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Downtown Berkeley YMCA
Rating Details »
Categories: Gyms, Swimming Pools [Edit]
Neighborhood: Downtown Berkeley2001 Allston Way
(between Milvia St & Harold Way)
Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 848-9622
- Hours:
Mon-Fri. 5:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun. 7:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
45 reviews for Downtown Berkeley YMCA
$100 enrollment fee and $60 a month. I would never be able to afford this place, but with financial aid, the enrollment fee was waived and the monthly bill was reduced to ~$30.
My favorite part about the gym is the Women's Fitness Center. In fact, other than the swimming pool and the group fitness areas, it's the only part of the gym I've ever seen. It's wonderful that the Y gives women the option to exercise only with other women. The WFC has a cardio room, weights room, and a stretching room, each with all of the essentials.
If you want to get your ass kicked and be sore for days, take the Total Body Fitness class. It's intense. The soreness it produces is almost euphoric. Also, the meditation class is GREAT. I had never meditated before and everyone was very accommodating. My favorite part was the walking meditation. Somehow, that exercise allowed me to understand meditation.
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YES! I love this gym! I've been a member for many years now since I was in middle school and it's great here. They recently renovated so the gym is super nice now! If you have kids this is great because they have many programs for youth so it's very family-friendly. The room that used to house the bikes and rowing machines is now a youth studio and I've seen ballet classes in there, which is awesome!
I work in San Francisco during the day so I usually go work out after work and it's nice the the parking lot has 2 hours of free validation after 4pm on the weekdays. The staff are super nice and helpful and answer all my questions and my favorite part about this gym are the classes that are offered. The classes I attend regularly are Body Sculpt, Total Body Challenge, Spinning, Step, and Pilates. They have great instructors like Noel, Jennifer, Robert, Mercedes, Kelly, etc. who really motivate me, totally kick my butt, and made me work hard.
Besides the classes, on the main floor they have really nice new treadmill and elliptical machines that are ipod friendly! Also all the bike machines have their own tvs with lots of cable channels to choose from. The next room over is filled with great weight machines and right across the hall is a huge room filled with free weights and more weight machines. Down stairs is a HUGE pool with certain times designated for lap swimming and other swim-related classes. Upstairs there are two basketball courts, so when I peek in there's always a pickup game going on and such. Also upstairs is the youth studio previously mentioned as well as an aerobics studio where most of the cardio classes are held and a health and wellness studio where the yoga, pilates, and such classes are held. The women's locker room is upstairs as well as a separate room full of free weights, machines and a little stretch room just for women so it's nice to have that if you're more comfortable working out with women.
Overall, I think this YMCA has so many great things to offer, besides all the great classes that I totally love and take advantage of, the facility is great, they keep it clean and it's really well kept. The membership fee is not expensive compared to other YMCAs (my friend pays about $20 more being a member of the Embarcadero Y) so it's not bad at all. I would definitely recommend it and it's totally a breath of fresh air to be able to work out in a nice facility after crazy days at work.
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I went to Berkeley to train my English and chose the YMCA to live because it was really near to my school.
The YMCA Hostel is just a fast 2-minute walk away from the BART station. I arrived when it was dark and I didn't know the city, but it was easy to find the YMCA. When I arrived a really friendly guy welcomed me. He told me where the rooms were, where the kitchen was and where I had to got to find the gym. I didn't expect a lot of the room, so I was pleasantly surprised. The rooms are small, but not too small. Of course there was a bed, a wardrobe, a desk and a small refrigerator. The room was clean, so it was ok to sleep there.
In the YMCA you have to share the restrooms and showers. I think there were 8 of them on the floor. The restrooms were not always clean. It really depended on the time. The best time was at 8.30 am or 6.30 pm. I think the cleaning man had just come before then.
Another thing you can use is the kitchen. I can't say so many things about this because I never cooked there, but I think the kitchen is also acceptable. You can find all the things you need.
What I really liked is that you can use the gym ( which is good) for free if you stay at the YMCA.
All in all, I think the YMCA is ok if you're searching for a hostel which is not so expensive. I stayed there just for 2 weeks and for this time it's ok. But if I were in Berkeley for a longer time, I would prefer another place to live.
The renovation of the fitness areas was a big success, IMO. It's more spacious, lighter, and things are arranged more logically. They've also started to buy more conditioning equipment, which is great. So they've gone a long way to improving the things I complained about in my earlier review.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/5/2009
I really wish I could give the Berkeley Y five stars. It's the kind of place I want to love but… Read more »
I was a member of the Berkeley YMCA for about 4 months until I moved into San Francisco. I really enjoyed the facilities including multiple pools, woman's gym and great classes! I especially enjoyed the yoga classes on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
Membership is a bit on the steep side, but it was very easy to apply for and receive financial aid. They have the applications in the lobby area. The staff is friendly and helpful and overall I had a great experience.
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First off, let me say they're pretty expensive, and I required financial assistance from the place to even be a member. Why didn't I just go to a better priced gym?
Well. I wanted to swim.
You see, I'm not a huge fan of this whole "working out" thing and I don't like doing anything other than yoga and swimming. Heck, I still don't go as often as I should or like because I'm lazy... and the pool's cold.
I go late in the evening when the other 2 pools are closed. Some days it's crowded in the pool and other days not so much. I enjoy swimming here, and especially enjoy and short soak in the hot tub before heading home. My only problem is the pool doesn't feel anywhere near as warm as they claim it to be. I'm a cold water chicken, and that's what makes me dread going and actually I use as an excuse quite often. But hey, once I'm in and I've swam a few laps it gets hot. So I need to suck it up and deal. I know.
I've had only one bad experience where I politely asked an older lady if I could share her slow swim lane because let's face it, I'm no pro. I probably belong in the Medium paced, but I try and keep in the slow if possible. She yelled at me and told me no because I couldn't swim fast enough (she's never seen me swim!) I was having a pretty rough day that day and so I just headed home. In hindsight I probably should've said something, but oh well, that's the only time it happened.
I usually have to share a lane, but the most it's really been is with one other person which I don't mind.
I can't say how their other equipment is, as I haven't tried it out but my boyfriend does his cardio, weightlifting, and basketball playing there as well. His only complaint are the weird old men that sit around naked in the locker room.
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I am a member of the newly refurbished downtown Oakland YMCA, so perhaps I am spoiled. The classes are never too crowded over there, and the front desk staff in Oakland are professional adults who have actually heard of the concept of "customer service" (unlike the sullen, monosyllabic teens working the desk at the Berkeley Y).
As for the Berkeley Y, the steam room is not hot enough ... and I have to say, until I went there, I had never seen graffiti INSIDE A GYM LOCKER before.
The only thing I really like about the Berkeley Y is its Kindergym.
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I love this gym. It's bright and clean, lots of space, good hours. I mostly use the women's gym, which I love - I don't go at peak hours, so I don't know how it is then, but I never have to wait for machines. The stuff is super helpful - as a member, you get a couple of free consultations. Both Nancy and Kathleen in the women's gym have been great when I've talked to them. nancy helped me create a routine that works for me and continues to check in with me when I run into her.
classes are all included in the membership cost - all sorts of yoga, dance, workouts, etc.
And I get financial aid so I don't pay full price. But even without...I looked at other nearby gyms and they were nowhere near as nice.
I recommend taking BART there if you can so you don't have to worry about parking - it's only a half block away.
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I believe that the Berkeley YMCA is an important part of our local community. I work pretty closely with the director and he is very involved in creating a Teen Center (building donated by PG&E) and he is working on a jobs program for high school students at the same time.
I know, this is not what you all think of as YMCA programs, but these kinds of programs are absolutely integral to both the YMCA and our community. I remember as a kid that the YMCA in my hometown was a place to have birthday parties, it was where I learned how to swim and where I played basketball (when I was not good enough for my grade school competitive team - I'm over it). It was one of the places that was a big deal in my life as a child. We had sleepovers at the Y and I met a lot of friends through the YMCA programs.
Now, while my wife goes to work out and can speak more eloquently about the struggle to get a bike for the cycling class or the crowds on weekend mornings or the insanely tight swimming lanes. My interaction with the Y is simple. I take my son to swimming lessons here and I can't wait to take my daughter as well. Eli loves the kindergym and every time we go for swimming lessons we have to leave time either before or after swimming to play/climb/throw balls/etc. at the kindergym.
They do a lot with a little and I am glad to have them in Berkeley.
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Man, what can I say that hasn't been said already?! This place is wonderful. The staff are friendly. The equipment is in good condition. The people are real. You can work out without being bothered (which is a double-edged sword--there are so many attractive women but I don't talk to them because I, like everyone else, respect the unwritten rule that you just don't do that--but so tough!!).
I've only begun to make use of the classes, but what I've gone to have been great. I've had minimal leering guys in the sauna like at other gyms (not that it hasn't happened, but it's minimal and you come to expect it--maybe that's why I've learned not to bother women!)
Join. You'll love it.
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I don't like the gym, but I sure do like the Berkeley Y. Getting financial aid is a slow process, so apply ASAP. Once you get it, your rate should be pretty reasonable (as a nonprofit drone, I was paying around $30 a month, which is half off). Here are a few of my favorite things that make it fun to stay at the YMCA:
1. Staff - across the board awesome. Don't know how they keep such great people around, given the crappy pay. Thanks for caring, guys!
2. Women's gym - I admit it, when I want easier access to cardio equipment and fewer funky sounds and smells, I go upstairs (when I want to feel challenged to lift more while grunting, I head for the co-ed)
3. Kids' stuff - affordable child care, and also a fun space with a mini climbing wall and bounce house. Your kids will beg to come to the gym!
4. Classes - I've only taken the free ones, and across the board, they've been good. I like the transdance, pilates, and funk classes best.
5. Sauna and steam room - 'nuff said
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When I moved to Berkeley I think I looked at every gym in the city and unfortunately I don't think there are any fabulous gyms, so I settled with the downtown Y. Pros: Separate Women's gym upstairs where I can always use the machine I want with usually no wait. Free parking after 4 pm on weekdays, and weekends before noon. Parking is $1 on weekdays if you are in before 8:30am and out before 10:30am (2 hours max) Almost all classes are included. Cons: no TVs in the Women's cardio room. Although there are TVs in the coed bike room.
Thought I'd write an update since they seem to be done with their recent remodel. Air conditioning in the women's fitness center is very welcome. Looks like they tried to brighten up the locker room a bit (i.e., new bathroom stalls), but it's still only just okay as locker rooms go. Remodeled bathrooms on the second floor are much less grungy-looking. Overall, they seem to be cleaning better. Haven't noticed that thick layer of grime on the walls in a while. But the best thing is the new co-ed cardio room on the first floor. Very nice with plenty of equipment, and bright and sunny. Much better than what it replaced.
It still doesn't top Embarcadero in SF (which also just finished its own REALLY impressive remodel), and parking and crowds are as bad as ever. But its definitely good value for the money. I'll keep going.
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/21/2008
Not nearly as good as the Embarcadero Y in SF, which is my regular since it's near my office, but I… Read more »
Let me start off by saying that I am allergic to exercise. Sad, but true. The thought of paying actual money to torture myself on a machine going nowhere is NOT my idea of good spending. However, I'm also cursed with a pitifully slow metabolism. Which means that getting some sort of regular exercise is absolutely necessary. This is where the YMCA comes in. They have an incredible financial assistance program (woohoo) which makes the cost of a monthly gym membership actually affordable. The staff are friendly, and the place is usually clean, cheerful and full of people.
I love many things about the Y, but my favorite perk of all is the women's only cardio and weight rooms. I've never felt so comfortable in a gym before. Without hordes of burly muscle men intimidating me in the weight room, I can actually get my strength training on! Even cardio's not so bad with a trashy magazine and yummy beats on my ipod! I never though I would say this- but I actually look forward to going to the gym. Wow. Miracles do happen!
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The Berkeley Y is a great place. I've been a member for perhaps 7 or 8 years now. The staff is very friendly, the place is clean, and they have a wide variety of classes and activities. The nautilus machines are mainted well and their cardio machines the same. The men's locker room is always very clean. And the children's daycare seem's top-notch.
In fact, the only slightly negative things I can say is that they just got rid of the racquetball court which I really enjoyed until a couple of injuries kept me out of the court the past year.
Also, I have had a couple of unpleasant experiences in the men's sauna. Basically there must have been an agreed upon day and time or something to that effect when gay men could come hit on other gay men. Basically a few guys were touching themselves and watching each other. And when others like myself were innocently lying there with our eyes closed! Disturbing to say the least! I'm not prejudiced towards gay men or women in the least, but to me that sauna is a place of refuge that I can go and have peace and quiet. It felt like a violation to me. Anyway, this has only occurred to me twice and I suppose that twice in 8 years or so is not too bad. This is the only reason I didn't give the Y 5 stars.
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The Downtown Berkeley YMCA is awesome, awesome if you have kids. I drop my kids off at Fit kids (free for 8 yrs and up) and at the child watch (under 8 with addn. fee) and go workout in the the newly remodelled cardio center. My kids LOVE going to the Y, they beg for it. The people that work here are amazing and friendly. The childwatch is huge and has separate areas for babies and kids. They have a little trike race track, a crawl space, a play house, a train table, books, art, etc and a snack area. Fitkids was recently updated and truly has the kids in mind. Exercise bikes are set up with wiifit games for racing, an air hockey table, dancedancerevolution, etc.
I used to spend a lot of time in the women's fitness center but kind of like the newly remodelled cardio center so have been hanging out there. There is a big cardio area, free weights, equilinxx weight machines, cycling studio, 2 gyms, 3 pools, 3 studios for dance, yoga, aerobics, etc. It is pretty great.
My only complaints are the rug in the women's locker room (gross) and one of the pools is really dark and dreary imo.
Best yoga ever.
My review of the available classes (in order of the schedule):
Monday
7am-Jessie, she's awesome, is great at talking you through complicated or more difficult poses, excellent adjustments, class flows really well, Mondays are great with her b/c she can provide more individual attention since the class is smaller.
7:35pm-Brad, he has a pretty big following. Very smooth transitions. I credit Brad with being able to do crow's pose after only two weeks of practice.
Tuesday
5:15pm-Scotty, gots to love Scotty. He just gets so excited about yoga and has a great sense of humor. Does more partner work than any of the other instructors I've had at the Y.
7:35pm-Vanessa, she's very calming. Great class for beginners.
Thursday
5:15pm-Jason, I've only taken one of his classes but I will definitely be back. He's challenging and does good adjustments.
*UPDATE-I went back. I love Jason.
Saturday
9am-Jesse, see Monday morning. Bigger class, good group of people to practice with.
10:35am-Girvani, not my favorite class as it's not that challenging. Good for people new to yoga, with injuries, or getting over illness.
Sunday
10am-Natalie, she kicked my ass but in a good way.
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Geesh...why have I put on so much weight lately? I figured it out the other day when I started looking back at all those Yelp reviews. Eggs benedict, corned beef and hash, pancakes with creme fraiche. Girl, this has to stop!
Well, not stop totally. Because I am getting my ass down to the Y on a more regular basis. The Berkeley Y is THE BEST. They have everything...an Olympic-size pool, plus a deep water and children's pool; a gal's-only cardio and weight room; a big cardio room to rendezvous for workouts with the secret agent; and tons of classes from spinning, aerobics, yoga, you name it.
And I love that I'm always running into folks I know there - there's a great sense of community. With a workout facility this good, there's no excuse for packing on the pounds!
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I've been coming here for a year now and I have this gym to thank for keeping me on track with my workouts. I love taking classes, so this is the perfect gym for me.
Here are some highlights:
Classes: TONS of classes each day. Hip hop, yoga, aikido, step, kickboxing, body sculpting, Pilates, world dance, spinning, etc... for people at all levels. They often hold more focused workshops about specific topics like the Bosu ball, Feldenkrais, resistance bands, etc...
Instructors: they are great! Very welcoming, knowledgeable, and friendly.
Towel service: yes
Weight rooms: there are 2 weight rooms. One is coed; the other is for women only.
Pools: there is a main pool for adult lap swimming & classes; one for children (I think); and a deep water pool.
Cardio room: there are 2 cardio rooms with a sufficient number of machines (treadmills, ellipticals, step machines, bicycles, etc...)
Gym: I see basketball and volleyball games going on at night in the gym.
Staff: Generally very friendly and helpful.
Child care: I think so
Parking: in the evenings, 2 hours of free validated parking at the garage next door.
A great cross section of Berkeley comes here; there is a great sense of community. You have to love a place where, in hip hop class, you have a perky high school student to your right, and a 60 year old grandma to your left, grooving to Justin Timberlake.
Five+ emphatic stars!
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Oh, the humanity! I have never seen such a diverse group of people actively participating in their well-being for such a reasonable amount of monthly membership fees. This place oozes motivation and recreation. It's open long hours, and there is a mind-boggling array of classes and well-maintained facilities to choose from. 3 swimming pools! Wet and dry saunas! Two fluffy hand towels per person per day!
Bring a lock for day use lockers, and take BART if you can, since parking is tight. It's directly across the street from the main post office, and a block away from the public library in lovely downtown Berkeley. There's a good juice bar around the corner - hang a right on Shattuck.
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I LOVE this gym! Yes, I admit it- I've strayed. I occasionally wonder- what if I'm missing something? What if those other gyms are better/ cleaner/ prettier? But I'm back at the Berkeley Y in an instant, when I realize how good I have it here. Towel service. Lots and lots of cardio machines. The guys are out of luck, but we women get to choose whether we want to exercise co-ed or not. Diverse! It doesn't seem that diverse until you go to other gyms. The Berkeley Y has young, old, skinny, fat, wheelchair bound, tattooed, pierced, dreaded, English-speaking, non-English-speaking, pink, brown, black... you name it, they have it. Actually, fewer African Americans than I'd expect. More whites (both US-ian & Euro), Asians, and Hispanics, as far as I can tell, but I'm bad at identifying races.
What everyone has in common is that sort of East Bay middle class melange feel (which I love) and an interest in exercising. If you want beautiful people, this is NOT the place for you. Although you do see some suicide-girls types. (For those of us who love tattoos the Berkeley Y has a lot more eye-candy than a normal gym.) Your hip hop class will be full of people whose native accent is far from hip hop- we're talking Asian grandmas and Ned-Flanderses. I haven't taken very many classes so I can't review them, but I know a lot of people love them.
The staff is helpful when you can corner them. Sales pitches are the farthest thing from their minds, I promise. The front counter people usually say "hi" when they see you. (Unlike the Albany Y folks who, as soon as I walked in, looked at me like I had laid a steaming pile their dinner table. AND you had to pay extra to use their towels. Hmm. Possible connection... But, I digress...)
The best thing about the Berkeley Y is that I go there at all. I NEVER used to exercise, and I hated gyms. (The couple of times I bought gym memberships I showed up maybe four times and then never again, the experience was so ghastly.) After 2 years I'm still going to the Berkeley Y at least 4 times a week, even if just to use the treadmills.
Downsides:
It sometimes smells like BART.
It's not cheap ($62/month!).
The swimming pool lanes fill up and the lifeguards don't limit how many people can be in each lane. I've given up on swimming.
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YMCA!!
Young man, there's a place you can go......
Ok. Just kidding. I love the Y. It's pricier as health clubs go, but it always has a pool. Berkeley has two large pools, which provides plenty of room for laps.
Most of the classes at the Y are free. I like their Monday evening Kundalini yoga class. I've also tried their meditation, tri-flow yoga and hip-hop classes. The weight training room is unpretentious and well-equipped. If working out next to early 20-something hotties sometimes gets you down, you'll feel at home here with everyone from your skinny teenager to buff grandpa.
But what I like most about the YMCA is their committment to community and health in general. It isn't all about looking good, but feeling good too! And despite the name, the Y is for everyone. Non-male, non-Christians are just as welcome as anyone else.
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I have been a member of this gym more than a year. Recent reconstruction became a pain, and I'm not sure if it is going for the better. They opened a new stretching and aerobics area in 2nd floor, unfortunately that area is smelling like kitchen (probably because of the people stay next to that area), it is impossible to do cardio around dinner time.
I am not getting any financial aid, but I think there are lots of people getting it. It might be a good deal if you are getting one of the cheap rates.
I will add to my review after the construction finishes, if I am still a member (I am checking 24 fitness this week)
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A really fancy gym is like having cable television. There are so many facilities, basketball courts, lap pool, deep pool, pool for teenagers, whirlpool, cardio annex, donkeyball courts. But how many do you actually use in your given workout routine? This is not about the types of machines within your main workout room, I'm talking about how many times have you watched all 5 channels of ESPN and truly enjoyed the myriad of options at your fingertips?
That being said, all I look for in my gym is a nice treadmill that lets me walk fast uphill at a really steep incline. This place has a Woman's Fitness Center, I think for women to workout without being gawked at, to feel safer, and to wear whatever ridiculously unflattering thing they can find. My friend and I were shopping for workout clothes and I asked her about a pair of spandex workout pants we'd both purchased previously. She said she returned hers because they were too tight in the wrong places and didn't want guys staring. I ignorantly didn't have that problem because i work out in the sanctuary of my sisters. I can handle disapproving looks if there were any.
The showers in the Women's fitness center are decent though the locker room is often chilly because all the rooms are connected and the windows are open. The sauna is there if you want to use it. No steam up here, you have to go down to the locker room by the pool.
They offer SO MANY CLASSES from Yoga, to dance, to spinning, for all ages. Saturdays are punctuated by the sound of 3 and 4 year olds running around on the 2nd floor wearing various princess ballerina outfits. I used to take these classes before I started my affair with the treadmill and my magazines.
I take off a point for the price. Its kind of expensive. But its closer to me than any other gym and I can haul my still sleepy but over there in any weather.
So I love the Y. When I have my little pee-em-essy freak outs and want to jump in the car, drive all night to Arizona, and change my name to Deirdre, I remember that the chances of finding another place out there that serves me like the Berkeley Y are lower than my premenstrual endorphin-levels (for all of you thinking "TMI" - bite me - or go hang out at 24 Hour Fitness.)
So what's so great?
1. Hip hop class. Better than watching "So You Think You Can Dance" cause you actually get to dance yourself and the teachers rock - Tati, Aarin, Gemma, Lateef - and the students are all just having a good time with minimal 'tude.
2. Women's Fitness Center - Yeah, it's for women only but there are no men reading this review anymore anyhow - i shooed them away bytalking about PMS. The machines in the WFC may not be as state-o-the-art as in the other cardio and weight rooms but much less noisy/sweaty and fewer people checking you out. Plus the staff are very helpful and you can get free training on the weight machines and they'll put together a work out plan for you and all that good stuff.
3. Programs for kids. Even when I haven't seen them for a few days, my kids will opt to go hang out at the Y Kids zone or Child Watch rather than with me. (Yeah, it hurts my feelings a little - but I get to work out!) And great classes - basketball, dance, swim...some better than others, but the variety is so awesome I'm not going to complain.
And then there's the spinning and yoga which are just too popular for my crowd-hating self. But you go ride that bike in the dark to music. Go warrior pose, cobra, downward dog yourself all day. Be my guest. I'll check you out later in the kick-boxing class.
oh and you can park in the garage next door and get free validation for up to 2 hrs depending on when you go. Evenings after 4:30 I believe are cool. but don't drive - driving is bad.
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This is the best gym I've ever joined. The facilities are extensive, with an air-conditioned cardio room, separate weight rooms for men and women (while I'm not normally self-conscious about exercising about men, the quiet environment in the women's room is a huge plus), three pools, and any kind of class you could want, offered pretty much all day. I appreciate that this place is oriented more towards fitness and family togetherness than the typical gym meat market. There are truly men and women of all shapes and sizes here focused on getting in shape. Also, with the generous scholarship program, I'm only paying $31 a month. My only small complaint would be the limited holiday hours, but how many of us work out on those days off anyway? I highly recommend the Y.
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Nice Staff
Great classes
all girl workout area
3 swimming pools
love it!
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I have been a member here for about 7 months, and I really like the facilities. I had been a member elsewhere, like 24hr and Bally's, but to get out of contracts and the constant push to by supplements was bothersome and made me leave.
The YMCA has undergone definite improvements since I have been here. The co-ed weight area just recently bought tens of thousands of dollars of brand new equipment. The cardio room has plenty of equipment, and there are three pools...too bad I don't know how to swim.
The mens locker room has just undergone a complete makeover, ripping out the carpet (gross) and putting in tile, which can be cleaned and sterilized.
The staff are friendly, and instead of forcing you to pay for trainers like other gyms, the Y has attendants in the work out areas who are more than willing to help you out.
In the mornings most people who go there are a bit older. In the afternoons, the gym gets crowded with high school kids.
I really like going to the Y, and recommend it for anyone who wants to work out without the nuisance of extra sales and contracts.
Take your iPod though, because otherwise, there is no music, and that makes the workout harder...
To evaluate the Y, I break it down:
Women:
The women's gym upstairs is sweet: friendly staff, cardio machines, weights, stretching room, locker room.
Coed:
The newly renovated coed strength and cardio rooms are so nice, I've converted back from the women's gym where I worked out (hid?) during construction. The Y is now LEED Certified, yea.
Yoga:
Great yoga classes. I recommend Jason & Natalie. The Mind-Body center where classes are held is spacious, with fresh air and sunlight.
Cheap:
Great financial aid program for those of us on a smaller budget: I pay $30 a month :)
Go YMCA!
Speaking from the perspective of someone with a one-month membership (flat $125, no enrollment fee):
- I like the lap pool. It is 25 yds, ~6 lanes, and 4 feet throughout. For someone like me who enjoys doing laps but still gets uncomfortable in the deep end, this is the perfect pool.
- Classes are pretty fun. I love BK's yoga class. Total Body Challenge was a little toooooo hardcore for me, and it was embarrassing to see energetic grandma get her groove on as I huff and puff my way through the second half of the class.
- Downsides: the ladies locker room next to the lap pool has a terrible smell! I feel even worse wiping myself down afterwards with the two "fluffy" towels, which often smell like ass (and/or diseased bacteria colonies)! Maybe other people are less germaphobic than I am, but I've seen everyone wiping their sweat with these towels and I feel iffy using them, even if they have been reheated in the dryer.
Summary: good gym if you are short on cash and do not need life's luxuries (fresh-smelling towels, state-of-the-art equipment, etc.) I probably will not renew my membership after this month, but then again, I have yet to hear about a better gym near my apartment.
I feel pumped up!
Great weight area with a dizzying array of different machines.
Lots of facilities on three different floors.
Reasonable rates. Friendly staff and cleanly facilities. The steam room is awesome!
I wasn't even all that into gyms before getting a membership here and I love this place!
It would be cool if they had another racket ball court though.
I'm crazy about the Y. Despite a few pitfalls, which I'll get to in a moment, it's a fun, diverse gym with so many features and classes, it's an exercise buffet!
The lap pool is attitude central. I've been snapped at several times for swimming in the wrong lane (I'm a timid swimmer) and it's kinda stressful, so I usually avoid the pool.
The women's gym is AMAZING. I love the fact that we have our own space to work out in. It's bright, airy, and well-appointed. You can get free instruction on any of the machines, although make sure to check in with somebody at the front desk if nobody's at the Women's desk. I waited a long time at an empty desk for my instructor, who didn't realize she had an appointment that day.
Free classes! The spin classes are so excellent they're tough to get into. Robert is the GREATEST, but the drawback to even SAYING that here is that it's hard to get into his classes. He's really awesome though.
Free yoga (look for the great yelp review that rates all the instructors), excellent sculpting classes, and plenty of them at times you can get to.
So even with the drawbacks, this is still the most inviting gym I've ever belonged to. It's a community favorite, and the one I'd recommend over all others.
I didn't realize how great this place was until I visited other ymca facilities. This place has all the equipment you need and classes all day long that are bound to fit into you schedule. The people and instructors are very helpful and nice. They are welcoming to all new members and love to listen to your concerns. They have a separate womens gym that is spacious and has a wonderful locker room.
On valentines day they gave out free fruit which adds to the overall welcoming atmosphere.
This place is great!! I don't plan on switching my gym unless I move away.
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I go there for one reason only: convenience. There is no other gym in town that is open the hours I need with the equipment I need.
All too often it is operated like a communist country where things don't work and no one cares. Evidence of this is the cardio annex where appoximately half of their equipment at any time is broken. Though I've complained many times to the staff in charge and even the Y Director, they have moved incredibly slow to make improvements. Too often, the equipment in this room is only marginally clean and the disinfectant runs out for days, sometimes a week or more. My pilates class is held in the aerobics studio which is often cold, drafty, dirty and without adequate mirror coverage to watch our movements. And the locker room and showers, ick. I just try not to touch anything.
On the positive side, they stay open until 10 pm which is convenient. They have a wider range of equipment than any other gym in the area. And they have evening classes, though not enough cardio and strength classes begin after 7 pm. Some instructors are good, but they get moved around a lot. And it compares favorably to "corporate" fitness ventures like 24-hour fitness, where someone is always trying to sell you something.
But the Berkeley Y could be so much better, and their members should challenge them to do better. If you look across the bay at the Embarcadero Y you can see how good a Y can be. Embarcadero Y has great equipment, helpful staff, clean surroundings, and great classes. I wish I could still go there.
LIke I said. I only go there because there aren't better choices. I wish they had good competition.
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update: i still love the ymca, i've started taking classes on the daily (this is not me, this is so unlike me, something very strange is happening). if you want a serious but really fun workout, may i recommend any class taught by Noel. get there early, space runs out fast.
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/12/2007
i'm the laziest pig around. but my experience in the last six months at the Y has changed… Read more »
Despite its grandeur and many facilities, I find it hard to give the Berkeley Y a better review, simply for the ridiculous level of anxiety endured to get there and find a place to park. It is not a place that I easily felt inclined to visit more than twice a week. This is a problem that for sure is causing membership to suffer.
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I have been a member of the Berkeley YMCA for several months now and have been through the construction! During construction the routes they created to get you to your destination and back were well inventive to say the least. Now that construction is finished it is still a little hard to break the habit of going the old route and looking for the equipment; there are staff on hand that will direct you but some are not always that helpful. The new areas look great and more inviting and I am excited to use the new equipment in the Family Fitness area! The prices may seem a little high, but hey look at what you get, a lap pool with many different lanes to swim or walk in, all work out equipment on one level, both gymnasiums are accessible and new spaces to use! The staff for the most part are friendly and helpful. Overall, I have been a Y member in many different locations and will not use another gym!
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I'm naturally a lazy sack. But the wonderfulness of this Y makes me look forward to working out. The facility is updated and clean. Staff is friendly and helpful. Diverse members. Fun classes. I work out in the evening and there is never a wait for equipment.
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Expensive. (currently $65 per month)
Worth it.
In the locker room you have to put up with the more-than-occasional hyper privileged Berkeley matron who can't seem to co-exist with her fellow humans - i.e. they love to block the aisles. I can't pretend to understand, but these are former-hippy folks who assume that they saved the world so they own it - or something like that.
I've dropped this Y when money became thin but always came back.
You can NOT compare this to 24-hr Fitness or a herd gym, it's calmer, better, less crap, no high-pressure sales, room at the facilities, locker-rooms with Everything You Need, and plenty of classes. If you ask for advice from a fitness councilor or the front desk, you don't get someone with a sales agenda.
The showers - amazingly forceful, hot, delightful, can't do without it, better than home. Seriously. Better than home.
They've recently installed an ultra-violet purification system so the pool and environs barely smell of chloreine at all. They only use the legally required minimum now, because.. law requires! The UV system does a complete clean on its own. Love it.
Classes are FREE with membership, they are varied and almost always packed for peak-hours, peak-interest, but the schedule is full - if you're flexible or can get to class 5 min early, you'll get in. Being late is rude, anyway. =P
I like that I can get a training touch-up or massage if needed, but mostly I just use the facilities on my own.
Parking deals with the next-door garage gives 2 free hours during after-work hours and weekends, which really makes a difference in unpredictable Berkeley traffic, so near the rep theatre.
OH - TOWELS: they are NOT fluffy. However they are perfectly clean. Seriously. When you take them from the rack up at the entrance they are sterile. They are typical rough-use white cotton. Don't scrub them over your face unless you want to exfoliate your nose. But don't be afraid to blot yourself dry - they aren't "tumbled in a dryer" for show, they are STERILIZED. Hey, don't mooch towels from the pool or steal them from the locker room and you'll know you're getting fresh/clean cotton. Also, I keep a microfibre small towel in my locker for face only; i worry more about me keeping that one clean than the gym's freebies.
I don't understand the carpet in the locker room either, but they're in the process of swapping out the flooring - the materials and colors were submitted to membership earlier this year for preference polling. Woot! I ALWAYS wear flip-flops - shower, changing, steam room, sauna - anyway. Do you seriously trust Berkeley barefoot culture NOT to deliver the street to your feet if you stomp around unprotected? No way, hah!
.. seriously, I love this place.
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I like my gyms like I like my men - clean, authentic, and not full steriods or BS. I love the Downtown Berkeley YMCA so much that, yes, I would marry it.
Excellent and diverse classes. Not a bunch of amped up coke or roid heads. Just a really electic mix of people trying to get their move on.
I love it. There is, as I discovered recently, a strictly ladies cardio room as well as a weights room in the back of the ladies locker room. Three swimming pools. Basketball courts, squash courts, cardio room that you don't have to wait in line for the machines, weight room that doesn't include overblown egos.
The belly dancing class at noon on Tuesdays (I think it's Tuesdays) is excellent as well as the Yoga I class around 5 on Thursdays.
Occassionally the front desk people ignore you, but most of the time they're eager to help. The teachers, people working out, and people helping out all have the same feeling - you're working out? RIGHT ON.
Clean. Wonderful. Electic. No gawkers who look like they should be at the Power Exchange and not the gym. A+++++
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