Working out is both expensive and time-consuming. With a tight budget and a tight schedule, young professionals in Boston need quick, down and dirty, honest reviews of gyms, studios and fitness classes in the city. In the Happy Hour Athlete series, BostInno will attend classes and write first-impression reviews about our experiences – from what to wear, to what the music was like, to who you’ll be working out next to. We’ll also tell you where to get a drink after getting your sweat on.

Truthfully, I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I signed up for a Wednesday evening class at The Bar Method, one of the few studios in Massachusetts dedicated to that particular bar practice. When friends asked what exactly that meant, I could only really point to ballerina bars for comparison; my boyfriend thought I was taking a bar tending class. So I arrived to the Back Bay studio early, completely unaware of what was to come next.

The studio, situated on the third and fourth floors of a conspicuous apartment-type building, had a beautiful locker room area, with private cabinets free of charge for class attendees, as well as towels, showers and an assortment of post-shower products (possibly attributing to the $26 price for a single class). As I filled out a safety release form, inquiring about any injuries or medical histories they should know about, I was starting to realize that I was in for some ass-kicking. I nixed out the lines about injuries,  grabbed my water bottle and headed to the upstairs classroom.

Happy Hour Athlete’s First Impression

Classroom: The room initially felt too cold as I sat and stretched, but I had a feeling I would come to appreciate this temperature later. (I would.) The floor was covered in a cushy carpet and the walls were lined with mirrors and ballerina-esque bars. I grabbed two weights from the corner as the receptionist had instructed — a lighter and a heavier one — before sitting down and waiting for class to begin.

Where to Sit: The room is long and slightly narrow, so there will likely be two rows of fellow students. Spread out and grab a spot near the bar in front of the mirror — you’ll want to keep an eye on your form, and the view will help you determine if your tailbone is tucked and your back is flat as you go through the motions.

Who You’ll Be Sitting Next To: Women in the 20s and 30s, most of whom seemed to know their way around a Bar Method class. No men were spotted in the studio (in fact, I’m not sure that there was a men’s locker room, either).

What to Wear: You won’t be sweating too hard, so I would recommend stretchy, comfortable pants and a looser fitting top. Anything that won’t get in your way or distract you — you won’t want any of those. As for shoes, it doesn’t really matter, you just need to wear socks in the studio (so make sure they match). Grippy socks are also available for purchase in the lobby so your feet don’t slip.

What You’ll Do: The Bar Method classes have a standard routine. You’ll start with arms and weights and work your way through stretches and forms focused on legs and abs. The class is relatively nonstop, with brief chances to stretch in between the exercises. You won’t feel like you’re doing too much at first, but as you hold for 40 more seconds — whether it’s hovering hand weights at shoulder level, squatting one inch lower at the bar, or holding a pretzel form on the floor, you’ll start to feel the burn. And oh boy does it burn.

What You’ll Hear: The music will alternate depending on what you’re doing — up-tempo pop remixes will soundtrack the routines, and the stretching breaks will be set to the tune of slowed down soothing songs. The instructor will be constantly talking you through the moves, as you breathe through the counts and seamlessly switch from one motion to the next.

Who Will Teach You: Amanda, an instructor who will walk through the lines and talk into a mic so you don’t miss a beat. Unlike other group classes, she won’t be mimicking the motions for you, so pay attention to what she says. She’ll also know who you are — so be prepared to hear your name called out if you need straighten your spine or if you’re doing an extra strong plank.

Level of Difficulty: On a scale of 1 (a couch potato could do it) to 10 (it would be difficult even for Bo Jackson), the class was about an 8. At least for me — someone who does more cardio than muscle toning — I couldn’t remember a workout so intense since Saturday morning 200s on the high school track. I could actually feel heat radiating off of me during the workout, and I could barely raise my arms on Thursday morning. It was rough.

Length of Class: One hour.

Location: 234 Clarendon Street, between Newbury Street and Commonwealth Ave. If you’re getting there by T, get off at the Copley stop on the Green Line.

Would I Do It Again? Reluctantly, yes. While I may have suffered brutally in those 60 minutes, the exercises targeted muscles I would otherwise never focus on, and you feel quite accomplished afterward. If you’re interested in signing up, the studio is offering a fall special — $100 for 6 weeks of classes for new students.

Where to Reward Yourself: Tico is about two blocks away at 222 Berkeley Street — they specialize in tequilas, and trust me, you’ll need it.