I’m the first to admit that I’m a little late to the boutique fitness craze that has taken San Francisco by storm. But thanks to Class Pass and the buzz around all of the new and exciting places to work out, I’ve finally jumped on the exercise bandwagon. After exploring everything from Soul Cycle to TRX to Basecamp, the workout that stands out against the rest is hands down, no questions asked Barry’s Bootcamp. Founded in LA in 1998 by West Hollywood based trainer Barry Jay, Barry’s Bootcamp opened its first San Francisco outpost (in SOMA directly across the street from AT&T Park) a little over a year ago. Classes are held daily starting at 6am on weekdays and 7am on weekends. If you haven’t checked out the compact studio yet, here’s five reasons you should drop what you are doing a reserve a spot at Barry’s Bootcamp.
1. There’s no other workout like it. The Barry’s Bootcamp workout consists of high-intensity interval training that combines equal amounts of cardio (running on a treadmill) with floor work (weight training and resistance exercises). You either start on the treadmill or on the floor and do ten minutes of one followed by ten minutes of the other. You repeat this round, then do a third round of each that lasts only six minutes. You end up super sweaty, but you’ll feel great and like you accomplished something.
2. It goes by super quick. Although I felt dizzy and nauseous the first time I went, the 55-minute session passes in the blink of an eye. The loud dance music and darkly light workout room tricks you into thinking that you’re at a dance club rather than a gym. You’ve also got to pay close attention to what the instructor is saying, so not only are you engaging every muscle in your body, but you’re also working the brain to pay attention as well.
3. You actually feel different the next day. It might seem crazy and perhaps it’s a placebo effect, but Barry’s addicts swear their bodies feel differently the day after they do a workout. One of the benefits of high-intensity interval training is a faster metabolism that leads to more calories and fat burned in the 24-hours following a workout. It’s also great for heart stability, builds endurance and makes you feel generally awesome.
4. Adam Shane. The founder of Barry’s Bootcamp is seriously one of the nicest human beings around. He’s responsible for creating the extreme sense of community at Barry’s in SOMA. When you walk in, he’ll greet you with a smile and hand you a towel. When you’re done with class, he is the first person to give you a high five and inquire as to how it went.
5. Barry’s is expanding to the Marina. If it’s a trek for you to get to the only Barry’s location in SF, get excited. Shane and Co. are opening up a second location later this fall on Lombard in between Pierce and Steiner streets. It’s set to be one of the largest Barry’s in the world with over 6,000 square feet of space plus a smoothie bar with indoor cafe seating. We can’t wait for it to open!
