Barry's Castro — Local services in San Francisco

Barrys is very good for what it is. My opinion is that it is not meant to promote safety and health, but rather an endorphin inducing, high-octane HIIT cult for younger millennial and Gen Z. So for the vast majority of their user base, they provide an exciting place for one to maintain strength and perhaps (probably) lose/maintain weight. For older customers like me, I did not get anywhere near the specific help that I get in pilates, or a dance class. Form is crucial at Barrys but they do not assist customers with that. Believe me, I definitely inquired, and the instructors are very nice, but I feel like they are trained not to give specific advice when specifically asked. The answer is "you can modify". So, it's not the end of the world, but I ended up ripping my lower back because I (believe it or not) have never done a dead lift before. I used like 15 lbs weights, and i do have some physical anomalies, which I discussed with them, and they are very encouraging, but sort of "deer in the headlights". It feels like a training/policy thing versus they lack the knowledge. Don't get me wrong, I highly recommend Barrys. It is challenging, fun, and produces results depending on how much you put in. It is very culti (which is fine) but can bring out the "high school" in patrons, especially if one is new and isn't familiar with the class etiquette. So my sense is if your goal is to lose 20+lbs, or you don't know your body's limitations/idiosyncracies, it's kinda not the place for you. (I'm sure Barrys will disagree with me, lol) There are more instructive, fun, health focused HIIT programs out there. I think maybe they should do like a primer for 1st timers, ldk. K, nuff said...

So, updating. I destroyed my knee, pushing too hard on the treadmill. Not Barry nor instructors fault. I got over zealous, thinking that I could do more gradually over time, but I over did it. Took me 3 months to get back. Went to Kamel's Lift clas (no Run for me) and had a very fun and challenging time. Kamel is SO damn fun. He's full of joy and is quite encouraging and sincerely seems to want you to succeed, whatever your health goals may be. Highly recommend taking Kamel's Lift...

I've always enjoyed Barry's classes. They were a great workout, were liberal enough to let me wear what I wanted, and had cute kama sutra wallpaper in the bathroom.

Unfortunately, they seem to be going in the direction of a conservative chain gym. Today, the person at the desk pulled me out of class - explaining that I had to change because my tights were too thin. I asked why, given it hasn't been a problem before, and mentioned the kama sutra wallpaper. They told me that the wallpaper is going to be torn down soon.

I believe Barry's can set whatever dress code they want. But, tolerance for being different is what makes San Francisco special. You should decide if you want to support a gym that...

I had an amazing first class at Barry’s Bootcamp! I loved having my own running station — we did plenty of sprints and even a little incline at the end, which really pushed me. Then it was over to my own weight station for squats and other strength moves.

Kamelle was incredible — so upbeat, friendly, and clear with instructions. He even came over to help me personally since it was my first time, and kept encouraging us to push to our limits.

The gym itself is spotless, spacious, and very modern. Being the last class at 8 p.m., there was plenty of room to move. Overall, a fantastic experience and I can’t wait...