the conversation with women about accessing healthy outcomes and provide them with a high-quality resource to aid their well-being and overall vitality. We asked the inspiring entrepreneur, film director, writer and women’s health advocate to share a peek into her daily practice.

WORKOUT:

Running, cycling, yoga

SUPPLEMENTS:

Movita Organics multi, Beauty, D3

WELLNESS APP:

Apple Watch Fitness

WORKOUT SHOES:

Asics for running

WORKOUT OUTFIT:

Lululemon tights for yoga, Nike running tights

WORKOUT PLAYLIST:

Beyoncé anything

WORKOUT BUDDY:

Peloton

BEST ADVICE:

Runners run; writers write; entrepreneurs make things happen.

PHILANTHROPY:

March of Dimes, NAACP Legal Defense Fund

MANTRA:

Stay curious.

STREAMING NOW:

I came to Queen Sugar late… also, Yellowjackets.

PODCAST:

Crime Junkie

DINNER:

Salmon, sauteed spinach, sauteed mushrooms

SOULMATE:

My hubby

BEDTIME:

10:30Pm

ON MY NIGHTSTAND:

Clé de Peau Beauté La Crème

THEME SONG TO YOUR LIFE:

‘Cozy’ by Beyoncé

3 DESERT ISLAND ESSENTIALS:

My journal, my glasses, a tent

YESTERDAY:

Supported my husband in his British Film Institute (BFI) fellowship award

ZODIAC: Aries

ENERGIZED BY:

I’m energized by all the work that we need to do to make this world and all of its resources accessible, available and working for everyone.

SARAH WETENHALL

President & Owner of The Colony Hotel

PAMELA TICK PHOTO BY ROMMEL DEMANO/BFA

At The Colony Hotel, Sarah Wetenhall has created a pink paradise beloved by the fashion flock and smart set—transforming every square foot into an Insta-worthy moment. As the beauty and brains behind the ultrabuzzy hotel, Wetenhall has her finger on the pulse of what is new and next—always curating. As the hotel toasts 75 years with a flurry of ultrachic pop-ups and brand collabs, we checked in with the tastemaker for an inside look.

BREAKFAST:

Hot water with fresh mint

WAKE-UP TIME:

7 a.m.

NEMESIS:

Bad hair days

ESCAPE:

Paris

WEAKNESS:

De Gournay wallpaper

UNIFORM:

Floral!

HOTEL:

Obviously... The Colony Palm Beach!

WORKOUT:

Carrying my beach chair to the beach

SUPPLEMENTS:

All Dr. Barbara Sturm products!

WELLNESS APP:

Slide to Power Off

MENTOR:

My youngest daughter, Maggie

WORKOUT SHOES:

Hermès sandals

WORKOUT OUTFIT:

Agua by Agua Bendita bikini

WORKOUT PLAYLIST:

Anything DJ Pamela Tick

WORKOUT BUDDY:

My Cavalier King Charles, Palmer

BEST ADVICE:

Stay hydrated and get enough sleep.

PHILANTHROPY:

Too many to count!

MANTRA:

Good enough is not enough.

STREAMING NOW:

Yellowstone, 1923 and 1893—I’m obsessed with the whole franchise.

PODCAST:

Claim Your Confidence by Lydia Fenet

DINNER:

Bilboquet or Swifty’s

SOULMATE:

Andrew (husband)

BEDTIME:

11 p.m.

ON MY NIGHTSTAND:

Cuticle oil and a large Essentia water

THEME SONG TO YOUR LIFE:

‘Everyday I’m Hustlin’ ’

GYM BAG:

Yeti cooler and a beach tote

3 DESERT ISLAND ESSENTIALS:

Tequila, fresh water and a boat

YESTERDAY:

Was exhausting!

ZODIAC:

Virgo

ENERGIZED BY:

Liquid IV

GROUNDED BY:

Taking my heels off

CRYSTAL MCCRARY MCGUIRE

Award-winning filmmaker, author, producer and entrepreneur

CRYSTAL MCCRARY MCGUIRE PORTRAIT BY KEITH MAJOR/COURTESY OF SUBJECT

Crystal McCrary McGuire is a force to be reckoned with. Her career began in entertainment law at Paul Weiss, but she quickly shifted gears to pursue a full-time career in writing, producing and directing. She has since published two New York Times bestselling novels, written a critically acclaimed nonfiction book and produced the independent film Dirty Laundry. For six seasons, McCrary McGuire served as cocreator and executive producer for the NAACP Image Award-nominated BET series Leading Women and Leading Men. In recent years, McCrary McGuire has also co-created and executive produced the three-part documentary series Inside Black Culture. This series profiled The Studio Museum in Harlem, Evidence Dance Company and Abyssinian Baptist Church. We asked the powerhouse to share her daily rundown.


Rihanna performs during Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. RIHANNA PHOTO BY ICON SPORTSWIRE/GETTY IMAGES
Rihanna performs during Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.

BREAKFAST:

Two eggs over easy

WAKE-UP TIME:

6 a.m.

NEMESIS:

Mediocrity

ESCAPE:

My steam shower

WEAKNESS:

Creme brulee

UNIFORM:

Pantsuit

HOTEL:

The Ritz Paris

WORKOUT:

Running around the Reservoir in Central Park

SUPPLEMENTS:

Ginger

MENTOR:

My mom

WORKOUT SHOES:

Adidas

WORKOUT OUTFIT:

Leggings and a sports bra

WORKOUT PLAYLIST:

Rihanna, Pop Smoke and my old-school playlist

WORKOUT BUDDY:

I work out solo.

McGuire’s preferred eggs over easy EGGS PHOTO BY LILECHKA75/ISTOCK
McGuire’s preferred eggs over easy

BEST ADVICE:

Control what you can.

PHILANTHROPY:

Life Camp violence disruptors, The Studio Museum in Harlem

MANTRA:

This too shall pass.

STREAMING NOW:

Queen Sugar

PODCAST:

She Pivots

DINNER:

Sole meuniere and haricot verts

SOULMATE:

My husband

BEDTIME:

Ideally 9:30, usually 11:30

ON MY NIGHTSTAND:

Stacks of books and bottles of water

THEME SONG TO YOUR LIFE:

‘I Will Survive’

GYM BAG:

I don’t have one; I just go.

3 DESERT ISLAND ESSENTIALS:

Music, books and my soulmate

YESTERDAY:

Was an opportunity to learn

ZODIAC:

Scorpio

ENERGIZED BY:

Creativity

GROUNDED BY:

My husband and children

EMILY TISCH SUSSMAN

Policy advocate, political strategist and podcaster

EMILY TISCH SUSSMAN PORTRAIT BY MARCELA CUSSOLIN/COURTESY OF SUBJECT

Policy advocate, political strategist and podcaster Emily Tisch Sussman always has her finger on the pulse. Here, the accomplished Hamptonite sounds off about her new podcast, She Pivots. We asked the power player to share her talking points.

BREAKFAST:

Homemade green juice that includes the entire lemon, skin and all. Coffee. Lots of coffee.

WAKE-UP TIME:

Whenever my kids wake me up, usually 7 a.m.

NEMESIS:

A hotel room without immediate access to coffee

ESCAPE:

Sag Harbor

WEAKNESS:

Fried zucchini sticks

UNIFORM:

Joey Wölffer reworked tops, Rag & Bone sweatpants jeans, Saysh sneakers and Kendra Pariseault ear game and necklaces

HOTEL:

The Regency

WORKOUT:

Paddleboarding and Peloton outdoor runs (Broadway soundtracks are preferred.)

SUPPLEMENTS:

Am I at the age that I am supposed to start this?

WELLNESS APP:

My calendar—I live and die by it, and I need it to keep me sane.

MENTOR:

Hillary Koota from Hearst

WORKOUT SHOES:

Men’s OnRunning—women’s are cut too narrow.

WORKOUT OUTFIT:

Terez patterns that bring me joy

WORKOUT PLAYLIST:

Any girl power playlist

WORKOUT BUDDY:

My running is not a group activity. I am such a slow runner, it’s solo.

BEST ADVICE:

You can’t be everything every day. Some days you will be a good mom, some days a good worker and some days a good friend. But rarely all in the same day.

PHILANTHROPY:

Children’s Museum of Manhattan. With She Pivots, we launched a merchandise line with Social Goods with a giveback component of profits to Bottomless Closet.

MANTRA:

Change your mindset to redefine success.

STREAMING NOW:

Love Island UK

PODCAST:

She Pivots of course! New season starts this month with Vice President Kamala Harris.

DINNER:

Duryea’s at Orient Point

SOULMATE:

Roxie Hart

BEDTIME:

Before my children. I have given up trying to actually put them to bed.

ON MY NIGHTSTAND:

Chronicles of Narnia that I am reading with my kids, and slowly making my way through Grief Is Love by Marisa Lee

THEME SONG TO YOUR LIFE:

‘Born This Way’

GYM BAG:

Hair ties—people who work out with hair down are subhuman.

YESTERDAY:

Interviewed Peloton instructor Robin Arzon live onstage and then Shucked on Broadway

ZODIAC:

Taurus

ENERGIZED BY:

My girlfriend tribe

GROUNDED BY:

Cleaning out our pet bunny cage



Tags: interview wellness feature Apple News Phebe Wahl

Photography by: FROM TOP: PORTRAIT COURTESY OF SUBJECT; COFFEE PHOTO BY ALVAREZ/ISTOCK; BRAND PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAND; TONYA LEWIS LEE PORTRAIT COURTESY OF ONYX; SARAH WETENHALL PORTRAIT COURTESY OF SUBJECT; CRYSTAL MCCRARY MCGUIRE PORTRAIT BY KEITH MAJOR/COURTESY OF SUBJECT; RIHANNA PHOTO BY ICON SPORTSWIRE/GETTY IMAGES; EGGS PHOTO BY LILECHKA75/ISTOCK; EMILY TISCH SUSSMAN PORTRAIT BY MARCELA CUSSOLIN/COURTESY OF SUBJECT