I sweat when I go to this shop and it's not because of the designer prices

We’ve all seen the selfies. Some fitness fanatics will post them as they walk through the coveted doors and head to the top floor of Flannels in Liverpool city centre. I used to roll my eyes at them. Sometimes, when I’m feeling unmotivated and jealous of whoever has the energy to go, I still roll my eyes. That’s because they have taken themselves to a Barry’s class.

The high-intensity workout classes are addictive, so I don’t blame them for wanting to post about it. While the £20 price tag for one class may initially put you off, I’d argue the fee is worth paying as the hour-long classes can become quite addictive - especially when a mouth-watering protein shake is waiting for you at the end.

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I was apprehensive about joining initially. I always viewed it as a cult-like community - the type where someone would snigger when I had a puzzled look on my face as the trainers asked everyone to perform a Romanian Deadlift. A few months on and I still have that same look from time to time; the difference now is I don’t feel embarrassed to ask exactly what we are doing.

Like any gym, it is daunting at first, but once you conquer that fear, half the battle is done. The other half is pushing yourself to your maximum effort, something I find Barry’s trainers are great at helping with you. They understand everyone’s ability is different, and somehow, despite being in a group setting of up to 25 people, they manage to make it personal and cater to your skill.

The classes I attend are usually divided into four 15-minute sections—two treadmill-based and the others centred around the floor. After endlessly sprinting uphill, you move to the centre of the room for a series of press-ups, mountain climbers and the dreaded burpees. Just when you think it’s time for a breather, you’re straight back on the treadmill.

I am particularly a fan of the after-work Friday classes in the red room. As the sweat pours out of me and the endorphins hits, I don’t feel as guilty when the wind sweeps me into whatever bar has an ounce of living singing for the night.

Luckily for those wanting to give it a go, Barry’s has just announced its annual holiday sale - meaning you can stock up on classes with savings of up to 25% on packs. If you are a newbie to it all, your first class in Liverpool can be bought for £9. You can find out more about it all here.