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Embarcadero YMCA
Categories: Active Life Fitness & Instruction Gyms Active Life Fitness & Instruction Yoga Active Life Fitness & Instruction Swimming Lessons/Schools Education Specialty Schools Swimming Lessons/Schools Local Services Child Care & Day Care Gyms, Yoga, Swimming Lessons/Schools, Child Care & Day Care [Edit]
169 Steuart St(between Mission St & Howard St)
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 957-9622
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 5:30 am - 9:30 pm
Sat 8 am - 7:30 pm
Sun 9 am - 5:30 pm
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
158 reviews for Embarcadero YMCA
158 reviews in English
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Review from Sid C.
San Francisco, CA
5/4/2012
This review is specifically for those wishing to learn swimming at the Y. To summarize, go for it! You will receive the best support you possibly can from the swim staff. They are rock solid.
I've been swimming at the Y for the last 3-4 months taking swim lessons with Colby and Kelly. When I arrived at the pool, all I could do was dunk my face and kick and I wouldn't move. It was pretty pathetic. I was bummin' and slumming' that I hadn't learnt to swim as a kid and that if someone was drowning, I can't save them! No self respecting dude wants to live with that! Enough was enough. Time to learn how to swim.
I took Level 1 and 2 with Colby/Kelly and Level 3 with Kelly. I also combined that with an occasional private lesson with Colby. These guys are truly magic and make a great team.
Learning most things that are new to your body requires you to know what to do technically and also be able to develop a natural feel for what you're doing. I found that to be true for swimming. Both Colby and Kelly intuitively understand both aspects and other dimensions that I'm unaware of, I'm sure. Kelly broke down the stroke in requisite detail so that you knew exactly what to do in the water. She has plenty of very focused drills that will teach you each aspect of the stroke. I found those critical. Colby was super in that besides stroke mechanics, he put special emphasis on when I would tense up a part of my stroke because I was focusing so hard on getting it technically sound. We did plenty of drills that are focused on relaxation and breathing, which are pretty chicken and egg. It is an order of magnitude harder to swim relaxed because you have to be balanced instead of relying on momentum. I'm not there yet but I am confident that the folks at the Y will get me there.
Here is the upshot. I'm able to breathe bilaterally (each side) every three strokes and swim across the pool with a stroke count that ain't too shabby. I'm going into Level 4 in a couple of weeks which is introduction to lap swimming and quite frankly I owe it all to the folks at the Y.
The review would not be complete without speaking about the rest of the Y experience. Everyone at the Embarcadero Y from the front desk to the lifeguards is very courteous and the rest of the facilities are awesome. There aren't many places in the city that you can hit a treadmill with a view of the bay! -
Review from Lily H.
Seattle, WA
5/24/2012
I spent a week in early May of 2012 and went three times to this YMCA to swim. The indoor 25-meter pool had five lanes. The first time I was warmly welcomed by a lifeguard named Robert, who let me that know when there were two people in a lane, they split, and when there were three or more, the swimmers circle swam.
This was really a surprise to me, as at my home YMCA (in downtown Seattle), the lifeguards would not bother to explain this, which would sometimes result in a collision. On the whole, the lifeguards seemed friendlier and more helpful compared to what I was previously accustomed.
On the next floor is the weight and machine room. Here there were more Nautilus-type machines than in Seattle. But the stretching room was very small, and as I learned later on, the studio rooms on the top floor were locked when there were no scheduled classes.
The spacious locker room was kept very clean. The staff were all very friendly, and a trainer spent 20 impromptu minutes showing me how to use a BOSU ball.
On the whole, this YMCA was a nice change and compared favorably with the Seattle YMCA. If I lived in San Francisco, this is the gym that I would go to. -
Review from Tricia G.
Sausalito, CA
4/28/2012
Today on the way to work I saw a huge installation in the Marina that was a National Fitness Challenge. Seems the government is onto something, working out and paying attention to your health matters.
The YMCA Embarcadero is a great place to get started. It has a complete basketball court, a full lap pool, masters swimming that is very active as well as towel service, group pilates, yoga and great equipment.
At other gyms your dollars are only focused on the gym wheras the Y is a core component to the health of the SF Embarcadero area with programs for families and youth that help all of us ensure the SF community is doing well.
If you are looking to workout and/or participate in the community you should check out the Y Embarcadero. -
Review from Patrick D.
San Francisco, CA
4/25/2012
I visited the Embarcadero Y to see if I could get in some extra workouts here during the day (I usually visit the Richmond District Y). Unfortunately, this location is a mixed bag for my preferred activities. The weight area has a very low ceiling, so any standing barbell presses won't fly here unless you're under 5'10'' or have short arms. In fact, the entire area is much smaller than I would expect for a downtown location and most of the equipment is far more out-of-date than even most Ys in the city.
On the other hand, the cardio area is absolutely enormous and the spacious locker rooms were a nice change from the more spartan facilities at my usual Y. The pool looks beautiful and the staff were friendly as usual. If I were more into the cardio machines, this would have been a great second gym. -
Review from Jennifer S.
San Francisco, CA
4/27/2012
I've been a member and a volunteer at the Embarcadero YMCA since 1999, and I must say that I love it here. From the variety of the classes that are offered, to the locker room renovations, the staff are always trying to make sure that every member is getting the most benefit from the facility. And the staff is incredibly hard-working, friendly and dedicated! This is the place to go when you need a place to work out some job-related stress!
And, for those who don't know, the Embarcadero YMCA runs several community programs, including a high school on-site and after-school programs off-site. Please check us out! We are not just another downtown gym. We can make you feel better physically, mentally and emotionally. -
Review from Marat N.
San Jose, CA
4/9/2012
Clean facility, modern equipment, spacious locker room, friendly public and staff.
They have a huge pool, fitness equipment with built-in electronic tracking of the strength-building progress over time, and several large recreational rooms where they have all sorts of classes, from dancing to martial arts.
The staff member who took me on a tour was very detailed about all the equipment, features, amenities, and activities. I didn't even realize there would be so much to talk about.
The club was not too crowded when I visited, and so far I haven't seen any "funny business" over there, even though it is San Francisco.
The only downside is that they close at 10 pm, not like a 24-Hour Fitness. But that just likely goes with their philosophy that early to bed and early to rise keeps a man happy healthy, and wise.
And their drop-in fee is $15, which is less than the drop-in fees of most other health clubs.
I would strongly recommend getting a free tour of the place for anyone considering joining any health club. -
Review from Julz Z.
Corte Madera, CA
3/14/2012
The cardio classes are great and there are always cardio and weight lifting equipment available. The spin class will kick your tail if you like old school spin. The Cardio Kickboxing on Tuesdays and Thursdays at lunch is a lot of fun. I would hope they would install TVs near the cardio equipment however, the view out towards the bay is really really nice so I like the break from technology. I personally get royally annoyed when there are people not obeying the no phone rule (I really don't want to hear you are firing John after lunch). The gym is time to work on your body, not on your business. There is no parking, but it is good for the walker in the financial district.
The Women's locker room is up to snuff. I swear they have the house elves from Harry Potter as the place always seems clean. I am not so thrilled with the people who sit down naked on the chairs without a towel however, this is the members not the facility. The Y replaced the shower heads so now they spray better.
The Staff are incredibly friendly and approachable. The fitness coach I spoke with knew what he was talking about on how to really effectively target trouble spots however, I kind of wish he would practice what he preached to really sell it.
The pool is a bit warm for a racer. However, it is focused towards therapy more than racing which is common to the Y chain. They clean the pool thuroughly once a year and filter it during the rest of the year, so it is often cloudy. I have to admit though I have seen them dump the chlorine in so I know it is there. However, to be honest it is cloudy mostly because people don't often shower before getting in so I don't blame the Y. -
Review from Gabriel D.
San Francisco, CA
11/10/2011
Let me tell you about the adult swim lessons here...
I took adult swim level 2. The instructor didn't show up for the first class and then *quit her job* in the middle of the fifth class. So of course they offered a refund, right? No chance.
I called to ask for a refund and the swim director at the time refused - instead he would offer me two free lessons. I showed up for the first lesson and he just started yelling at me and walked away in disgust. He told me I "needed to learn how to breathe." Yes, I do. That's why I was taking the class.
I put this out of my mind for a while, but I finally asked the membership director for a refund. Took a while, but finally the new swim director told me no refund, but I could re-take adult swim level 2 for free. For some reason I keep wanting to give these guys another chance, so I did.
Adult swim level 2 actually went pretty well. I learned how to breathe. I made huge strides in my swimming. The only disappointment was that they kept telling us we'd swim in the lap pool (the class is held in the tiny activity pool) and when we'd show up, they'd tell us that other swimmers had priority over us.
Nonetheless, the instructor pushed me to sign up for level 3 (ultimate goal: swim 40 lengths in half an hour), so I did. Then I found out that the first guy who yelled at me was teaching the class. I asked for a refund and what did they say? Why don't you take private lessons?
I said ok. What the hell is wrong with me? I show up for my first lesson and I have to split a lane with some ridiculously awful swimmer. Dude crashed into me numerous times and knocked me into the wall. I asked the instructor why I didn't have my own lane...He said I needed to come at a different time of day when the pool was less busy. Funny...He only offered me one time slot when we scheduled the class.
Anyways, now he still owes me $70 and he's not returning my emails. This place is a disaster - if you're going to take their swim classes, you should know what you're getting into.
PS - this is my experience. If you don't like my experience, well, there's not much you can do, short of getting the staff to be nicer. -
Review from Andrew M.
Updated - 2/27/2012 129 Check-ins Here
The Y just keeps getting better. The people are so friendly here. It is a great community to be a part of and I look forward to everyday I get to spend time here, even if it is at the crack of dawn.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/4/2011
I am a person who needs a gym with a pool. The Y is therefore the place for me. They have a great… Read more »
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Review from meehee o.
San Francisco, CA
8/23/2011
This review is for the swim class at the Embarcadero YMCA. Colby is an excellent teacher. Former Olympic contenders have tried to teach me to swim and no one has been able break me of my bad self-taught swim techniques.
Before taking Colby's class i would say that my "style" could best be described as "sperm," meaning I wiggled around in the water without using my arms. He is very patient, breaks down each stroke, and is always cheerful. I am grateful that now I can do a passable backstroke, a crawl that is in progress, and a spastic rendition of the breaststroke that I feel confident will eventually become recognizable as the breaststroke and not be mistaken for me having a seizure in the water. (He's a good teacher but not a magician. I definitely need to practice breaststroke more). I wish I hadn't waited so long to take lessons.
My only complaint about the session I took was that it was very crowded. I wish they would have cut off the number of students at seven per class. -
Review from Chad F.
San Francisco, CA
4/13/2012
My favorite Y of them all! Beautiful Bayfront views that add a bit of relaxation while doing cardio. The equipment is modern and it is rarely crowded (I go before 3pm, so that's all I can speak to). However, the locker rooms can get a little cramped, though not too bad.
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Review from Max H.
Visitacion Valley, San Francisco, CA
2/18/2012
I am just wondering why the basketball court is always closed? Everytime i go there, i see a bunch of kids playing soccer inside the freaking BASKETBALL court! Man it is not fair to us! I pay it every month, but i dont have any chance to play bball inside the court because of those kids! I went there at 4 something yesterday, i saw those kids again, there was a paper on the wall saying that it ends at 5! But guess what, when i returned at 5:30, they were still playing soccer there! I was like wtf! i had been waiting for almost 2 hours, what the hell, i was so mad! 2 stars is enough!
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Review from Joseph G.
San Francisco, CA
4/6/2012
I've been lucky enough to volunteer at the Y for over a year now. And I truly believe that I've gotten back much more during that time than I've been able to give. The staff and other volunteers are truy amazing people who love what they do...and it shows! It's reassuring to still find a place where people think of others first and go out of their way to better the community. That kind of pure unselfishness is hard to find. Unless you're at the Y.
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Review from S S.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 2/2/2012
Further update:
I have canceled my membership. Why?
1. Dirty pool. Floating Band-Aids dirty.
2. Mediocre/old equipment
3. Few TVs and old old old magazines, but cardio equipment pointed at walls
4. Rude staff, especially the middle-aged manager woman
5. Seriously, the manager is rude
6. No cell phones anywhere but in the lobby? For a gym in the financial district?
7. Too expensive for the cleanliness, quality of the equipment, availability of equipment and classes
8. Parking can be terrible thanks to the nearby restaurant valets using all the nearby meter spots
9. Women who change feminine hygiene products in the middle of the women's locker room. Seen it at least 4 times in the past year.
There are better gyms for the money. I've noticed a remarkably less busy gym lately, which makes me think they are losing customers.2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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8/15/2010
Brief update: They only give you two towels and only upon entrance. Most of the towels are thin and… Read more »
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Review from Jane D.
San Francisco, CA
5/7/2011
I cannot say enough great things about the swimming classes here. I finished the level 2 and am finishing the level 3 class and have absolutely enjoyed them. The classes are $90 for members and $120 for non-members for a six week 1-hour long course. The instructors are great at breaking down the mechanics of each stroke and doing various drills to build up our technique and increase efficiency of swimming. Colby, the aquatics director is awesome and is great with working with adults. Mike was also very good for the Level 2 class.
In just a couple of months I've gone from not being able to swim at all to now being able to swim across a 25 meter pool with relative ease using front crawl, back stroke, or breast stroke.
The pools is nicely heated with 5 different lanes and a separate activity pool. Locker room is clean and well kept. Don't forget to bring your own lock. -
Review from Sparkely K.
Silicon Valley, CA
1/30/2011
My favorite part of The City runs from Embarcadero at Broadway, all through the financial district, and over to Embarcadero at Folsom. Could I please live in this area?? Please?
One day each week I do a 45-minute walk through the above-mentioned zone, making sure I walk past Golden Gateway Tennis & Swim Club, dreaming of joining there for tennis and aqua aerobics; then over through the Embarcadero Center (4) to Steuart and Howard. I end the day with a stretching class that is fantastic! This class has shown me that my body is far less limber than it once was. I remember doing the splits to the floor in high school, and could almost do them Chinese-style. Some moves come more easily, but others, well...it's just sad. I look forward to my time here every week.
Really nice women's locker room - very spacious, clean and well designed. Friendly staff. I look forward to taking a Pilates class when my schedule eases up a bit. -
Review from Aus B.
Denver, CO
8/27/2011
Great pool and great staff. Definitely not the place for "want-to-be-seen" gym goers. Which is great. The staff is friendly and the members are just as nice.
Free towels, clean pool (clean for the city) and clean equipment.
If you are sick of 24-hr fitness or similar, this is your new health club. -
Review from Natalie M.
San Francisco, CA
3/18/2011
I struggled with the monthly fee of $67.00 for a while but finally gave in because this is one of the very few gyms with a pool in San Francisco.
I've found that this YMCA is well worth every dollar! Not only do I enjoy the pool but I've found that I never have to wait to use the elliptical machines and while on them I get to overlook the San Francisco bay!
The locker room is huge and kept very clean as well. This center also has numerous classes available and I've never found them too be overly crowded.
Not only are the facilities superb, but the staff is friendly and I love the fresh clean towels I'm provided with when I walk in! -
Review from Jenny B.
San Francisco, CA
4/3/2011
I took a swimming class with Colby and he was great! I was truly amazed what 6 1-hour small-group lessons can do and I'm really excited to do the next level. Colby was patient and very insightful. So that was awesome.
The rest of the facilities are nice, but I'll stick with my regular gym for everything but the swim lessons... -
Review from Patti S.
Mill Valley, CA
4/4/2012
I have been working out at the Embarcadero YMCA for nearly 20 years now, and it's my home away from home. The fitness floor is state of the art; the Y does a great job of keeping the equipment current and in excellent working order. Every possible piece of equipment that an athlete could need is there on the huge floor. I've worked out at every hour of the day, and rarely do I need to wait for equipment; it never feels crowded. I like how the facility is filled with other athletes - it's not a pick-up joint, and that means I can comfortably roam the fitness floor without getting hit on - and I've made lots of friends too. Staff are helpful without being overbearing; they also keep you safe - when I was using the facility to run on the treadmills at 7, 8 and even 9 months pregnant, numerous staff kept an eye on me and made sure I was doing OK. The Y feels friendly - everyone says hello at the front desk when I come in (they ask if I've been missing for awhile); same thing on the 3rd floor - friendly staff ask me BY NAME how I'm doing, how's my running, etc. In fact, when my dad died a few years ago and I completely fell apart during a run that finished at the Y, several staff took time out of their busy days and sat with me while I cried my eyes out until I was able to calm down and collect myself. I can't imagine any other gym doing this. I'll be a loyal lifetime member.
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Review from patty h.
San Francisco, CA
6/22/2011
Wonderful YMCA.
Staff is very friendly, pool is outstanding and exercise equipment is plentiful and maintained.
Always a warm greeting when your handed your towel! -
Review from Gabi M.
10/9/2010 3 Check-ins Here
I was relieved to find out that guests at the Harbor Court Hotel have access to the Embarcadero YMCA for a daily fee of $10. (This must've gone up in the last couple of years because in previous reviews, it seems there was no fee at all). But for $10 a day, it's an extremely convenient gym to be able to pop into...
I made it to this gym three times during my stay in SF last week. I didn't check out the locker room, the pool, or the running track on the roof, but I did use the treadmills (which overlook the pier) and took a few classes (step and bosu). I found the employees to be friendly and the facility to have plenty to choose from. I was there early mornings so it was not crowded at all. Towel service was an added plus.
If you're looking for a health club with all of the bells and whistles, this YMCA is probably not for you. But if you want a casual place to go to work out, you're all set!Listed in: Athletic Endeavors, So Much to do in San Francisco
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Review from Corey D.
10/21/2010 1 Check-in Here
Free would have been nice, but what's $10 per day? If you are a guest at Harbor Court next door, $10 gets you into this pretty low key, bare bones facility. (I heard it used to be free, ah well).
When I workout, I'm concentrating on one thing, getting rid of my gut and toning up! So it didn't really bother me that the place was pretty no-nonsense. If you like a little more wow-y pop-y from your gym, the Embarcadero Y probably isn't for you. But if the idea of running on a treadmill overlooking the pier sounds like the perfect way to start your day, check it out if you're in town! Living in the desert, I've come to appreciate water any chance I get, and I have to say that listening to tunes, sprinting my buns off and gazing out the window at an expansive body of delicious looking water was incredible! Not to mention the place has a really large locker room area, a decent size lap pool (didn't swim) and a healthy collection of free weights.
All in all I felt the staff was nice, towel service was great, and the place had a pretty low key energy which I like. It felt a little stark perhaps a little sterile, but it did the trick, and I feel thinner because of it.Listed in: Best of the Bay, Yelp Newbie Bootcamp
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Review from Drew P.
San Francisco, CA
8/11/2010
Absolutely disgusting locker room facilities.
I have been looking for a gym ever since I left my last company that had onsite facilities. I thought the YMCA would provide a great option since it's a block away. When I went on a tour, it wasn't that crowded, and I thought it would be a good fit.
When I returned to use the pool, I had problems from the start. The stench of the locker room was horrible. The shower facilities made me wish I brought slippers. When I entered the pool area, the lifeguard yelled at me that I was coming in through the wrong door (then he realized that he had the sign backwards).
After my swim, I found that someone had taken my towel, and there's nowhere to get an extra towel. So I showered and dressed after doing my best "wet dog" impression.
So not only was I wet, but my shower was rushed because the floor looked suspect. And I could just not get over the smell. I haven't smelled anything that bad since high school - and I didn't have to pay for that!
I can't recommend the exercise/pool facilities at the Embarcadero YMCA, but I will say that the management team there does care about feedback.
After complaining about my experience, the management apologized and canceled my membership. They did what they could to make things right, and I respect that.
If you have different needs and requirements than me, you may find this place to work for you. Judging by how crowded (and smelly) it is, there are plenty of people that are happy there.
PROS:
- They have an indoor pool
- Management is very responsive to problems and takes immediate action
CONS:
- Horrible smell
- Low value of membership fee -
Review from Yasmin K.
San Francisco, CA
12/22/2010
Took swimming classes here and MIKE, our instructor was bangin!!! I came here incompetent and freaked out about the water (who knows you may get an STD or AIDS) but MIKE continually reassured me that I was fine and had me change my ways of acting like a ReTard. haha the guy is jokingly funny and doesn't mind the jokesters (hint, hint, ME!!!). Now I can swim=wooowooo.
THANKS MIKE -
Review from Vicky L.
4/28/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Once upon a time, there was a girl who hated working out, but was also unhappy with the way her body was starting to look because her metabolism had slowed down. Finally, she grudgingly accepted the fact that she needed to work out if she wanted to continue eating whatever she wanted AND be able to fit into her college wardrobe again. Crash diets just weren't cutting it anymore, and she knew that one day, she would have to get over her hatred for gyms, a place rumored to have skinny, lululemon-clad women and spray-tanned Ken dolls who looked like they belonged on The Jersey Shore.
And then her life changed when she set foot in the Embarcadero YMCA. No one cared that she was only wearing Old Navy gym shorts (which rock, by the way) and wasn't a size 2. She immediately felt okay with walking around all sweaty and gross on the main floor, and she didn't feel like people were judging her as she used the stationary bike for 30 minutes and then limped off because she wasn't used to working out for so long.
The above is a true story. I, Vicky L., am now a gym junkie. I've been happily working out for an hour every day, and it feels absolutely amazing to see the results. Combine that with friendly people (an elderly gentleman watched with amusement today while I was on the rowing machine), friendly staff, great community programs, plenty of equipment and machines, and amazing views of the bay, the Embarcadero YMCA deserves every single one of these 5 shiny stars.
My next step, after my muscles are used to getting a beating, will be to sign up for a group fitness class. Bootcamp used to be something that appeared only in nightmares, but now, it's a reasonable goal.
Oh, and it hurts sooooo good. -
Review from Ravena F.
8/26/2008
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. -
Review from Pam S.
Updated - 7/28/2009
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.Listed in: Do you know hard it is to look…
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 »
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Review from Andrea R.
6/7/2007 2 Check-ins Here
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?Listed in: Planning a Trip to SF!
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Review from M K.
San Francisco, CA
4/11/2007
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. -
Review from Hayley W.
2/12/2009
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. -
Review from Krista C.
San Francisco, CA
9/21/2007
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. -
Review from Magdelyn P.
San Francisco, CA
10/14/2009
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?Listed in: Give yourself a tune-up
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Review from Heather R.
San Francisco, CA
7/6/2007
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. -
Review from Dan B.
San Francisco, CA
9/11/2007
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. -
Review from T W.
Berkeley, CA
6/17/2007
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. -
Review from KotBegemot O.
Walnut Creek, CA
6/7/2007
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!!! -
Review from Karla F.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 9/3/2008
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 »
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Review from Paul B.
San Francisco, CA
2/21/2008
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.Listed in: Tall skinny white guys who…
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Review from Mike V.
Updated - 10/28/2009
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).Listed in: San Francisco Gyms
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 »
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