Taryn Toomey does not like being called a guru. But as the founder of The Class, a cult movement method that could be described as part yoga, part Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and part dance party, she has earned a dedicated and sizable following.
What started as a donation-based class with no name held in a child’s dance studio has become an international business, with around 20 different teachers operating out of studio locations in New York and Los Angeles, as well as a digital platform that streams classes to dozens of countries. Here, Toomey reveals how she developed The Class’s signature aesthetic and scents, as well as her tricks for coming back to herself that cost nothing at all.
What influences—places, designers, books—shaped the mood you sought to create in The Class spaces?
When I was 20, I went on a 10-day backpacking trip through the Canyonlands national park. I was struck by the way the colors and the feel of the environment changed during the sunrise and sunset. It has always stayed with me.
What product do you use every day that instantly improves your mood?
The Class. Yes, actually. Plus, cold water on my face (or body, wherever I can get it).
What’s your favorite small luxury to give to someone else?
Crystals, along with an explanation of the meaning behind them.
What is a splurge you reserve for special occasions?
Staying out late.
What do you do when you need to feel grounded?
Hop up and down, shake around, flutter my lips. Then place my forehead on the ground, palms up, and breathe.
What is something you’d love for someone to buy for you, but would never buy for yourself?
A trip to the moon.
What’s a generic that’s just as good as the original?
Toilet paper.
What’s your favorite smell?
My all-time favorite scent, what I wear day and night, is anything from The Class x Routine collaboration. The scent is a combination of Oris, Jasmine, and Tonka.
What is the best thing you’ve put on your face recently?
My daughter's cheek.
What’s a wellness ritual you think is overrated?
Anything done for show (and expressed on social media) with no sincerity or understanding.
What is the most luxurious thing in your life that’s free?
Truth.
For more tips on how to get the most out of life, read our interviews with Nadia Gohar, Arden Wohl, and Liara Roux.
in your life?
