My first summers in the Hamptons were spent behind bars. I popped bottles of Krug for the celebrity set at the Star Room. I made exactly one katrillion Red Bull-Vodkas for budding bankers at Resort. I popped Heineken caps off bare-handed until my fingers bled at the Talkhouse. When I wasn’t shaking cocktails, I was writing about them. I reported on who was drinking what, where, and with whom for a host of publications. I realize I’m dating myself, but there was a time in my early 20s where I felt like Paris and Lindsay were close personal friends.
Many a morning after, I would stroll bleary-eyed down Atlantic Beach, checking out the clusters of people sunbathing or playing Kadima, and think: “Hendricks and tonic, Grey-Goose-soda-splash-of-cran, Ketel martini, bone dry, five olives, on the rocks.” I may not have known everyone’s names, but I knew what they drank.
Flash forward several years, and I made a sharp pivot into teaching yoga and writing about wellness trends. Now when I stroll down Newtown Lane in East Hampton, I take in the brunchers and shoppers and think: “torn rotator cuff, tight hamstrings, left hip replacement.”
Turns out that here on the East End, the carnal cocktail world and the upstanding fitness realm aren’t as far apart as you might imagine. The same people I used to watch dancing on cocktail tables to Jay-Z are now “tapping it back” at Soul Cycle to the same songs. My name is Hov’, oh!, H to the O-V, I used to move snowflakes by the O-Z… It got me thinking… there are lots of Saints and Sinners on the East End who take both Detoxing and Retoxing pretty seriously. I decided to round up my favorite Hamptons wellness influencers to get the skinny on their virtuous ways… and all their vices.
Colleen Saidman Yee, founder of Yoga Shanti in Sag Harbor, with her flowing mermaid locks and legs that go on forever looks more Saint than Sinner, but don’t be fooled — she’s a sucker for processed sugar and too much screen time. “A perfect detox for me is going to bed at 10, and waking up at 7,” she said. “I drink a lot of water, meditate until 7:30, take a Yoga Shanti flow class, hop on my scooter and stop at provisions to get a green juice and then scooter to Havens beach, and jump in the water. Ahh. The day begins and this is the first time I glance at my phone.”
Favorite way to Retox? “That’s easy!” She told me. “I stay up until 2, binging on reruns of Schitt’s Creek while eating peanut M&M’s mixed with popcorn. I drag myself out of bed at 7, grabbing my phone, drinking coffee, opening the computer and eating leftover Good & Plenties from the movie a week ago. No yoga. No meditation.”
Julie Dermer, one of SoulCycle’s Senior Instructors is known for her rigorous and inspiring rides. Not surprisingly, her favorite way to detox in the Hamptons is “definitely first and foremost a sweaty SoulCycle class!” Why? “I always feel invigorated and energized after a challenging, fun ride with the pack,” she said. “I also love a late day visit to the beach with my husband and our dogs. We wind down with some cold rosé and chips. It’s so peaceful!”
But this soul-elevating maven doesn’t consider wine and chips the most fulfilling Retox. When she wants to really let her hair down, she un-velcroes her spin shoes and heads to one of the East End’s liveliest bars. “My go-to would have to be happy hour at Blue Parrot in East Hampton,” she said. “Catching up with my friends at the start of the weekend for margaritas and nachos is always pure Hamptons happiness!”
Annie Mulgrew, VP and founding instructor of City Row, is a Detox/Retox master. “I’m definitely a sinner/saint out here on the East End!” she said. “When I need inspiration and to just sweat it all out (booze et all), my go-to is my CITYROW GO Max machine. The instructors are all fantastic (myself included!), and we have class lengths from 20 up to 50 minutes. I know, I’m biased, but it really is the most effective piece of cardio equipment… I’m incredibly proud of the level of experience that we are providing to our community and welcome new members with open arms and PLENTY of motivation!”
What about after she’s all wrung out and ready to tox? “Taking the boat over to Shelter Island for a late lunch/early dinner at Sunset Beach is my absolute favorite way to retox,” she told me. “Wine just tastes better while sunset-watching at one of my favorite places in the world. Lingering for hours at one of the tables on the sand is how every Sunday should be spent.”
See? Even the most disciplined, dedicated fitness gurus need to unwind sometimes. Whether with TV, sweets, nachos, wine or margaritas, I think we can all learn a lesson here: Perhaps balance can only be achieved when we go to extremes. Cheers! Oh… and Namaste.
