Life Style

How Much Does the Tracy Anderson Method Cost, Exactly?

If you're anything like me, your nightly TikTok scroll consists of cute dogs, Love Is Blind drama, and the Tracy Anderson Method. Quite the combination, yes - but there's something so fascinating about this workout. It's not just the celeb clientele, the loyal following, and the unique workout, which involves a heated room, no verbal cues, and graceful-yet-demanding moves. There's also an intriguing air of mystery about the Tracy Anderson Method online - including how much the Tracy Anderson Method costs. PS got in touch with people at the Tracy Anderson Method to suss out exactly how much a Tracy Anderson Method membership costs. But before we jump into the pricing and membership, let's talk about what you're actually paying for. What Is the Tracy Anderson Method? The Tracy Anderson Method is a fitness program for "strategic muscular design" to create balance in the body all while preserving physical longevity, according to the brand's website. It's a full-body workout that prioritizes choreography and sequencing by integrating dance-based aerobics and muscle work. The intention behind the workout is to strengthen your major and accessory muscles (ie, your entire body) through movements that protect joints, expand flexibility, and improve mobility. The TA Method offers beginner, intermediate, and advanced in-person 30- to 60-minutes classes, with 15-minute arms, abs, and lower body target classes available online. Tracy Anderson preaches consistency, so each class level builds on the previous one, adding new weight transfers and complex positions as you work your way up. New choreography is released every seven to 10 days, and the website suggests taking class four to seven days a week to achieve "total-body results." That may sound like some big promises, but the Tracy Anderson Method has extremely devoted fans - many of whom are actual celebs, like Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Lopez, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Victoria Beckham. If that sounds interesting, keep reading for everything else you need to know about the workout, including the prices, memberships, and additional perks. How Much Does the Tracy Anderson Method Membership Cost? First off, you don't just sign up for a Tracy Anderson Method membership - you apply for consideration. Once you're in, a Tracy Anderson Method membership grants you access to unlimited in-studio group classes and the Tracy Anderson Prescription Team, who can offer members physical and nutritional consultations. Members also get discounts on private training, TA retail products, and the TA Online Studio. Select locations also offer custom programming, where you're given an exercise plan designed specifically for you Membership rates at Tracy Anderson's US-based studios - which have locations in New York, Hamptons, and Los Angeles - are as follows: One-time Initiation Fee: $1,500 Monthly Dues: $900/month How Much Does a Tracy Anderson Method Class Cost? For members, classes are included in the monthly dues. But if you're interested in dipping your toes into the water of a Tracy Anderson Method Class before opting for a full-on membership, you can take non-member classes at off-peak hours (6 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m., 5:30 p.m., and 6:30 p.m.) at US-based studio locations. For non-members, the Tracy Anderson Method classes cost: 50-minute Class: $45 30-minute Cardio Class: $22.50 How Much Does Tracy Anderson Private Training Cost? Private training is also available for non-members and can be purchased at any studio location. For non-members, this is the cost of private training: Non-Member In-Studio One-On-One Private Training: $250/session Non-Member Virtual One-On-One Private Training: $200/session Private training isn't included in the cost of membership, but members do get a discount on private training sessions. How Much Do Virtual Tracy Anderson Method Classes Cost? If you don't live near a Tracy Anderson Method studio, never fear. The TA Online Studio offers virtual classes, including 30-minute beginner classes, 60-minute intermediate classes, and 60-minute advanced classes, with new content being released each week. Virtual "elective content" is also available, which includes a collection of bonus workouts, such as 15-minute body boosts, restorative stretches, dance aerobics, and standing series. The TA Online Studio memberships also grant you access to weekly menus and meal planning guides, newsletters, and digital issues of the Tracy Anderson Magazine, per the website. TA Online Studio ($90 a month). The TA Online studio gives you a two-week free trial, and you can save money by paying every six months ($457) or annually ($809). Another virtual option is Online Studio + TA Live, which includes access to 240+ virtual live classes each month, full daily live class schedule streaming from New York, Los Angeles, and Madrid studios, group classes, early access to the Tracy Anderson Magazine editions, and invitations to special events and surprise live classes with Tracy, per the website. Online Studio + TA Live Monthly ($130 a month). Again, you can save money by paying every six months ($663) or annually ($1,170). A final virtual option is the HeartStone app, which is available to non-members and offers exclusive access to 10 HeartStone fitness sessions. They range from 5 to 33 minutes long and require the use of HeartStone "weighted energy trainers." You're meant to cycle through the series more than once over time. HeartStone App ($10) ($375). Each purchase comes with complimentary access to the app. HeartStone Weighted Energy Trainers ($375) Andi Breitowich is a Chicago-based freelance writer and graduate from Emory University and Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. Her work has appeared in POPSUGAR, Women's Health, Cosmopolitan, and elsewhere.
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The Sexiest and Hottest GIFs of All Time

If you also spent your teenage years scrolling through porn GIFs on Tumblr, then you already know just how orgasmic sexy GIFs can be. Whether you're actually looking for a fun alternative to mainstream porn sites or just casually browsing, finding and watching hot, steamy, and sensual GIFs is an easy way to get in the mood. The hottest GIFs on the Internet are typically pulled from 18+ Netflix series and sexy movies, but trust us when we say, seeing only one to two seconds of tension between two characters in GIF form is really all you need. Plus, unlike typical porn that comes with bad dialogue and even worse acting, sexy-time GIFs are a way to access visually stimulating material without sacrificing quality. The best part about watching steamy GIFs, though, is the educational side. They are a great way to learn what you like and potentially get new ideas to bring into the bedroom, like new sex positions or triangle flirting techniques. The only issue? You may have trouble finding the best sensual GIFs all in one place, so that's where we come in. From steamy sex scenes in black and white to iconic kisses from your favorite romance movies, we've gathered 40 of the hottest GIFs for your viewing pleasure. Now all you need to do is save your favorites for some future fun - you're welcome. Related: 7 Erotic Short Stories to Incorporate Into Your Masturbation Routine
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Our Nontraditional Family Shows the Benefits of Community Care

On the short biography required for apartment applications, we were careful not to lie. We let the imaginations of landlords reading our application fill in the gaps. With the sparse details we provided, we were the paragon of stability: two new parents with a cute baby beginning our careers in a new city. Never mind that we were looking for three-bedroom apartments, or that we didn't have rings, or that we referred to each other by name instead of husband, wife, fiancé, or partner. Maybe they figured it was just a new-age parenting thing. We eventually secured an apartment, each set up our own bedrooms, and then decorated our daughter's nook. Now, when new parent friends come over, we shut the bedroom doors, lest the multiple adult bedrooms invite questions. And in this way, we live a sort of double consciousness, weighing the costs and benefits of telling each new acquaintance that we are not romantic partners. On the one hand, does it really matter if our co-workers or neighbors know that we are living together and raising our daughter as co-parents instead of romantic partners? Does it change anything if they know? If it doesn't matter, then why not just tell them? "We still struggle with if and when to tell people that we're not, in fact, together." This is a dance we have done again and again, and while it's not the biggest challenge of raising our daughter together, the discomfort we feel is a potent reminder that what we're doing isn't typical. Maybe it's not even describable with our current vocabulary. "Co-parenting" feels stuffy and formalistic, like how the word "colleague" doesn't quite capture your closest work friend. "Partner" doesn't either, as it implies we're romantically involved beyond the emotional closeness that raising our child has fostered. "The parent of my child" is a mouthful, but more problematically, it implies that the connection we share is born only of our shared offspring, a connotation that may have been true at one point but is no longer. Usually we settle for simply using each other's names. When we found out we were pregnant with our daughter, we didn't know what life would look like in a month, much less a year. But we set to work building a foundation, first by reaching out to a coach to help us talk through all the emotions and practical considerations of having an unplanned child. We began drafting a co-parenting agreement, a process that was, in retrospect, as valuable for making us practice negotiation and conflict resolution as it was for the substance of the agreement. Through the drafting of this non-legal agreement, we realized that we were, in large part, beginning from a blank slate. Unlike a marriage or a more traditional relationship between parents of a child, there were few norms to guide our decisions. This was a blessing and a curse. We could design the environment we wanted for our daughter free of internal and external norms. But these structures also serve a purpose; they provide a model that is intelligible, and more importantly familiar, to others. They tell you how to act, and they tell others how to act around you and your child. They inform the questions people feel comfortable asking and the help they're willing to offer. For us, it felt more like we were building the plane as it was beginning its acceleration down the runway. By the time our daughter was born, we had an agreement - but little idea what our day-to-day would look like. We moved in together after her birth because we both wanted to share in those early, liminal months. And family and friends around us responded in kind, enveloping us in the community we needed to get through the chaos of those early days. Sometimes it was difficult to explain to people, even loved ones, how to approach the situation, both because we lacked language to describe it and because we ourselves didn't entirely know. But the early days of a new child's life don't leave much time for reflection, and those around us mostly just followed our lead. They dropped off home-cooked meals, often lingering to spend time with our newborn daughter. Friends and family members made overtures to each other, seeking to strengthen the fabric of support that we had begun weaving. "Our daughter is raised by a much broader array of people than had we been a more traditional couple." Most importantly, people around us helped us grapple with new questions, big and small, as they arose. Do we list each other as emergency contacts? Do we spend holidays together? Unlike more traditional relationships between parents, we never built a cocoon around our nascent family, and others didn't assume that one existed. In its place was a permeable fiber that others could pass through with their actions, their questions, and their love. This permeable fiber remains intact to this day, now anchored by more time and more practice working through new questions. More than a year on, we continue to live together. Neither of us is dating right now, and although we've agreed it's not prohibited, we've also discussed certain parameters if it arises in the future. Our daughter is raised by a much broader array of people than had we been a more traditional couple, and we feel much more comfortable asking for help. For instance, other parents at our daughter's daycare describe how no one besides family met their kid for many months; when our daughter was two months old, a friend cared for her in what turned out to be something of a first date for him and his eventual girlfriend. In this way, friends and family have little concern about intruding upon the sacred space of the nuclear family. And our daughter gets to reap the rewards as well: she knows we are her parents and primary caregivers, but she also benefits from the love and care of so many others. Hopefully, as she grows up, her fabric of care will feel much richer and more textured, albeit perhaps less traditional. We still don't have the language to describe what we are, and we still struggle with if and when to tell people that we're not, in fact, together. But we have settled into a comfortable understanding between ourselves, and like so many aspects of parenting, it feels impossible until you do it, and then it's just hard. This writer is remaining anonymous to protect the privacy of his family.
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13 of the Best Extra-Deep Sofas That Are Cozy and Stylish

A comfortable couch is the anchor of any home, and if you have the space, an extra-deep sofa is the way to go. It's so luxurious to lie back and cuddle up without needing an ottoman to rest your feet. An extra-deep sofa is perfect for families and binge-watchers alike - or anyone who prioritizes comfort and a lounge-worthy experience. To help you find the perfect roomy sofa for your apartment or house, interior design expert Gil Walsh of GW Interiors told POPSUGAR her expert tips on the qualities to look for during your search. Why Buy an Extra-Deep Sofa? A deep sofa not only makes your living space feel cozier, but it also serves as a functional piece of seating. "Taller people appreciate extra-deep sofas as they are able to sit more comfortably given their height and length of their legs," Walsh explains. Extra-deep couches are also worth the splurge for those with a habit of sleeping on the sofa and, according to Walsh, "anyone that wants a supreme amount of space to lounge on and has a large enough to house an oversized sofa without it looking out of place." What to Look For When Buying a Deep Couch There are many key factors to consider when investing in furniture, most notably size, fabric, style, function, and cost. For an extra-deep couch, Walsh recommends one with a seat depth of more than 25 inches. "But be mindful of the height," she warns. "If you're on the taller side, be sure the sofa isn't close to the ground, which would make it difficult for you to get on and off." When considering fabrics, first you need to determine how you plan to use the sofa and where it will be placed in your home. "Luxurious textures and blends like velvet and blended wools are best for seldom use. If you have children or pets, a durable performance fabric is your best option. Fade-resistant fabrics hold up well when the sofa is in the path of direct sunlight," Walsh explains. If you're planning on having frequent movie nights on your deep-seated couch, we suggest sticking to upholstered fabrics that are easy to keep clean. Walsh has some best practices for keeping your furniture in tip-top shape for a long time. "For upholstered sofas, vacuum them regularly to remove surface soil and dust," she says. "This prevents them from becoming embedded into the fibers. Gently blot any spills immediately with a clean folded towel. Avoid placing your sofa in direct sunlight as it can cause the fabric to fade or fray, unless you have performance fabric that is made to withstand the power of sunlight." With Walsh's tips in mind, we found 13 of the best extra-deep sofas on the market, many of which are on sale. Our top choice is the editor-favorite Albany Park Kova Pit Sectional Sofa, but there's something for everyone ahead. - Additional reporting by Angela Elias and Kyley Warren Related: The 13 Most Stylish Coffee Tables From West Elm
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The Etiquette Expert’s Guide to Small Talk

Think about what it's like to be at a birthday dinner where you have to interact with your friend's neighbors for the first time, or what it's like to be waiting for a Zoom to begin with coworkers you hardly know. In cases like these where you're not super familiar with your company, you've likely had to lean on small talk to get you through the silence. Because making small talk excludes big, potentially controversial topics like politics, religion, and a person's love life, however, the concept of small talk has a bad rap. Most people, in fact, try to avoid the dreadful, surface-level conversation entirely because it feels forced (or because they don't know how to make small talk in the first place). But small talk is actually more powerful than we give it credit. "Small talk lays the groundwork for deeper, more meaningful connections," etiquette expert Thomas P. Farley, also known as Mister Manners, says. Below, Farley and another etiquette expert shares tips on how to make small talk and offer up some safe small talk topics. Trust, whether it be in your next Uber or at a wedding, you'll feel confident engaging in small talk without bringing up how hot it is outside. What Is Small Talk? Small talk is "exchanging pleasantries with those we encounter in passing," explains Farley. "It's a way of finding commonalities with people we meet and spend time with, whether socially or in business." Whether it's about the weather or your local sport's team, small talk is a type of conversation that people are forced to have in a variety of different circumstances. When to Make Small Talk Whenever you're just not sure what will go over well with your audience, you're probably in a moment or place where small talk is the most appropriate type of conversation. According to etiquette expert Daniel Post Senning, the great-great grandson of Emily Post and co-author of "Emily Post's Etiquette," a few instances in which small talk is called for would be: Meeting someone for the first time When you don't know someone well In a professional or work environment During public occasions (like a wedding) Early, early stages of dating When in doubt, "If you're putting on clothes that you don't wear every day, that's a good indicator to have a little more discretion in terms of how you conduct yourself," Senning says. That said, it's likely you can recall a moment in which you had to make conversation with someone you barely knew and racked your mind for the best topic to get the ball rolling. This brings you to the next step of small talk: understanding how to small talk. How to Make Small Talk The easiest go-to small talk topic, of course, is the weather. It's acceptable, sure, but it's also predictable and perhaps the dullest of small-talk topics, Farley says. "Unless there is a tornado or blizzard on the way, the weather is simply not a creative way of sustaining conversation," he points out. "How many of us truly find 'Hot enough for ya?' fascinating fodder for discussion?" Fortunately, there are plenty of small-talk topics that are perfectly safe and count as small talk that aren't so general that your eyes glaze over even as you're bringing them up. Here are a few strategies for drumming up small talk that will actually help the conversation. Discuss the immediate shared experience The most traditional advice on small talk is that it should stem from your immediate shared experience with a conversation partner, explains Senning. In addition to weather and traffic, which fall under this category, you could also talk about the food or drinks you're enjoying together, the decor of the room you're in, or, in the case of a Zoom call with coworkers, you can talk about how slammed everyone is with deadlines. Some small-talk questions to use in these circumstances could include "What're you drinking?" and "Wow, have you ever been here before? The venue is beautiful." Focus on your own - or the other person's - personal interests A guaranteed way to be enthusiastic about what you're talking about is to focus on personal interests. "The safest thing to do in a conversation is ask people small-talk questions about their interests and hobbies," says Senning. "And have some things that you're interested in, that you like to talk about." Some of the safest hobbies or interests to discuss could be the hottest new Netflix series or how a local sports team is doing. But it's also OK to rely on a subject that your conversation partner might be less familiar with. "If you love to talk about golf, talk about golf," says Senning. "If you love to talk about yoga, talk about yoga. If you love to talk about particle physics or the opera, you can share about these things in ways that are accessible to other people and interesting to other people." "Small talk lays the groundwork for deeper, more meaningful connections." Get curious about the world around you Senning encourages people to be curious in their small-talk conversations. For example, you might ask small-talk questions like, "What are your summer travel plans?" or "What are you working on right now that has you especially excited?" Asking open-ended questions can lead to lively small talk. You can also make an observation about the other person. "Inquiries about an interesting piece of jewelry or accessory the person is wearing are great starters, as those items are typically worn with the desire that they be noticed," Farley says. You might say something like, "I love that scarf - it reminds me of the ones I've seen at one of my favorite shops in Tokyo." Lean on "old world manners" Simple conversation etiquette moves have stood the test of time because they really are that useful to keeping the conversation going - even if it is small talk. Some of these moves include making eye contact, facing the people you're talking to, standing upright, maintaining a neutral or even positive facial expression, and/or nodding your head - all of which conveys that you're present and available, according to Senning. These moves "go a long, long way to make people feel seen, heard, and cared about," he notes. How to Avoid Small Talk Not every small talk conversation is going to take off like wildfire and keep you engaged. "For a variety of reasons, we may not always be in the mood to chit-chat," Farley says. "We may be sad or overwhelmed with emotion, such as at a funeral. We may simply be exhausted after a long day of work and not have the mental focus to sustain pleasant conversation. Or we may be in a situation where we are 'trapped,' such as sitting on an airplane next to someone who wants to converse, and we are simply not feeling it." Whatever the case, it's totally fair to opt out. "You can excuse yourself from any situation, encounter, or conversation," Senning says. The key is relying on "magic words" that will allow you to ditch the snoozefest politely, which are "excuse me," "pardon me," and "I'm sorry," Senning adds. "'Excuse me' will get you out of just about anything," he notes. For instance, you might say, "I'm going to excuse myself for just a moment here" or "Pardon me, I'm going to step away." You could say you're going to freshen up your beverage or find the powder room or you simply don't have to explain at all. "It's not about making up excuses," Senning says. "It's really just about excusing yourself and acknowledging you're leaving. Just acknowledging that you're departing a conversation can be enough to make it a polite departure." If leaving the physical space gracefully isn't an option - like in the airplane, for example - Farley says gentle honesty and some headphones should do the trick. You might say, "It's been nice meeting you. I think I'm actually going to catch up on some work now." Then, open your laptop and pop in your headphones. From time to time, you might be faced with a particularly chatty person who is on a roll, and it's nearly impossible to find that natural pause in which you can excuse yourself. In that case, it's totally OK to jump in. Senning recommends saying something like, "I don't mean to interrupt, but I'm going to duck out. I've got a hard stop at 2." The Bottom Line Depending on the situation, small talk can be anything from enlightening to aggravating. One too many minutes spent discussing tomorrow's high temperature could have you wishing you could bring up something spicier like the election or your recent breakup. And the truth is, those topics aren't necessarily off-limits altogether. "It's not that we don't [ever] talk about politics, religion, or your love life," says Senning. "You can always open the door to one of those conversations. People love to talk about those things, and it would be impossible to have a functioning civil society or find love or be fulfilled spiritually if we didn't have these conversations and have them well." It's just about "showing an awareness of people's different and valid perspectives on those topics," he explains. To lay the foundation for these bigger picture conversations, however, it all starts by perfecting your small talk. Related: Let's Settle This: Who Pays For the Birthday Dinner? Maressa Brown is a journalist, author, and astrologer. Her areas of expertise include writing, reporting, and editing lifestyle, pop culture, and parenting content that's both conversational and substantive. In addition to contributing to POPSUGAR, she writes for a variety of consumer-facing publications including InStyle, Parents, and Shape, and was previously an editor at Cosmopolitan and CafeMom.
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This Hailey Bieber-Loved Brand Makes 1 of the Best Face Sunscreens

I'm ashamed to admit that back in high school (and even college) my sun-protection game was weak (read: almost nonexistent). Luckily, I've come a long way since those days of laying out in the sun sans any SPF. Now, no matter the weather or the time of year, you won't ever catch me without face sunscreen on. Over the years, I've tried my fair share of options and am delighted when I find one that I actually look forward to applying. My latest obsession? The Kosas DreamBeam SPF 40 PA++++ ($40). Though Kosas carries a variety of makeup products (many of which are loved by Hailey Bieber), DreamBeam, which launched in April 2023, was the brand's first sunscreen. It was such a hit that Kosas released a second shade, Sunlit, a year later. It's a mineral formula with a radiant hue that helps neutralize the white cast of the zinc oxide. That said, it doesn't provide any coverage but does create a blurring, filter-like effect. The formula is hydrating, fast-absorbing, and doesn't have that greasy sunscreen-like feel some products do. Read my full review of the Kosas DreamBeam SPF 40 below. About the Kosas DreamBeam SPF 40 It's a mineral formula with non-nano zinc oxide that provides SPF 40 protection. It features ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and peptides to moisturize and soothe the skin. The brand designed it to be worn alone or layered under makeup without any pilling. It's safe for all skin types (including sensitive), hypoallergenic, and noncomedogenic. What I Like About the Kosas DreamBeam SPF 40 I've tried countless face sunscreen formulas over the years, but the ones that make it into my skin-care routine long-term have to feel good on my skin (not greasy or heavy) and layer well under makeup. We've all probably found an SPF that we love, only to find that it pills the second you try to apply concealer or foundation on top of it. Kosas is a makeup brand first and foremost, so DreamBeam needed to play well with other products. Another thing I love about this SPF is the radiance-boosting hue, which helps to counteract the white color of the zinc oxide and makes my skin look smooth and even. The original shade has a peachy, luminous finish while the new one, Sunlit, has a golden bronze glow. Ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and peptides in the formula make it feel comfortable to wear and provide my dry skin with tons of moisture. How to Use the Kosas DreamBeam SPF 40 I use Kosas's DreamBeam as the final step in my morning skin-care routine, right before makeup. After giving my moisturizer a minute or two to absorb, I blend two fingers' worth of product into my face with my hands and carry it down to my neck. Then after letting it sink in for another minute, I'm ready to put on some makeup or leave my skin as is. It doesn't matter how I apply my complexion products on top of this SPF - hands, brush, damp makeup sponge - they always layer nicely. What to Consider Before Trying the Kosas DreamBeam SPF 40 I find that the Kosas DreamBeam SPF 40 blends easily into my skin tone, but it's worth noting that mineral sunscreens can leave behind a white cast on melanated skin. This is something one POPSUGAR editor with a deeper complexion experienced when testing this product, so shoppers with dark skin tones should take that into consideration. Rating: Jessica Harrington is the senior beauty editor at POPSUGAR, where she writes about hair, makeup, skin care, piercings, tattoos, and more. As a New York City-based writer and editor with a degree in journalism and over eight years of industry experience, she loves to interview industry experts, keep up with the latest trends, and test new products.
Read MoreThis Hailey Bieber-Loved Brand Makes 1 of the Best Face Sunscreens

A Complete Guide to the Best Lululemon Leggings, According to Reviews

Have you ever walked into Lululemon, stared at the leggings wall, and gulped in wonder, thinking, "What are the best Lululemon leggings?" Same - and it's a good problem to have. There are so many different styles, fabrics, and colors that we barely know where to begin. But that's also what makes Lululemon so amazing; whether you're a yogi or a marathoner, it has leggings options for you, as well as great sports bras, breathable athletic jackets, and comfy running shorts. In an effort to curb your confusion, we've rounded up some of the most popular Lululemon leggings to stock up on in 2024 and explained what sets each pair apart. For the sake of this experiment, we've compared black Lululemon leggings and tights. That way, you can really understand the subtle but important differences, like fabric, fit, and feel. Because when it comes to leggings, those are the things that matter most. What's the Difference Between Lululemon's Proprietary Fabrics? There are five different proprietary fabrics Lululemon uses to make leggings: Nulu, Nulux, Everlux, Luxtreme, and SmoothCover. Here's how they're all different. Nulu: Nulu is the buttery-soft fabric that the beloved Align collection is made out of. It's not the most high-performance, but it is supremely comfortable. Nulux: One little letter makes all the difference. This fabric has a similar buttery-soft feel to Nulu, but is more sweat-wicking. If you want to feel like you're wearing nothing, go with a legging made of Nulux; it has a sort of naked sensation that's ideal when you're sweating it out. Everlux: Everlux is the brand's fastest-drying fabric. This is thicker than Nulux but still sleek and breathable and likely the most versatile of all. Luxtreme: Luxtreme is a thicker fabric designed to reduce friction and maintain its shape through each wear. SmoothCover: SmoothCover is a combination of Nulu and Luxtreme. It's got the buttery-soft feel of Nulu with the shape retention and hugged-in sensation of Luxtreme. Are Lululemon Leggings Worth the Money? In short: yes. They're all comfortable and durable; you can't go wrong with owning any one of these pairs. On a personal note, we have tried what feels like every legging in the world and always come back to Lululemon. We've had pairs for years that still look and feel brand new - no pilling, sweat scents, fading, or riding down. The quality is unparalleled, and if you're going to splurge on leggings, you want them to last. Take care of your leggings, and they'll take care of you. - Additional reporting by India Yaffe Related: 11 Matching Workout Sets That Are So Cute, You'll Actually Be Excited to Hit the Gym
Read MoreA Complete Guide to the Best Lululemon Leggings, According to Reviews

I Tried the Celeb-Loved Dogpound Gym – and It Really Is That Good

I'm in a no-frills gym. There are two bathrooms, but no showers. It has black walls and tons of equipment lining the perimeter, a boxing ring, and various machines. There's a plush massage table where a client is loosened up by his coach using a Theragun. A group of five is taking an active recovery break from their kettlebell class and doing nonstop mountain climbers in the back corner of the studio. The place is Dogpound, the original location that celebrity trainer Kirk Myers opened back in 2015. Since then they've expanded to have another location in West Hollywood that attracts A-listers and everyday athletes who can afford the premium price point. Although Dogpound wouldn't comment on any specific celebrity's attendance or workout routine, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, and Hugh Jackman have reportedly all been spotted sweating here - and the studio was kind enough to hook me up with a trial of the full experience. What Is the Dogpound Gym? Dogpound memberships are offered in three different tiers: Silver for $8,000 a year, Platinum for $23,000 a year, or Black for $36,000 a year. Each membership has a mix of private sessions and group classes. While the studio offers packages, Dogpound is best known for its A-plus custom programming and personal training, and that's what I was trying out. The programming is usually constructed on six-week or 12-session minimums. Instead of working with just one trainer, you'll cycle through a team of trainers to help you reach your goals. In fact, there's a rule that you can't have more than two consecutive sessions with the same trainer. They do this for a few reasons: one, to avoid scheduling conflicts; two, so the member can try different modalities; and three, so the trainers don't fight over clients. As a fitness writer, I was eager to sink my sneakers into the space and try their team of trainers. What Dogpound Is Like About a week before my first session, I was asked to fill out an intake form. On it, I shared my fitness and injury background, preferences in trainers (gender, prenatal, specialties), and my short-term (three month) and long-term (six month) fitness goals. I share that I'm a lover of strength training, am interested in lower-body workouts especially, and want to build back up to running half-marathons again - or perhaps try a Spartan Race. The day before my session I received an email from the Training Team with my trainer's bio and was immediately impressed. Trainer Wes Beans is not just a NASM-certified personal trainer (and a former Division 1 football athlete); he also has a NSPA Speed and Agility Certification and a RKC Kettlebell Certification. Clearly, Beans knows about strength and conditioning - something I need to do more of to reach my goals. Naturally, I headed to Instagram to vet the trainer further, and my jaw dropped as I thumbed through the videos of him pushing monster kettlebells, sandbags - whatever he can put his hands on, it seems - with absolute ease. "I love kettlebells," he tells me upon first meeting. "Everyone here has their specialty. For me, it's kettlebells." As a lover of strength workouts myself, I knew we'd get along. On the day of my session, Beans warmed me up with some dynamic movement and mobility work, and then we headed to circuit one. Lunges with - you guessed it - kettlebells, followed by eight calories on the Airdyne bike. Before I knew it my new Fitbit Charge 6 was telling me to slow my roll. My heart rate was a balmy 175. In between sets, Beans and I talked until my heart rate dropped and my Fibit buzzed me to "keep it up." It's during my second set of weighted lunges that I notice the squat rack and excitedly ask, "Can we?" He obliges and puts me through a strength and conditioning workout focused on lower-body push (hello squats!) and upper-body pull. Translation: Beans stacked my workout with exercises that focused on the front of the lower body (back squats, alternating Bulgarian split squats) and the back of the upper body (alternating gorilla rows, single arm pull downs). After my session with Beans, I was slated for a lower body pull / upper body push training session with Sebastian Richard, a Drake-loving bodybuilder, at the end of the week. Then, I'd finish out my trial a few days later with another lower-body push and upper-body pull workout with trainer Molly Ertel. The reason my custom Dogpound programming oscillated between the style of workouts was to ensure I'd have enough time to recover each muscle group between training sessions. While I had to skip my planned session with Richard, I was as impressed with Ertel as I'd been with Beans. I was told she'd shaved off 45 minutes off her marathon race while maintaining muscle mass by optimizing her training - which made me confident that she could help me meet my goal of prepping for racing. Does Dogpound Training Work? In a word: yes. While a couple sessions aren't enough to lead to sustained benefits, the post-session glow was real. After my workout with Beans, I felt accomplished, strong, and all-around amazing. According to my wearable, nearly half of my workout had been spent in a "vigorous" heart rate zone (with my BPM falling between 130 to 160), and about 20 percent of my workout had been spent at a "peak" heart rate zone, with my BPM falling above 160. But perhaps most importantly: I had that hurts-so-good feeling two days later (aka, DOMS), when you find yourself remembering your leg workout every time you go down a set of stairs or squat down on a toilet. I was similarly gassed (in a good way) after the workout with Ertel, too. My Fitbit told me that I'd spend 41 percent of my workout with my heart rate above 160 and 41 percent of my workout with my HR between 131 and 161 BPM - a really impressive effort. Afterward, Molly offered either a Theragun massage or assisted stretching. Still feeling tight after Wes' workout I opted for the latter and it felt incredible. Looking back on my experience, what really sets the studio apart from others is the people. It felt like a white glove service throughout the entire experience, from booking to session and the follow-up, when I'd get emails from the team asking how my session went. The level of people investment isn't just on the member's side but on the trainer side as well. In talking with my trainers I learned that Dogpound offers their trainers 401Ks and benefits - not common perks in the fitness training world. It's easy to see why this level of care would attract the best of the best trainers to the studio, and breed an environment of shared success. The bottom line? I see why celebs would flock to Dogpound. It's a workout experience unlike any other - and one that I'd gladly make a regular in my routine. Marietta Alessi is a wellness writer with nearly ten years of experience. Her work has appeared in Shape, Bustle, and many other outlets. She is based in Hoboken, NJ, but loves travel, boxing, and long walks on the beach where she makes sea glass jewelry in her spare time.
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