Last week I went to my first-ever Barry’s Bootcamp at the new Tribeca location for an event hosted by Well+Good. I’ve heard about Barry’s before- a challenging class involving treadmills and weights. Kim Kardashian took a class once on Keeping Up with the Kardashians so I’ve seen a quick clip before- it looked tough! So when Well+Good was offering a class plus some bonus goodies, it seemed like the perfect time to try out Barry’s Bootcamp.
The event started with a 50 minute workout. The format of our class was split between time on the treadmills and time on a workout bench with weights. Half the students started on the treadmills. I was in this group and I had been dreading the treadmill portion of the class so I was happy to get it out of the way first. We started jogging, then moved into a run, working our way up to sprints of varying lengths and speeds. I’m a little timid about treadmill sprints because I’m worried I’ll lose my balance and go flying off. I’m happy to report that did not happen. I made it up to a speed of 10, which I’m pretty sure is the fastest I’ve ever gone on a treadmill. We spent about 12 minutes on the treadmill, then switched with the other group.
The next section was the weights section. With 8-12 pound dumbbells we did squats, hammer curls, lunges, etc.. After about 12 minutes here, we were switched back onto the treadmills, this time working on an incline (max incline for this portion was 15). After 10 more minutes doing treadmill work, we switched once more, this time using the workout benches plus resistance bands to work our butt and abs.
After a quick stretch we were done. Overall, it was a very solid workout. I got a good sweat, pushed myself harder than I typically do on a treadmill, and felt the burn with the weights. I was extremely impressed with our instructor Joey since he was the only one running the class and somehow was able to direct the treadmill group and the weights group without confusing everyone. He lead the runners for each sprint while at the same time instructed the weight group on exactly what they were doing. How he managed that, I have no idea, but I was impressed! He motivated us to move out of our comfort zone and had good energy.
After class we were treated to gingerbread smoothies (yum!) and a quick talk by Joey about the benefits of weight lifting for women. I try to work lifting into my gym visits but I know that many women are apprehensive about it- because they are worried about bulking up and/or because weight rooms tend to be taken over by men and it can be intimidating. I’m glad Joey dispelled the rumors that as a woman if you weight lift will bulk you up. It’s just not going to happen. In fact, there are many benefits to weight lifting:
- You will be physically stronger
- You will lose body fat
- You will gain strength without bulk
- You decrease your risk of osteoporosis
- You’ll burn more calories
- You’ll lose belly fat
- You’ll prevent injuries
- You will reduce your risk of heart disease and diabetes
- You will improve your attitude and fight depression
So if these things all seem appealing (and they should!) but you don’t know the first thing about weight lifting, Barry’s Bootcamp is a great place to go and learn some moves. You chose the weight you will use (I opted for 10-pounds) and the moves are fairly simple that you can take what you learn in class and use it on a regular basis at your gym (or at home). While Barry’s isn’t a class for a complete beginner, it’s good for people of varying levels. For those self-conscious about their fitness level, because the room is big and dimly lit you don’t have to worry about other people checking in on what you’re doing; everyone is very focused on themselves. I think this class is great for different levels and the stronger you get, the harder you can push yourself.
The classes, like most studios in NYC do not come cheap. One class is $32 but if you buy in bulk the price can drop to as low as $25. Find out more on pricing, schedules and locations HERE.
Finally, we were given a nice gift bag including a Barry’s Bootcamp tank and some beauty products. You can see pictures from the event over at Well+Good. Overall, I was very happy with the event and would recommend both Barry’s Bootcamp and Well+Good events in the future!
Our goodie bag
Photo Credit: madisonavespy.blogspot.com
