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Embarcadero YMCA
Rating Details »
- Hours:
Mon-Fri. 5:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Sat. 8:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Sun. 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
107 reviews for Embarcadero YMCA
This business is a Yelp Sponsor
9/10/2008
Updated - 10/28/2009
10/14/2009
Updated - 7/28/2009
11/5/2009
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Updated - 9/3/2008
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3/28/2008
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10/25/2006
One of the Business' Favorite Reviews What's This?
i'm so happy to have a membership at the embarcadero y. when you enter the facility, whether it's early in the morning or late in the evening the desk staff is super friendly. the wellness coaches are always around. i had one offer to teach me and my workout girlfriend some new routines and ideas to consider. obviously the view is amazing and even though the workout rooms aren't separated by sex, they don't smell bad at all. i know of one y in town that has quite the musty smell absorbed in, never to go away.
the machines get crowded, but they get crowded anywhere, thankfully there are enough in the facility to go around and get a good, fast (or slow) workout in no matter what your time limit.
i adore the new steam rooms and locker areas which are kept very clean.
to top it off, when i'm done with my weekend morning workout i can go downstairs and check movie times in the computer room as to catch a quick flick on sunday morning.
i've yet to try a class but my girlfriends have told me they offer great ones.
i couldn't ask for anything more out of a gym.
Not much to change from my previous review.
Still a fan of this place, impressed that it is actually a YMCA.
Although the smith press is in a horrible location if you want to drag benches over to it.
And you get a lot of the typical SF crowd (see other gym reviews).
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/27/2006
Great gym, great views and young, friendly, and courteous guests. This you know.
You may not know:… Read more »
I like the facilities, the pool (although I am ambivelant of using a pool that billions of other people use), the locker room is great, the staff is great, the location is great, equipment good - maybe very good. Why am I giving it only four stars then?
Warning, the following is a rant, and may be considered homophobic by some. Continue reading at your own risk.
Little did I know that my YMCA gym membership came with a complementary introduction to gay locker room culture. Not being gay, I find the benefit unwelcome. I recently joined the Embarcadero YMCA, one block from my employment.
It becomes very apparent that there is a sizable gay population that uses the facilities. It's not like I went around asking people their sexual orientation or anything. I didn't have to. Leering stares, shower trolls, steam room exhibitionism and a sign that reads something like, "Sexual activity will not be tolerated," have made it clear. Its not like the gym is located in the Castro. Its freaking by the Embarcadero business district.
I don't feel comfortable walking around naked, even in a gym. I especially don't feel comfortable making my way to the shower. I've been watched, and followed into the shower area. But, apparently, others are not so shy. People walk around and otherwise linger without clothes, for no apparent reason. When I do have to undress, I have repeatedly found myself being stared at. In my opinion, his type of behavior is sexual harassment.
I find especially annoying the set of lockers from which there is a direct line of vision into the shower area. If the behaviors exhibited in the locker room were exhibited by a man toward a woman in a different environment, it would be call harassment. Why has it become okie dokie to behave this way in the locker room?
I really do love the mission of the YMCA. I've worked at more than one.
This one, however, disappoints me. Perhaps it's because I've now tried another gym for half the price (I blame the Y's pool- which I never used). Perhaps it's because said other gym is cleaner, has more equipment, more comfortable equipment, and properly labeled weight stacks. Perhaps it's because they have ankle cuffs, something I requested but only saw once. Perhaps because although it gets crowded, there is not a bunch of lame teenagers loitering around equipment without actually using it (I blame the Y for that).
Perhaps it's because there is nary a dust bunny anywhere, or the disgusting bald man who hasn't washed his gym clothes since the Clinton administration, who feels the need to raise his arms at any given moment and demonstrate just how badly he needs a shower. Granted, that man wasn't exactly the Y's fault, but...yuck.
I think the Y overall does a lot of great things, but this particular one needs an upgrade.
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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7/16/2008
Shirts vs. skins basketball- I don't know if i should be aroused or nauseated. Read more »
Nicest staff I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Everyone remembers your name and says hello with a smile on their face. Everything is always clean and organized. This YMCA has the best view and while you exercise you can feel the breeze coming in from the bay. The only thing I would suggest is having different hip hop hours for those of us who work at night!
Super friendly staff. Facility equipment is old but they tried to keep it very clean. Swimming pool a little crowded on weekday at lunch break. Nothing to complain. Thumbs up!
A great place to work out and an even better view since the Embarcadero over pass was pulled down. I only go there for the SHOTOKAN KARATE classes taught by 5th Degree Black Belt Mr. Wayne Shockness. I usually only do outside training, as most gym- life turns me off. But this one didn't give me the 'meat market' creeps. The staff is friendly, informative, and the place is all ages with a seemingly endless plethora of machines and facilities to whip you into great shape. Now if I could just stay motivated enough to knock this donut roll off my midriff...? =)
SHINOBI 009
I only go for the pool. Would be so much better if they had a punch-card vs requiring membership.
Beautiful view from the ladie's locker room. HUGE locker room. 10+ hairdryers and stalls and showers... steam room, sauna too...
5 lane pool, can get really crowded sometimes though... but a nice facility! OH and they have a free computer lab downstairs, awesome =) and who can't like the Y? such a good organization!
Clean, easy to find, good trainers, and so many classes to choose from. Not crowded and no attitude. My kind of place.
Don't forget to take a steam.
Oh yay! I want to be the 100th review for the Y. And the added bonus is that I also get to be the 50th 5 star review too. :-D
I love the Embarcadero YMCA. Prices are great. Staff is super friendly. I feel very comfortable sweating as much as I want to and wearing the ugliest workout clothes I own.
People come there to work out, not to be seen. It is very refreshing.
It took me a few months to find a gym that is a good fit for me. I come from LA where the gyms are basically warehouses, so most SF gyms seem like tiny stuffy closets. The Embarcadero YMCA is really great. Here's why:
-It's close to public transit (and the Ferry Building!)
-It's big enough to accommodate a good amount of people without feeling too crowded
-A free towel service
-You can rent a permanent locker for $10/mo
-There's a beautiful view of the Bay and the Bay Bridge for some of the cardio machines
-They have a computer room just in case you need to check something on the way in or out
-Woman's locker-room is really clean (I constantly see people cleaning it while I'm there)
-Weight machines are spaced nicely (not too cramped)
-I haven't used the pool or been to a class, but the fact that the option exists is nice
I know there's more!
I typically go week days around 6pm and it's a little crowded right when I get there, but by 7:15 the crowd has really died off. On weekends I'll go around 12pm and it's really pretty empty.
This gym has people of all different walks of life so I think it must take a lot of pressure off you if you feel self-conscious about going to the gym.
The staff is really nice-- I once left my ipod and sigg water bottle on top of my locker. I realized it about a hour later and went back, assuming it was stolen, but the person who attends to the locker room brought it to the front desk for me. I felt very lucky!
But more importantly I didn't feel like I was being swindled when I signed up. I find at most gyms I've been to the sales people are the slimiest jerks. The YMCA didn't pressure me or butter me up. It was really without hassle.
Bottom-line is that there are very few gyms like this in SF. Most are really small and cramped, with a sort of in-crowd feel (I used to belong to the 24hr Fitness at Market and Church), but this place has more breathing room. It's also a good price-- $50/mo is what I pay (plus $10 for the monthly locker rental). It's a great bargain and a great gym.
I'm really impressed with the Y at Embarcadero. There is all fitness levels here and all ages, so there is not that feeling of "see and be seen" that unfortunately many of the gyms in the city here have. I love the pool and the fact that it's never horribly crowded when I go. The sales desk were not pushy at all, and they made it extremely easy to sign up. Also the staff in general are very friendly and eager to help out....big thumbs up!
Executive Summary: The people, the classes, the location, and the price make this a worthwhile investment for your mind, body and budget.
I have been a member here since early January. I have taken advantage of spinning, weights, kenisis, and some classes. Every thing is great. They don't have the newest equipment, but they also don't try to turn a profit. The staff are very friendly and accommodating.
I actually totally disagree that this place gets busy, try going to a 24 hour fitness at 6 PM. There will be long lines, people who smell, and an endless amount of people hitting on people. The YMCA is not a meat packing plant, it is a place you actually can enjoy going to workout and getting some balance in your life. Check it you, I highly recommend it.
Decent swimming pool, with fair lane etiquette observation.
[No losing a good workout opportunity while stuck behind stubborn single speed swimmers who refuse to find their appropriate lane, or move over when someone is behind them - much like Taurus drivers on hwy 101, land of the single speed freeway.]
Somewhat too chlorinated for my taste.
[Workout doesn't feel quite so healthy when I'm horribly congested all evening afterwards.]
Not crazy about the low ceilings.
[I think now I'm just being picky.]
Locker-rooms are excellent: clean, free towels everywhere, and lots of room.
[No bumping bottoms here!]
Treadmill area is stunning.
[View of the bay, inspiring one to run, no, fly on those treadmills.]
They took excellent care of my husband when he sustained an injury during basketball.
[Of course, he stubbornly refused to follow their advice & go to the ER. Cabbing it home instead, showing up a bloody mess, saying, "I just wanted to see you." Great. Very sweet, but next time baby, just go to the ER when someone recommends it. I promise I'll meet you there instantaneously.]
Convenient, downtown location.
[You can Muni, and even *gasp* consistently find metered parking.]
That is all I know. Definitely worth checking out if you work downtown.
I like it here. The view is better and it is a bit brighter than the Central YMCA. The one thing I like most is that I get to see some of the same employees there when I go first thing in the mornings. Without that, I probably would've canceled my membership. Thanks guys for moving around your staff so we have some familiar faces.
Well the Summer is over and the kids are back to school. But, this was the BEST SUMMER EVER!
The Embarcadero YMCA really brought their "A Game" this year! Megan, Troy, Amber and the rest of the Y staff (can't forget David at the front desk)were such a pleasure to deal with.
My daughter (5 years old) had an amazing experience here! The staff took great care of her while encouraging her to explore the world around her. She has a greater sense of self and independence. She is more mature. She is better able to establish friendships and is comfortable around lots of other children. This is exactly what I wanted for her this year going into Kindergarten.
She misses her friends at the YMCA. But, we are both eager for her return next Summer!
We will be sure to sign up very early (mid-March)! Be sure that you do too. Spots for this camp fill up fast. Everyone else already knows that this is the "place-to-be" for kids during the Summer. Now, you do too!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/24/2008
I've never worked out here a day in my life. But, after reading Paul B's review...that might… Read more »
This YMCA and the YMCA in general is the best organization I know of that supports wellness (emotional, physical, intellectual), and at the same time embraces the community at large. No fitness center I know of (24 hour, Crunch, Gold's) can do this.
Namely I go there for the basketball, to lift weights, use the jacuzzi, and the steam room/sauna. It is a really nicely kept facility and the staff is really friendly there, albeit I notice sometimes they are doing their best not to show it when they are not having a good day.
If I had a child, this is a place where I would want to take him/her because of the community and the wellness. I admit that this SF location is not necessarily super community oriented, but I see the same people there and know some of the players on a first name basis.
Since I have a low income (for the City), I get a scholarship membership, which is $19.50/mo. and that is the best deal I have ever gotten. It is a true gift! Thanks YMCA Embarcadero!
Inexpensive gym. If you must run on a treadmill and can't make it outdoors, it's nice that the treadmills face the water and the windows open up so you can see the water (vs. staring at a wall or a building).
The pool is so-so. It's a pool, a plus. The bad is that you can smell the cigarette smoke from the people on the sidewalk outside of Ozumo. The smoke rises up and comes into the windows where you are swimming. Breathing cigarette smoke (even if slightly) is bleah when swimming.
Been looking for a good pool near my work, and I hit the jackpot!
What I especially love:
- lanes separated by speed.
- towel service, baby!
- gender-separated sauna and steam rooms in the locker rooms.
- changing rooms are quite clean!
- no creepy men sitting around the pool, watching... (have you BEEN to the pools at 24 hour fitness??? ugh. creepy. )
So excited to go back today!
Nice, big, very clean facility. Never a line for showers or lockers. Very rarely a wait on the cardio machines (the couple of times this happened it was under two minutes). I love the big windows opened to the Bay. Fresh air is a rare feature at a gym. I like that they have trainers walking the floor - you can always ask them about this machine or the other. No frills, no stores, no stupid rules like 'we'll discuss membership costs when you come down for a tour'. I hate those other gyms that try to talk you into lifetime memberships and other bs ('cause you know, if you don't sign up for the lifetime deal, then you must not be committed to your goal. bs. bs. bs.)
Anyway... the Y is friendly and your dues are going to a good cause. What more do you want?
Last month I decided to get my butt (and arms, and legs, and abs...) back into shape and joined the Embarcadero Y. Although I haven't exactly kept a perfect routine, I feel like this is a great environment for me to ease back into exercising. I typically find an open treadmill and try to avoid the noon and 5pm crowds because it can be hectic.
My "wellness coach" is really friendly, is a fountain of running knowledge, and listened to my health history in order to build a great workout schedule for me. Once I get over my inflexibility, I'll definitely take a yoga class.
5 stars, woooot!
i love this place altho is not a great spot to find parking, but they have friendly services. i like the swimming pool!!
i came here since i was very young and i learned how to swim here. they have unlimited towels and the lockers are awesome.
Ah, The Gymnasium. The Greeks trained at the Gymnasium in preparation for public games. Here, too, you will find people preparing themselves for public games. It may be mountain biking on some Tahoe singletrack instead of chucking a discus at some passing Spartan or suffering the last leg of the Ironman in Kona rather than a doomed sprint from Marathon to Athens, but the drive for physical prowess is there. It may even be just to get in shape for the games at local bars, but, hey, the same spirit is there. Working out naked, however, has sadly (or luckily depending on your perspective) gone out of fashion.
Personally, I limit myself to spinning in a vain attempt at putting more speed into my old legs and more air into my shriveled lungs, perhaps a bit of swimming, and a free weight here and there. Sure, I can do none of these things naked at the Y, but the experience is enjoyable nonetheless. The spinning room is clean and the bikes are in great shape. It could use a few more fans, but I tend to leak sweat at an alarming rate. Locker room is nice. I have yet to have trouble scoring a day-locker nor have I had to wait for a shower. In fact, despite the appearance of a mass of people, I have yet to feel crowded.
I will not just chuck a laurel wreath of victory wantonly and without some criticism (aside from the lack of naked training) on the head of the YMCA, though. There is a need for increased ventilation throughout the building. A little air flow would do wonders. And while I applaud the greenness of their two-towel limit, being limited to two would be nicer if the towels had something resembling absorbency. I know, I know, they are gym towels... still, if one can dream of ancient glory on the Plains of Thermopylae (or just on the climb up Mt. Tam), one should also be able to dream of drying off efficiently.
I defected from Equinox recently and have been devoted to the Embarcadero YMCA ever since. Why?
- Amazing pool! Lots of spacious lanes, a play pool separated by a bulkhead, perfect water temperature and people who seem to know what they're doing
- Another important note about the pool - it is on the lovely second floor with lots of windows, unlike 90% of gym pools
- Great circuit machines and cardio equipment. They even have a system where you can log in and it tracks your workouts!
- Lots of lovely fresh towels, and even has shampoo/conditioner in the showers
- Very very clean...this is so important
- Excellent, courteous, and FRIENDLY staff. People actually seem really happy
- Really nice hot tub in the pool area, and sauna/steamrooms in male/female locker rooms
- Spacious, open-feeling locker rooms, that are even equipped with hair dryers
- Bathing suit dryers
- Less than HALF the cost of Equinox without sacrificing anything
- Beautiful view of the water and Bay Bridge from cardio machines
- The YMCA is a great organization, lots of great programs for the community and a beautiful facility!
There is one thing that really separates the YMCA from other gyms - they are widely regarded as a well-run and effective community-oriented non-profit. Do you ever have a month or two where you blow off your workouts? I do, and it's nice to know my membership dollars are going to a good cause and not just to a bunch of corporate shareholders.
Beyond that, the strongest aspect of the Y is classes. I am a big fan of the hip-hop dance classes, but there are plenty of others taught by volunteer instructors for free.
Also, they have a triathlon training program that beats the hell out of Team in Training. There is a lot more schedule flexibility, the coaches are good, the participants seem more down to earth, and best of all, you don't have to hit up your friends and relatives for donations (you do have to pay a sign-up fee of a couple hundred bucks, but it's worth it).
Gets four stars only because they have one basketball/volleyball court that is tiny and perpetually occupied. And the pickup basketball there tends to suck on account of rough play.
The Embarcadero YMCA is connected to the Harbor Court Hotel, where I've been staying all week long. And as a hotel gym the Embarcadero YMCA is a 5 star establishment- every machine you could possibly need including treadmills overlooking the water, classes all day long, and it's FREEEEEEEEEE (YIPPPPEEEEE) for hotel members.
However, if I resided in the SF area full time I would not be a member of the Embarcadero YMCA. There's nothing wrong with this gym, but it's definitely a no frills gym...and I can admit that I'm a frills type of gal.
In the past 4 days I've taken 3 spinning classes, a kickboxing class, a bosu core class, and an abs class. The kickboxing class was pretty poor (although a sub was teaching the class), but I was able to get in a good workout from the other classes. Nowhere nearly as good as I get at home, but this did the trick!
What is refreshing about this gym is that it's all about real people working out. I'm used to the 2 pound, yet muscular instructors at my gym back home so I was surprised to see that all this instructors are on the larger side. And to the spinning instructor who will remain nameless: let me introduce you to my friend....the sports bra. No one wants to see your boobs flapping around in the morning!
People here workout in t-shirts and shorts (gasp)...have to admit I probably looked a little silly walking around in my fancy lululemon workout outfits. However, I did see a young gal hard at work on the stairmaster in skinny jeans today. Hmmm....so that's the way to get skinny jeans to fit. And while I'm not the subject of people at the gym I should probably warn y'all about the smelly older man who followed me around the past few days flexing his muscles and telling me I light up his life like a candle. wwhhhhaaaaattttt?
Update as of 9/7/07: I just got off the phone with someone at the Y for a billing problem and someone gave me major attitude. I signed up in April and gave them my Visa check card for automatic monthly payments. The payments went through smoothly for 3 months. Then in July it stopped. Well, I received a statement by snail mail and they billed me for July, August and September.
Fine. I can pay it now, so I called them. But when I spoke to someone on the phone, 1) she gave me attitude like I am trying to cheap out of paying my monthly membership dues; 2) she couldn't explain why the withdrawal was rejected in July; 3) she couldn't explain why they didn't try again in August; and 4) she insisted that I had to come personally to give a "new" authorization for monthly payments even though I'm using the EXACT same check card number and they already have my signature on file.
What the fuck is up with the attitude??? I started off polite and then yes, I got irate. But you know... people shouldn't volunteer to work at the Y if they're going to be bitter and rude.
I just joined and I've had 2 workouts. This is a great gym, and I don't regret this decision at all. I used to belong to Club One, but they kept raising my monthly membership $5 per month until I was paying $91 per month! Holy frijole! So at the time, I had a job with a small, private gym. The equipment was old and yucky, but I thought it was okay since I was paying zero dollars and zero cents per month. Then recently, I changed jobs, so I needed to join a gym again. But I really wanted to find a bargain.
I emailed Club One about trying to join again without the initiation fee, but no one emailed or called back. Then I tried to drop in for a quick visit to 24 Hour Fitness in the Financial District, and the sales guy would not leave me alone! He was really pushy. I checked out Crunch on Van Ness and that was a cool facility but I wasn't keen about walking home in the dark on Van Ness or Polk. (Plus I read all the yelps about how Crunch won't let you quit for 3 years.)
So finally, I decided to just go with the Embarcadero YMCA. It's a little far from my office, and I can't just go for a quick workout during lunch. But I thought it was inexpensive and the initiation fee is only $25. I just thought even if I hate it, I only end up wasting about 1 month of dues. And you can quit with only 30 days notice.
First of all, the staff was really nice and there was absolutely no sales pitch. And again, monthly dues = $65. But so far, it has been great. I haven't gone swimming or taken any classes yet. But there are plenty of cardio machines available at the height of the busiest time (5 to 7pm). And everything is clean. And everyone is very polite and doesn't talk loudly. And they don't blast music in the gym or locker rooms. And you get towels. It's just a good value for a really nice gym. It's not a luxury gym, but it's very nice.
Think: You could spent $45 per month plus $125 initiation fee for 24 Hour Fitness. So for the first year, you pay about $665 or $55 per month. But if you join the YMCA, you pay $65 per month plus $25 initiation ($805 or $67 per month). So for $12 per month, you're getting a pool, free towels, clean facilities, polite staff and other members, and the peace of mind that you weren't ripped off or pressured to sign up for a contract.
YMCA stands for Young Men's Christian Association, but it could just as easily stand for Old Russian Woman's Orthodox Association or Young Blind Buddhist Association. In my particular case it would be the Thirtyish Queer Agnostic Association. I've belonged to many gyms in my lifetime and none comes close to the Embarcadero Y. The place has a spectacular spirit of enthusiasm, inclusiveness and most importantly community.
As a kid growing up in the Southern California suburbs I may have had the word "community" on a 5th grade vocabulary test and seen it on ominous real estate advertisements as in "Come buy a giant beige house in our master planned community"; but I never truly understood its power until recently.
I joined the Embarcadero Y less than a year ago and began as a garden variety member. Since then I've gone through their volunteer group exercise instructor program and now teach my own weekly group strength class, as well as filling in on occasion for other instructors. Through their certification and mentorship program I am now learning to teach group cycling as well. I also joined their triathlon club and completed my first triathlon (Yeah me!). This is not to mention all the hellish workdays that have been saved by 40 minutes on the elliptical trainer with the ocean wind blowing on my sweaty face, looking out over the Embarcadero hoping to spot a sea lion. Along the way I've made friends that are way better then any six pack abs or ripped biceps a girl could have (not that you can't have both).
You don't have to be a fitness nutcase like me to love the Y. People of all shapes, sizes, backgrounds, ages and fitness levels come together to get sweaty here. There are also lots of community benefiting programs going on all the time, like the high school for troubled students and summer camps for kids. The Y has enough love (and groovy fitness opportunities) for everyone.
So I've discovered a community is a place where you give and get, where you feel comfortable and where they will miss you (at least for a little while) if you're gone.
The Y is all of the above and I recommend it to everyone who cares about the fitness of their body and soul.
I love to stay at the Y-M-C-A... I love to stay at the Y-M-C-A- Hey!
For many years, I believed gyms to be foul, indoor sweathouses that charged you an arm and a leg to do things that you could easily do outside in the fresh air. Well, gone are the days of eating Cool Ranch Doritos, hamburgers, fries, and coke- that was just lunch. Now I'm striving to be healthy. The Embarcadero Y is great. If you can't be outside, you might as well have a view of it while you're on your treadmill. The tech geek in me loved the cycling machines with t.v./internet access. Yelp while you sweat? Also, the weight machines have a keypad where you can enter your personal code and it keeps track of your past workout. That's motivation! Pools, hot tubs, and classes. This is definitely not the YMCA that I grew up with.
For the pool- 3.5 stars. Rest of the gym is good too.
Likes:
-- those great big windows, letting sun into the pool
-- people pretty much follow the lane speeds- nice touch to have the fast lane in the middle and the slower lanes on either side.
-- people are pretty hip on lane swimming
-- excellent location- I can get in a good workout early in the evening.
Not so great:
-- a little strong on the chlorine
-- sometimes it gets muy crowded- like up to 5 people/lane
-- swimmers who take themselves a little too seriously
-- people tend to keep to themselves
-- that jacuzzi has more chemicals in it than a pool supply store- I'm sure my trunks will melt. You know how you eat yogurt after taking a series of antibiotics? Can't hurt to do that after a dip here. Seriously.
My past exercising involved running so all of this gym stuff is new to me. There's a lot to like about this gym.
1.) How often can you be at a gym conversing to a fellow gym member about football and after your workout see the same member rummaging through trash at a muni stop. Only at a YMCA!
2.) They have an iron! I don't even have that. I would like mouthwash and cue tips but an iron is convenient since I stuff my clothes in a small bag.
Downside like most gyms is if you come during peak hours you'll be waiting. I gave up going in the evening and now show up at 7 and all the weights are available.
I love it here. I used to be at Crunch on Van Ness to lift and box, but here I have a swimming pool, jacuzzi, basketball court, treadmills that face the Bay, and all types of new equipment.
I love the location, because the neighborhood and its near my work. It is an overall great place to work out, and there is no contract which is great.
The staff is very helpful, and friendly. What more can one ask for in a gym.
I love the Embarcadero Y!!!
I love the down-to-earth overall vibe of the gym, the friendliness of the staff and the random freebies (t-shirts! apples!).
I love how there are senior citizens working out next to the 20 and 30 somethings (seeing someone 60 years older than you rock their workout is always great motivation).
I love how the ellipticals look out over the bay and how you can feel the breeze of the ocean while you work out.
I love that they have internet access with some of the machines and a large selection of magazines available (there's nothing like trashy magazines to make a workout fly by).
Highly recommended if you are looking for a gym near the Financial District!!!
AMAZING! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this gym!
Facilitiies: The gym facilities are wonderful! Beautiful, clean pool, plenty of different machines (I never have to wait), gorgeous views of the bay (ie, running on the elliptical while watching the sun set over the Bay Bridge), very spacious, plus an extremely clean sauna and steam room in the locker room. The sauna/steam room always motivate me to come work out so I can relax in there after.
Classes: There are SO many classes here, going on at multiple times every day. I love to alternate between yoga, pilates, spinning, kick boxing, and boot camp. Since there are lots of classes going on concurrently, on any given day you can decide on your workout (as in, stressed? okay, do yoga at 5.30pm... energetic? go to spinning instead). Due to its large facilities, this gym is able to offer way more classes at any given time (which a lot of other gyms here can't do). The class teachers are so, so nice and really motivate you work up a sweat.
Staff: I LOVE the staff here. They are so nice, positive, courteous, etc. Honestly, after a stressful work day, it is an absolute pleasure to be greeted by the staff here. When I had a small problem with my credit card, the guy at the desk was a total sweetheart about it. Since the Y is a nonprofit, they aren't trying to sell you things like personal training, protein powders, etc. I really appreciate that no one is ever trying to sell you crap, and that they are just geniuinely nice and easy going. This place just has such a nice environment, and the staff's friendly attitude totally chills me out after working all day.
Overall: This place is the best! Top of the line facilities, clean, spacious, free towel services, awesome people, amazing classes, crystal blue pool. Plus your money is going to a nonprofit cause. I really wish more gyms were like this!
This is best gym I've ever been to (well.. my hometown ymca was bigger and a tad cleaner). but this is the best of the lot here... and way better than your local 24 hour fitness and the like.
No attitude. Good equipment and machines. A pool! Free towels. Good variety of classes and competent teachers. Free trainers. Most importantly no creepy men ogling you. And all for 60ish dollars a month!
The view is awesome -- I love staring out at the water and the traffic below while I'm on an elliptical. It's a great, diverse crowd where anyone fits in -- office workers, professionals, fit, unfit, down & outs, gay, straight, kids, lots of wheelchair bound, skinny, fat, polka dotted-- everyone loves the YMCA!
Plus you can watch your own personal tv while you're on a recumbant bike -- how much better does it get?
Everything about this YMCA is welcoming.
The people look like real people. Not tan Barbie dolls and ken dolls. They just look like real people who are there to get into shape. Same with the people who work there. Everyone is really motivating and they have this great program called Fit Links that is free when you join. It's like you have a coach with you every time your working out.
Oh and its clean!! AND they have to most excellent view of the Bay. And a sun roof you can tan on. 5 stars for building strong kids, strong families and strong communities. 5 stars for the YMCA!
I've been a member of the Embarcadero YMCA since 2001. Over the years they've continued to improve the facility and their service. They regularly add new cardio equipment to the Fitness Center (several new elliptical and treadmill machines appeared in the last month) and completed a major expansion and overhaul of the change rooms last year. As previous reviews have mentioned, the views of the Bay are spectacular and the value for money can't be beat. And it's a great organization that does great work in the community and welcomes everyone regardless of ability. That last point may not mean much to some people but I know I feel welcome at a place where I see people of all ages, shapes, sizes, abilities, etc. Added bonus: if you travel regularly, as a Y member you can use any other YMCA facility in the US or Canada, usually free of charge (I've never had to pay anytime I have done this...).
Pros:
- great location and views
- great value for money
- good variety of cardio and weight training equipment
- always getting better!
Cons:
- free weight area is small and gets crowded during peak hours (I'm hoping this is due for an upgrade soon...)
- there aren't a huge number of group exercise classes to choose from and they aren't always scheduled at the most convenient times
Recommendations:
- try the 7 day pass and explore what the Embarcadero Y has to offer you
- take advantage of the free orientation to get a basic program tailored to your goals
- try to workout at off-peak hours (first thing in the morning, early afternoon or later evening)
- take a yoga class with Saeeda
- meet Tony in the Fitness Center or through his Boxing Basics class - you'll be glad you did ;-)
My only complaint about this gym is that I did not go often enough. Its not an uptight, everyone looks perfect gym, but you may have to wait for the machines sometimes.
The view, the free towels, the staff, the monthly rate is all great. Great gym for the price and location.
Three reasons the Embarcadero YMCA is fantastic (one of the best YMCAs in the USA):
1. The rooftop. I often went up here and did yoga and martial arts poses unobtrusively. The roof area looks back towards the Rincon Center (not a rooftop bayview).
2. The atmosphere is less stand and model than other nearby gyms. This is characteristic of YMCAs as a general rule but holds true under duress in the downtown SF workout scene.
3. Decent visitor policies. I was a member at the Embarcadero from 1995-2004 and still check in here on semi-frequent visits using a Y membership from elsewhere.
Overall, this gym is pretty good. The workout floor with all the machines and weights could use a higher ceiling, but other than that, it is a good spot with a great location. The pool is definitely my favorite part of the gym. The water is clean though the chlorine content can get intense on some days. Great community programs for kids, though the high school kids do need more supervision as they can get rowdy. For the monthly dues that I pay, I wish they would upgrade their towels and get some new ones. They are doing some renovation to improve the locker rooms, so we shall see how much better it gets.
On to the trainers: I must admit, their trainers are well versed and very professional. I had a great personal trainer named Mike, and a great swim instructor named Mike as well.
