Barry’s Bootcamp is Tight
Four Barry’s Bootcamp classes later and it keeps getting better. This is not my first rodeo with bootcamp/HIIT style studio workouts and I am truly considering committing to a Barry’s membership, even though it is by no means the most convenient to my house and it’s definitely the most expensive. Here's why.
The 411
Barry’s Bootcamp is the Tesla of the HIIT studio phenomenon. It was one of the first; founded in LA in 1998 by Barry Jay, at the time recovering addict and now fitness legend.
As so many studios and fitness trends come and go, Barry’s has undoubtedly endured because it offers the whole package. Effective, fun, amenitized and professional. There are currently 17 Barry’s studio’s around the world and all are under the same ownership. No franchising.
Barry’s is cardio intervals on the treadmill and weight/resistance exercises on the floor. That’s it. If you can’t run due to physical limitations, this may not be the workout for you. Yes, you can “double up on the floor” (details to come) but it really takes away from the special sauce that is Barry’s.
The Class
50 minutes of very hard work. You can be sure the music is pumping, perfectly timed to the exercise of the second. As is the new-ish trend with fitness studios, the room is dim. Barry's signature lighting is deep red. I assume it’s intended to keep you in an almost meditative zone and focused on your own workout. Also, according to a recent NYT article, "the dark signifies that you are doing something special". It all works. Something about the lighting combined with the music makes it much less tempting to constantly look around and compare. And it does feel, well, special.
The instructor has a headset, and rhythmically guides two groups of people through simultaneous treadmill and floor work and then switch. So you either start on the floor or the treadmill - you are assigned a spot in advance - and get about 22 minutes total in each location; though every class is different as far as interval breakdown.
Each day the classes focus on a different muscle group, but Fri/Sat/Sun is full body. This is perfect for those who can only come a few times a week at best (hello, busy Mama’s). If you can make it even twice/week, you will have hit everything from head to toe.
The treadmill work doesn’t mess around. Think sprints at a 7 incline. But the intervals are short enough that you CAN do it. It’s acceptable to go slower than what the instructor is calling out, but it’s expected that you push push push. They give beginner, intermediate and advanced options for every pace/incline, which is super helpful.
You leave drenched and feeling 100% accomplished. And it hasn't even been 1 full hour.
I should also mention the staff member waiting outside every class at the end with a tray of cool, damp towels. No that’s service, baby.
Instructors
Instructing Barry’s classes can’t be easy, since the 2 groups are doing different - and constantly changing - exercises. It requires almost second-to-second direction, a.k.a serious multi-tasking.
I have taken classes with Chris Tye-Walker (@ctyewalker) and Blake James Bridges (@blakejamesbridges). Chris has been with Barry’s for 10 years and is a master trainer. He travels around the world training instructors, so as you can imagine, his style is very refined. Super competent, super motivating and the British accent doesn’t hurt. He pushes you to the edge and you leave very grateful. Blake is also great. Tons of energy and keeps everything moving like clockwork. My class with him was relatively small (9:30am on a Tuesday) so I would’ve liked to see some small corrections on the floor work and other types of personal connection with the students.
Honestly, I don’t need to circulate amongst instructors to know that any class would be great, because the workout itself does the job.
Space/Vibe
My closest studio is the Venice location. It is impressive. Huge, clean, full juice bar (called the Fuel Bar which exists at every location - you can order before class and it will be waiting for you afterwards). This location also has a big upstairs stretch area, stocked with all the helpful equipment.
The women’s locker room is better than most gyms. Tons of free combination lockers, 3 big showers and stocked with every product in the Malin & Goetz line. Always yummy candles burning, plus tampons, hair dryers, q tips, plastic bags for sweaty clothes...you get the picture. And free, unlimited workout towels and shower towels.
There is also Barry's workout gear and products from Malin & Goetz for sale in the lobby.
$$$
You may have to start driving Uber at night to be a Barry’s member. There is a class package option and a monthly membership option. Packages are as follows: 1/$28, 5/$135, 10/$260, 25/$630, 50/$1,150. Monthly memberships are $250 for 12 classes in 30 days, $300 for 16 classes in 30 days, $365 for unlimited with a 1 month commitment and $340 for unlimited with a 3 month commitment.
