The real reason behind Barry's trainer exodus: Insiders tell LUCY MANLY how Ash Ruscoe's hiring sparked fury behind the scenes

It's supposed to be a haven where Sydney's beautiful people go to sweat out their frustrations.

But behind the red lights and pounding playlists at Barry's Bootcamp, tensions are simmering in the 'Red Room', with a controversial new hire and a string of instructor departures drawing unwelcome scrutiny to the premium fitness chain.

The fitness brand has hired Ash Ruscoe, the former girlfriend of Olympic boxing champion Harry Garside, as it grapples with a growing exodus of instructors.

Ruscoe's appointment to the Sydney training team has raised eyebrows among some longtime staff as she previously pleaded guilty to domestic violence-related offences, with concerns understood to have been expressed about the decision.

It comes as two of Barry's best-known Sydney instructors have announced their departures in quick succession, with one citing concerns about the company's culture and another blaming 'management and business needs' for the end of his seven-year stint teaching Saturday classes.

A Barry's insider told the Mail the departures were linked to Ruscoe's appointment, which is understood to have unsettled some trainers.

The fallout has fuelled speculation among current and former instructors about conditions inside the boutique fitness chain, with the unrest now spilling onto Reddit.

Ruscoe first made headlines following an altercation involving Garside at a Bellevue Hill property in March 2023.

The incident sparked a highly publicised legal battle, with initial domestic assault charges against Garside later being dropped.

Then the tables turned: Ruscoe was hit with charges including common assault, stalking or intimidation and distributing intimate images.

In late 2024, she pleaded guilty to domestic violence-related assault and stalking or intimidation at Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court.

She received a one-year conditional release order without conviction and was made subject to a two-year apprehended domestic violence order.

When approached for comment in July 2023 by the Daily Mail, Ruscoe famously ran down Park Street in Sydney's CBD to dodge our questions. 

Barry's has built its reputation on a carefully curated image of premium fitness, attracting an affluent clientele and a roster of trainers who have become minor celebrities in their own right. 

But behind the red lights, thumping playlists and punishing treadmill sessions, the company is now facing uncomfortable questions about staff morale.

The Daily Mail has approached Barry's Australia multiple times for comment.

In September, veteran trainer Nicole Swift (née Christey) announced in an Instagram Story that she was leaving Barry's Australia 'for good', adding a cheeky 'for real this time lol'.

But it was her explanation that really caught the attention of fellow instructors.

'I cannot continue to align myself with a brand that has allowed certain behaviours and actions to take place,' she wrote.

'After a lot of thought, I've realised that I can't continue to be part of a business when I no longer feel that alignment exists.'

Swift did not name anyone or specify the conduct she was referring to. However, the Mail understands her concerns about the company were linked to Ruscoe's hiring.

Her post was subsequently circulated among fellow trainers, prompting speculation about what had led her to walk away.

After the Mail reported on her departure, Swift took to Instagram to criticise the article, describing it as 'trash' and questioning why the publication had contacted her for comment.

Days later, another popular instructor delivered a blow to his loyal Saturday-morning following, revealing he would no longer be teaching the weekend sessions after more than seven years with the business.

'Unfortunately I won't be teaching anyone ever again on Saturdays for a @barrysaustralia session,' he wrote.

'This is due to "management and business needs".'

'Wild to me seeing as I've done the same Saturday classes for over seven years.'

The trainer, described by one longtime fan as 'a legend', has since landed a new gig at buzzy Pilates studio Body by Berner, where he is set to become its first male instructor.

The departures have intensified concerns about the atmosphere inside Barry's Australia, although neither instructor has publicly detailed the full circumstances behind their exit.

Meanwhile, Barry's Melbourne operation has been attracting attention of its own, with its South Yarra studio at the centre of questions about staff dynamics.

The studio is managed by Ariel Kaplan, the former Neighbours and The Saddle Club actress who swapped Ramsay Street for the Red Room.

Kaplan has faced questions from the Mail about concerns reportedly raised by staff over the appointment of a trainer who has since left Barry's and moved to another gym in Perth.

We understand the recruitment decision was among the issues discussed by staff, although the full circumstances remain unclear.

When contacted last month, Kaplan was not willing to discuss the matter.

'I have nothing to say,' she said before abruptly ending the call.

There is no suggestion Kaplan has been accused of any personal wrongdoing, nor is there any indication the issues at the Melbourne and Sydney gyms are connected.

In a recently deleted Reddit thread discussing the behind-the-scenes drama at Barry's, one user wrote: 'There is one trainer in particular that has a little posse of clients / loyalists who thinks she's top s*** because she has an almost monopoly of peak times slots. [She] brags about how full her classes are to members and tries to benchmark herself to other trainers who have less desirable slots that their classes "should be as full as hers".'

Founded in Los Angeles in 1998, Barry's Bootcamp has become an international fitness institution, with its signature combination of high-intensity treadmill work, strength training and nightclub-style lighting attracting a devoted following.

Its Australian studios have become a favourite among influencers, socialites and the well-heeled fitness crowd.

But with longtime instructors walking away and concerns mounting over staff morale, the brand's carefully polished image is beginning to crack.