Total Body at Barry’s Bootcamp - class review

When and where

Barry’s Bootcamp’s SW1 studio, Fridays at 5.30pm.

What’s the drill?

Two rounds on the tread, two rounds on the floor. The 60-minute class is split between treadmill intervals (hill climbs, stamina runs and sprints) and high-intensity drills on the floor — weighted squats, burpee combos, dumbbell rows and bicycle crunches.

The skinny

Barry’s claims you can burn up to 1,000 calories an hour. The combination of sprints and fast-paced HIIT gets the heart rate soaring. You’ll hardly have time to catch your breath.

The social network

The Friday afternoon crowd is mostly young professionals and honed Barry’s disciples clad in sloganed gear. Regulars have their lucky number on the treadmill.

Instructor appeal

George normally takes the Friday evening class: he’s smiley and non-intimidating and welcomes newcomers. Expect high-fives as you leave.

What to pack

Bring a bottle and fill up at the taps.

The sounds

George’s catchy club vibes will push you to your max and get you in the mood for a night out.

Locker-room chat

There’s not lots of space for changing but there are six shower cubicles with Malin + Goetz body wash, and shampoo and conditioner, plus hairdryers and ghd straighteners. Fluffy white towels are provided. Lockers are smart so you don’t need a padlock.

Tips for first timers

First-timers must arrive 10 minutes early for an induction. Choose the lightest weights for your first session (George will tell you the options at the start) and aim to start on the treads.

The afterburn

Push hard enough and you’ll be sweating from your eyelids: expect to wring out your T-shirt. You’ll leave feeling euphoric.

From £22/class, barrysbootcamp.com