Barry’s Disciples
That: Barry It’s an unlikely name for a messiah, but his global empire of high-intensity exercise has reigned since the first outpost opened in West Hollywood in 1998. The faithful – 165,000 worldwide each week – bend, run and they sweat to the beats of Tiësto and other Eurodance DJs like A coach wearing headphones preaches motivations through a microphone. One-hour classes (from £18) comprise 50 per cent treadmill, 50 per cent strength, with each day of the week dedicated to a specific workout: Monday can be abs and arms; Thursday could focus on the ass. Efficiency can also be writing.
WHO: He found followers in celebrities (David Beckham; Jake Gyllenhaal). Now it’s a mecca for everyone: reformed ravers and Type A personalities who want to get in, get their heart rate up, and get out, no fuss. The protein counter is the altar; Find them here after class, with pre-ordered coconut milk shakes for £7.50.
Where: From Los Angeles to London (its central OG branch is nicknamed “Hell”), New York to Norway, there are now more than 80 club-style studios in 16 countries around the world. Mirrored walls and red disco lights are a must. A similar high-octane mood can be found in BXR Sweat in London and Doha (from £15), soul cycle throughout the US and London (from £16) and 1rebel in London, Melbourne and Dubai (from £26).
The Namesthetics
That: Whether yoga, pilates or meditation, there is a separate space for each type of design: see study anatomyLondon (classes from £21), Open in LA (from $34) and Hagio in Berlin (from €28). For this discerning audience, the scent of Le Labo Palo Santo 14 and the dappled light of each beige studio are as important as the classes offered. At these locations, you’ll find Reformer machines flanked by potted palm trees and reception counters topped with curved sculptures and vases of freshly picked flowers. Gift shops sell hats, Earl of East candles and snacks from RXBAR or Nākd.
WHO: He tends to lean towards the feminine, with a penchant for black Lululemon Align leggings tucked into white Le Bonne Shop socks and Asics SportStyle sneakers. This group reads Goop, carries an aluminum water bottle in an oversized Sporty & Rich bag, and drinks 10 types of supplements before class each morning. The sauna is your happy place.
Where: These spots are the latest in #inspo and catnip interiors for content creators: think Pierre Jeanneret lounge chairs on raw concrete floors with tactile oatmeal rugs; solid oak lockers and private bathrooms. Palm Heights Garden Club in the Cayman Islands (membership upon request) is undoubtedly a visual leader in the space, but look also Good morning pilates in New York (unlimited classes for $369 per month). Cameras ready.
Warehouse Warriors
That: Looking to lift? Forget your local community-run gym. For serious stackers, it’s all about the sparse warehouse setup: Condition in Manchester (from £25 a month), bar brigade in Los Angeles ($125 a month), bear republic in San Diego ($179 per month). These large, square black holes mimic abandoned airport bunkers, where machines and weights are strategically placed to maximize workout ease. The music is minimal and the costumes are simple, imitating a school locker room. The only color you’ll find is the orange sled push track on the ground; the vending machine is a refrigerator full of ground smoothies.
WHO: This CrossFit brigade hits the pull-up bar like they’re ready for combat – think Chris Hemsworth getting ready for The Avengers. The boys are topless or wear exclusively cut-off black vests emblazoned with “training” in white letters; The girls wear Gymshark’s 1.5-inch high-waisted shorts to accentuate their butt gains. Everyone carries a tank-shaped plastic water bottle filled with electrolytes and eats hard-boiled eggs like they’re apples.
Where: The geographical aesthetic of these gyms, which are mainly found on industrial estates with car parks in front, is as simple and brutalist as you can get without installing a platform at the Barbican. Forge in London (from £19 per session) and Crossfit Kawi in Austin (from $25) are excellent examples.
The luxury ones
That: From a 6am Pilates class on the first floor to a lunchtime HIIT class on the third, enter the realm of wellness – a sprawling home from home where, for a monthly fee of over £300 , all health and fitness needs are catered for. The sector was pioneered in the United States with Equinox (from $285 a month), which now has more than 100 clubs around the world and is famous for its shiny, marble-clad interiors and elegant settings. However, the rapidly rising crown jewel is Third space (from £222 a month), which is expanding across London but intends to maintain its branch-specific boutique style.
WHO: Mostly Zen-conscious millennials working corporate jobs – find them grabbing a Zoom job at the coffee shop. You might also spot Paul Mescal on the treadmill at London’s Third Space or Paris Hilton squatting at Equinox in Beverly Hills.
Where: The enviably tiled changing rooms are filled with illuminated stations stocked with Cowshed and Aesop shower gels and shampoos (below right), Cloud Nine hair straighteners and fluffy white towels. There might even be an on-site facialist, a masseuse or intravenous drips administered by a registered nurse – Third Space Canary Wharf really has everything to combat office burnout. Why would you ever leave?
The personal trainer group
That: One-on-one encounters are no longer reserved for the rich and famous. Whether it’s training for a marathon (watch Anthony Fletcher on Club Onetrack in London and Farnham), recovering from an injury (try Dr. Jordan Claybourne in Real personal training in Los Angeles), or looking to improve your glutes and biceps (Josh Betteridge or George Ashwell in The lighthouse club in London), the true flexibility of fitness is having your own trainer. Offering a solid schedule and even stronger guidance, they’ll give you everything they’ve got, from meal planning tips to midnight pep talks. It is unclear if she is his instructor, therapist, mother or spouse.
WHO: Very busy and important optimists who wear the Oura Ring, who are high achievers, live in the city and travel frequently: think CEOs, company directors or actors for whom time is money. They could also be only children who never learned to share.
Where: That would be telling: these places are very “if you know.” Elite for being discreet, some, like The Lighthouse Club, have small gold letters on the door instead of a billboard-style sign and require entry via doorbell. In Paris? Gymate is an oak-wood boutique gym straight out of the Copenhagen design scene. Dedicated to private sessions, their studios can be booked online by the hour. Comfort, convenience and conscientious training are the ultimate in cool.