With sexy red lighting, high-energy music, and plenty of beautiful people coated in sweat, Barry's Bootcamp is more like a nightclub than a gym.
The popular fitness studio debuted in California in 1998. Today, it has 18 locations — plus one on the way on New York's Upper East Side — spread across the US, Norway, and England. Its celebrity fans include everyone from Kim Kardashian to Jake Gyllenhaal, who was recently spotted at the chain's Noho location.
Barry's offers five different classes focusing on specific body parts. A single class can burn up to 1,000 calories. I decided to try all five over the course of five days — and something amazing happened.
By the end of the painful week of sprints and intervals, I'd shaved over a minute off my average mile time.
Here's a glimpse of what my week at Barry's was like.
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My mornings begin at 6 a.m. at the Chelsea studio. Barry's Bootcamp has three locations in Manhattan, two in the Hamptons, six in California, and one location in Florida, Massachusetts, and Tennessee.
I walk in, grab a towel, and mentally prepare for the class ahead. Most locations offer free towel service and locker rooms with Digilock lockers and Malin and Goetz beauty products.
Sometimes I stop by the studio's FuelBar for a protein smoothie. You can place your order before class and it'll be perched on the counter waiting for you afterward.
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