Fitness News

Fitness center where Shakira got her abs makes Texas debut in Plano

Working those Shakira moves.

Photo courtesy of AKT

A new fitness concept founded by a celebrity trainer has made its Texas debut. AKT, which stands for Anna Kaiser Technique, is a dance-based cardio fitness brand that has opened a new studio in Plano, at 1900 Preston Rd. at the hot hot intersection of Park Boulevard.

AKT is founded by celebrity trainer Anna Kaiser, whose clients have included Shakira and Kelly Ripa. A release says that their approach combines four workouts: Dance, Bands, Circuit, and Tone, or to put it another way, dance, interval, circuit, and toning.

It also incorporates new content every three weeks to prevent the routines from getting boring. Although frankly, for some, it takes three weeks to even learn a routine, much less get bored.

All skill levels are welcome, and having fun is key to their philosophy. From the release: "With the pillars of badassery, rhythm, community, passion, and results, the celeb secret is revealed on how to achieve rockin' bods while still having fun during a workout." See, "having fun" is in there somewhere.

The concept was brought to the area by mother-daughter team Serena Cole and Barrett Cole, who say they've recruited some of the region's top fitness gurus and talent, including professional dancers from some of Texas' top professional sports teams.

"North Texans are passionate about fitness, and we’re so excited to introduce them to AKT — a results-driven, positive, and fun fitness method that has been revolutionizing workouts for thousands from coast to coast," Serena Cole says in a statement. "We are confident North Texans will quickly feel the rhythm and discover the amazing benefits of the AKT method for themselves, while staying safe and healthy."

Speaking of healthy, extra care is being taken to observe the CDC’s recommendations for preventing the spread of germs and ensuring each member has a safe workout. In advance of the opening, AKT has employed strict cleaning regimens including a MicroShield 360 treatment, an EPA-registered and FDA-approved coating system that provides continual protection from 90+ harmful pathogens. The studio is also fogged with Aseptic Plus Hospital Grade disinfectant between each class.

They'll open with a reduced class size environment and maintain a 6-foot distance throughout classes to ensure a contactless experience in the studio. Masks are required for entry and exit, and while in the studio when not participating in a workout.

Individual classes cost $27. They also offer packs: 4 classes for $89 and 8 classes for $159. You can also buy a monthly unlimited membership for $219, although if you sign up by July 25, you get a 20 percent discounted rate of $175 per month.

AKT is part of Xponential Fitness, the Irvine, California company whose portfolio of boutique fitness brands include Club Pilates, Cycle Bar, Stretchlab, Row House, and Stride.

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Holiday shopping

New giant Quge-tip from Dallas-based Q-tip sells out in 24 hours

Q-Tip

Q-tip's Quge-tip

A giant version of an everyday product has sold out in 24 hours: Called the Quge-tip, it's a 6-foot version of the iconic Q-tip, the beauty staple that's been around for more than a century.

Measuring nearly six feet from tip to tip, Quge-tips feature enlarged swabs and a sturdy stick modeled after the original Q-tips swabs design.

The Quge-tip was released on December 9 and sold exclusively online in limited quantities for $35. Alas, according to a spokesperson for Dallas-based Elida Beauty, the parent company of Q-tip, the product flew off the virtual shelf.

"Now that they’re sold out, Q-tips is surprising fans with social giveaways," the spokesperson says.

The Quge-tip is one of two products just released by Dallas companies — both of which feel like they could be April Fools Day jokes — except that both are for real.

Dave & Buster's Claw PurseD&B

Dave & Buster's Claw Purse
The Dallas-based eatertainment chain is leveling up holiday gifting with the debut of the Claw Purse, a limited-edition purse designed by Chain. The Claw Purse is inspired by one of the brand's most iconic games — the claw machine — and according to a release, is "the season's most unexpected fashion statement" for anyone who loves bold style, nostalgia, and a little bit of play.

To mark a milestone for the brand, the Claw Purse launches alongside the expansion of Dave & Buster's Human Crane, a viral, full-body game experience that turns guests into the claw — where they are lowered down into a bin of huge prizes to grab whatever they choose.

Beginning in December 2025, the Human Crane will appear in over 112 Dave & Buster's locations with additional stores rolling out nationwide throughout the season.

But back to the purse: It made its debut at Chain's Holiday House, an event at the company's HQ in L.A., where "it quickly became a crowd favorite among creators, stylists, and culture icons," or so says the release. Which also calls this "the first creative collaboration" between Dave & Buster's and Chain, bringing together Dave & Buster's beloved gameplay with Chain's signature culture-forward point of view. So maybe there will be more collaborations in the future.

Q-tip's Qugetip Q-tip's Quge-tipQ-tip

Q-tips Quge-tips
The Quge-tip is a nearly six-foot supersized version of the "iconic" Q-tip cotton swab, first invented in 1923 and the go-to for beauty, baby care, first aid, cleaning, and everyday moments that call for a gentle, precise touch.

The six-foot Quge-tip features enlarged swabs and a sturdy stick modeled after the original Q-tips swabs design — offering a new way to experience an iconic tool at a dramatically large scale, designed as a playful, oversized tribute.

The release nots that Quge-tips tap into a rising trend of consumers using Q-tips swabs for alternative tasks, which now make up a meaningful share of cotton swab use: From dusting high shelves and cleaning hard-to-reach corners to large-scale art projects.

The six-foot Quge-tip features enlarged swabs and a sturdy stick modeled after the original Q-tips swabs design — offering a new way to experience an iconic tool at a dramatically large scale.

The company insists it's a real thing — they do a very funny video mocking late-night ads for cheap products — and that after debuting at qugetips.com on December 9, they sold out of their initial run. One note: They do not reveal how many Quge-tips were sold. It could just be, like 10 that were for sale.

There's a chance they'll be doing another issue, and they encourage interested shoppers to diligently follow their social media.

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