Breathe In

Open-air cardio pumps up new Knox-Henderson fitness studio coming this fall

Ritual One's Kalene McGraner, Gina Dunn, Nicole Preston

Ritaul One co-founder Kalene McGraner, creative director Gina Dunn, and co-founder Nicole Preston.

Photo by Stu Conry

UPDATE 1-11-2021: Ritual One will officially open its doors to the public on Thursday, January 14. They'll host a free, come-and-go Grand Opening event throughout the day; check their website for more details.

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Traditional gyms and exercise studios are now outdated thanks to COVID-19, with new fitness concepts focused on open-air and state-of-the-art ventilation systems now leading the way.

One such studio is Ritual One, a new "all-encompassing fitness experience" coming later this fall to Travis Walk in Knox-Henderson, where El Vecino used to be located.

It's the creation of Dallas-based yoga instructors Kalene McGraner and Nicole Preston, along with partner and creative director Gina Dunn. The studio will offer a diverse selection of classes including infrared-heated yoga and sculpt, inferno HIIT, and open-air cardio.

"Every element of Ritual One — from the infrared-heated classes we offer to the design of the studio — is about authentic transformation and elevating healthiness to an optimum level," says Preston.

The 4,500-square-foot studio promises "next-generation science-based modalities to create a healthy and healing atmosphere." The infrared heating is said to increase blood flow and detoxification while reducing pain and inflammation. The air purification ionization system will help prevent the spread of harmful bacteria, viruses, and allergens, while the ground will have a shock-absorbing anti-microbial flooring system.

There will also be a locker room, bathrooms with showers and customized bath products, an in-house beverage bar, and a curated retail section for men and women.

Co-founders McGraner and Preston have decades of collective experience in yoga, breath work, health, and nutrition. They aspire to revive daily strengthening rituals with a multi-disciplined approach to health and longevity, presenting an unprecedented variety of fitness offerings designed for all skill levels.

"We want to be a part of everyone's daily ritual," says McGraner. "We feel we are equipped to do so, and will inspire people to engage in a mindful routine with our multidisciplinary yoga, sculpt, and HIIT classes, infrared heat, and open-air cardio amenities; we have all you need."

Ritual One is located at 4514 Travis St. Prior to its opening this fall, the studio is offering in-person and virtual classes in a temporary space, found by following on Instagram at @ritualoneyoga. Interested students can also go online here to sign up for updates regarding the studio's opening.

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RETAIL WATCH

Texas AG Ken Paxton opens investigation into fast-fashion giant Shein

Photo courtesy of SHEIN

Shein is now under investigation from the Texas Attorney General.

Critics of fast fashion have found a strange bedfellow in Ken Paxton. The Texas Attorney General announced December 1 he would investigate online retailer Shein for alleged unethical labor practices and unsafe consumer products.

According to a release from Paxton’s office, the inquiry aims to find out if Shein’s “supply chain and manufacturing practices violate Texas law by using toxic or hazardous materials, misleading consumers about product safety, and misleading consumers about ethical sourcing.” The probe will also look into the corporation’s data collection and privacy practices.

In a statement, Paxton put a partisan spin on the investigation.

“Safe, non-toxic material and products are another key ingredient to [Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s] Make America Healthy Again movement,” said Paxton in the release. “Any company that cuts corners on labor standards or product safety, especially those operating in foreign nations like China, will be held accountable.”

Paxton’s move unexpectedly aligns the AG with environmental watchdogs. Nonprofit Yale Climate Connections has long sounded the alarm about the Singapore-based e-tailer, calling it one of the world’s biggest polluters. Paxton has long railed against climate change regulations and sued the Biden administration several times to block emissions rules.

The investigation is part of a larger Republican crackdown on Chinese consumer products. On Capitol Hill, lawmakers are debating new restrictions on Shenzhen-based aerial drone maker DJI, and Senator Tom Cotton has called for investigations of “Communist Chinese” companies Shein and Temu. The September Texas vape ban specifically banned disposable e-cigarettes manufactured in the country.

In a statement emailed to multiple media outlets, Shein said it would comply with Paxton’s investigation.

“Shein takes these concerns seriously and is fully committed to cooperating,” a spokesperson said. “Our mission — to provide affordable, fashionable products to customers around the world — is underpinned by a dedication to safety, compliance, and respect for human rights.”

The controversy will likely have little effect on Shein’s popularity with Zoomers. The company snagged an estimated $38 billion in sales in 2024 and has an average of 24.7 million active app users each month.

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