Nightclub Meets Cardio and Strength at Barry’s: What To Expect From the Famous Workout Class

Brat summer’s come and gone in both hemispheres, but the 365-party-girl era kicked off by Charli XCX shows no signs of stopping. As someone who thrives on alcohol-free weekends and can crank Brat at any time of day, I also want to hear those club classics outside the club. When the opportunity to try a class at Barry’s came up, I thought: perfect.

It isn’t until I’m on my way to Martin Place interchange at 6:30am on an autumn morning that I realise what I’m actually doing. Nerves begin to simmer. Leaving before peak hour means my usual commute into the city is halved and before I know it, I’m standing outside the studio. Upon entering, I remind myself: I can run. And I’ve dabbled in high-intensity interval training (HIIT) before.

This LA-born fitness phenomenon carries an elite status, having been around for decades and counting celebrities like Dua Lipa and Harry Styles among its fans.

I immediately start questioning how I’ll keep up with a room full of athletes as Lady Gaga’s Die With a Smile plays in the background – feels apt. My mental spiralling is swiftly interrupted by instructor Nayan Bhattacharyya, whose genuine and approachable nature makes me feel like we’ve met before. He gathers me and the other first-timers for an induction.

I’m joined by nine other newbies and we’re told there’s no specific beginner class, so everyone’s welcome to try any workout, with accommodations around how fast you run on the treadmill or how heavy (or light) the weights you lift on the floor will be. We pass by the Fuel Bar to order a signature protein shake – complimentary for first-timers – that’ll be ready for us when class ends.

Nayan then leads us into the Red Room, a signature feature of Barry’s studios worldwide (including four Australian outposts). Though the Martin Place location – the largest Barry’s in the Southern Hemisphere – has been around since 2018, it looks shiny and new.

Each 50-minute class is split 50-50 between cardio on the treadmill and strength training on the floor (there’s also the option to do “Double Floor” – completing the strength workout twice – if running isn’t your thing). You can choose from beginner, intermediate and advanced levels on the treadmill, but you’re ultimately the captain of your own ship, so the speed and incline are completely up to you.

Nayan takes his spot at the front of the class. “Are we feeling ready?” he asks. It doesn’t matter if I am or not – 7am has arrived and it’s officially go time.

The rest of the group piles in and takes to their allocated pieces of equipment for the first round – half the class starts with cardio and the other half starts with strength, then we trade places. There are no screens with pre-recorded videos demonstrating each move. Instead, the trainers somehow orchestrate the classes all on their own, leading both the treadmill and floor groups at once – all while staying perfectly in sync with the beat of the music.

Before we start, Nayan announces it’s Joshua’s 100th class. I’m not sure who he is, but I feel inspired anyway. I start my treadmill at an intermediate pace. My body starts moving too fast for its own good, so I back off and find a comfortable rhythm.

Beads of sweat start falling from my hairline, and just as I plan to pause running for a quick breather, I hear “Keep it up, Hollie,” and so I persist. The entire room lights up in bright red just as the chorus of Innerbloom by RÜFÜS DU SOL drops. I feel like I could keep going, but it’s time to swap to the floor.

Each day of the week focuses on different muscle groups, and today’s strength routine targets upper body. Chest presses and bicycle crunches are all in the mix. We swap between each station twice before the music slows and we’re guided into the cool-down. There’s a flurry of high-fives across the room, and we get to bury our faces in eucalyptus-scented frozen towels on the way out.

Too refreshing to part with, I take my towel with me through the luxe, spacious bathrooms and into the waterfall shower, which has salon-quality products and amenities. I allow myself a few extra minutes cooling down under the water, knowing I’ll still save at least half an hour getting my hair ready – I spotted Dyson hair dryers available to use as I walked in.

The day’s only just beginning (it isn’t even 8am yet) but I feel so accomplished already. I can see why people keep coming back. Filled with adrenaline and ready to conquer whatever the day ahead throws at me, I collect my matcha shake from the Fuel Bar and head off to work.

“Welcome to the Fam, Hollie” is hand-written on the cup.

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Barry’s. First-timers can get a [special three-class offer) for $79 ($26.33 per class), including a complimentary Barry’s Shake on your first visit. Find your nearest studio.