I Tried 3 Popular Workouts in 3 Weeks—2 Were Awesome, 1...Not So Much

I consider myself something of a group fitness connoisseur. I’ve been taking classes—indoor cycling, HIIT, Pilates, boxing, rowing, you name it—for more than 12 years (primarily in NYC, but also while traveling in Miami, LA and London). Having gone to hundreds of classes and dozens of studios, I’ll admit that group fitness can be hit or miss. There are tons of variables to consider: Is the instructor motivating and intense without being mean and unrealistic? Are the exercises challenging to a wide range of fitness levels? Is the playlist jam-packed with bangers? Is the studio fresh and clean? In the spirit of sharing my expertise with you all, I made it a point to go to three popular classes over the past three weeks. Two checked all of my boxes, while the third, sadly, might’ve marked my last visit after ten years.

Folks, there’s a reason Barry’s has been around for 27 years, and now has locations in 16 (!) countries. I’ve been going for years and after a bit of a hiatus (for no reason, really), I returned to the NoHo location in NYC and remembered why this is one of the most popular workouts on the literal planet. It. Is. Good. A combination of treadmill and floor work (or indoor cycling and floor work, at the Chelsea, NYC, and West Hollywood, CA, locations), Barry’s strikes an incredible balance between cardio and strength training, and manages to make you feel challenged whether you’re the most in shape you’ve ever been or are just getting back into a fitness routine (trust me, I’ve taken classes at my physical fitness best and worst). The classes are fast-paced and led by instructors that I can only describe as having Greek God/Goddess-level bodies. They’re more than just pretty faces, though; Barry’s instructors are among the most motivating fitness professionals I’ve encountered over the past decade-plus of taking group fitness classes. On another slightly superficial note, it certainly doesn’t hurt that the studios’ signature red lighting makes your muscles look *chef’s kiss*.

Way back in 2017, PureWow wrote an in-depth story about Rumble—including how it was ushering in a boxing-as-fitness revolution in New York City. Fast forward eight years, and while boxing gyms haven’t boomed in the way indoor cycling studios did in the heyday of SoulCycle, Rumble remains a reliable go-to for a workout that’s heart-pumping and, most importantly for folks who get bored of their run-of-the-mill workouts, fun. I’ve been to Rumble a handful of times over the years, and there’s just something about getting any frustration or stress out on a giant punching bag that feels amazing after a long day. The room is split into two halves: one with the aforementioned punching bags and the other with floor equipment like benches, dumbbells and hand weights. The floor sections are pretty standard (albeit a solid workout), but the boxing sections are where Rumble really shines. After the instructor demonstrates the combinations you’re meant to do, there are big screens at the front of the room that show videos of instructors completing the movements so you can mirror your own punches after theirs. I only really have two qualms with Rumble: First, unless you have your own boxing gloves and wraps, you’re required to rent and buy them, respectively, for $5 and $10. Second, and this is a me problem, Rumble recently closed its Downtown Brooklyn location, so now I have to travel further to get my boxing fix. Alas, I’ll still make the journey.