Beyond Yoga CEO Nancy Green's Daily Routine

Nancy Green, the CEO of Beyond Yoga, structures her day around wellness, habit, and leadership. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, she begins her mornings around 6 a.m. with coffee and 35-45 minutes of exercise, often hiking directly from her back door.

A veteran of the retail industry with nearly three decades at Gap Inc., Green joined Beyond Yoga in 2022 after leading Athleta to billion-dollar status. Her workday focuses on setting a positive tone, conducting business updates, and reviewing product quality. She maintains a consistent diet, favoring protein-forward meals and salads. Evenings are reserved for family dinners and relaxation, prioritizing eight hours of sleep to sustain the stamina required for leading a growing brand.

Nancy Green wakes up at 6 a.m. daily, whether she is in the Bay Area or Los Angeles. The first priority is coffee; she scans emails and news for urgent matters immediately after. She then carves out time for movement, aiming for 35-45 minutes of exercise every day.

Green does not stick to a single routine, preferring to mix up her activities. In the Bay Area, she hikes right out her back door into the hills. In Los Angeles, she opts for a power walk or the gym in her apartment building. Her weekly schedule alternates between strength training and cardio, while she reserves Pilates or yoga for the weekends.

She views this morning movement as a time to set intentions. "The way you walk into the office matters," Green notes, explaining that her role involves reading the moment and setting the right tone for the team. By 7:30 a.m., she showers, dresses, and eats a high-protein breakfast of Greek yogurt with organic berries.

Green typically arrives at the Beyond Yoga office by 9 a.m. The morning is dedicated to setting the agenda. Tuesdays specifically begin with a business update meeting to review the previous week's learnings, current trends, and necessary adjustments. This meeting provides clarity and momentum for the team.

As a leader, Green prioritizes a positive environment. She stated, "What drains me is unnecessary negative energy." While she does not expect constant positivity, she finds non-productive constant negativity exhausting. Consequently, she focuses on protecting her energy and bringing an upbeat, optimistic tone to the office.

Product quality is a central focus. Beyond Yoga designs and manufactures all its own products. Green emphasizes that fabrics must be beautiful, durable, and versatile—pants that look as good on the trails of Marin County as they do on the streets of New York. Afternoons are often intense, involving milestone meetings, creative reviews, and strategy conversations regarding real estate and store growth.

Green describes herself as a "creature of habit with food." Breakfast is always protein-forward, and lunch is nearly always a salad. When working in Los Angeles, where food options near the office are limited, she orders delivery or visits Erewhon. She is a member of the grocery store, specifically citing her love for their salads.

Despite her assistant's efforts to protect a 45-minute lunch break, business intrusions are common. "Sometimes business intrudes and someone needs to run something by me while I'm eating," she explained.

Dealing with unexpected issues is a constant part of the role. Green faces curveballs ranging from genuine crises to personal matters, such as a sick child. She believes a leader must stay calm and steady, refusing to let unexpected moments derail the day. The ability to react, pivot, and refocus is essential for effectiveness.

Green aims to finish work between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., a habit developed while raising her four children. Family dinner remains a priority, anchoring her evening rhythm even though her children are now grown. Evenings vary between business dinners and cooking with her husband, often accompanied by a glass of wine or catching up on news.

She prioritizes sleep to maintain the stamina required for growth. If she wakes up at 6 a.m., she aims to be asleep by 10 p.m. to get a full eight hours. This wellness focus is surrounded by a team of great people.

Reflecting on her career, which includes scaling Athleta from a $250 million business to a billion-dollar powerhouse, Green feels she is a perfect fit for Beyond Yoga because it sits at the intersection of wellness, joy, and community. She concludes, "You have to do what you love and love what you do—I feel lucky that after decades in this industry, I still do."