Anyone use the Y?

I love love love my Y! Great equipment, super nice staff, and challenging classes. Plus, there are lots of great youth programs and my kids love going to the Kidstuff area. Check with your employer or insurance company about discounts. My husband's employer pays for half of our family membership.

YMCA's are locally owned and operated. They come in all kinds of flavors. Our area has 7 or 8 different YMCA's, I use two of them on a regular basis and each has their own culture. In the evenings in the weight room my Y could be considered a "hard body gym". However, the facilities are first rate and always expanding. There are tons of classes, and tons of stuff for the kids to do including camps in the summer.

It is a good choice for an out of shape couple IMO.

I did for a while. The local Y's pricing seemed really high for it's usefulness. First you had to pay the membership fee, which wasn't bad in and of itself ($80 I think it was for family). Then there was a $7 a month to use the weight room. Then there was a $15 a month to use the cardio room. On top of that they charged us something like $5 per class for any zumba/les mills/spinning classes my wife wanted to take (DISCOUNT FROM THE $6 PER CLASS THEY CHARGE NON-MEMBERS!!!!!).

Their equipment looked like it came from a yard sale in the 80s, but hot damn it's painted town colors and they re-upholster it every year!

Top that with an unfriendly, uninterested, and often rude staff that thought they were doing me a favor by letting me in the door in the morning. Needless to say, I dropped that place like a bad habit.

**** the local YMCA as far as I'm concerned. YMMV

apparently, Brad Marchand from the Boston Bruins, uses the Y in Charlestown. I think that is so bizarre...

I love the ymca in my community, I work there part time (10 hours a month) and get my monthly membership for free:)
I go to assorted classes and use the various equipment.
We have a lot of staff to help and encourage all the members.
On January 1st they waive joiner fees which is a great time to join.
I highly recommend the YMCA

GD double postings.....

No I use to but it was better for me to buy a very good treadmill instead. I can do the weights at home and find other things to do at home.

I joined my Y about 4 months ago and I LOVE it! My main reason was for the childwatch... I tried doing workout DVDs but don't have that much space and with my kids trying to "help" mommy it wasn't very easy. My facility is updated and clean, the people are soooo nice. Ask for a tour to check yours out!

Most gyms let you work out for once for free before you sign up. Sometimes they even give you a free session with a trainer. I would encourage you to try several gyms in your area before you knock them.

I used to work out a YMCA and I loved it because there were all ages there and I never felt pressured. At the same time though, this meant there were kids everywhere. Swimming laps wasn't really even an option most of the time because the pool was so busy with kids. On the opposite end of the spectrum, a lot of seniors also worked out at the gym. I don't want to knock them because I think it's great they are staying healthy, but they were the rudest group at the gym. They DID NOT share machines, didn't let you work in with them, and just generally took their time and were selfish. They're retired and have the time, I on the other hand am busy and need to be a little bit more speedy about things. Also, the classes that were offered were pretty easy because they had to cater to such a wide variety of fitness levels. I don't want to take an hour long class and not break a sweat.

I now workout at a Gold's Gym and I prefer it. People there are more serious about staying in shape and they know you are too, so they get out of the way and share equipment more readily. The have a pool, and there is never a problem getting a lane. It's also about half the price of the YMCA and I can go to any of the three Gold's locations in my area. Two of the locations are 24 horus which is really nice. The YMCA that I went to closed early.

Really it just depends on what you're going for though. I encourage you to at least take a tour before you sign up anywhere.

Other things to consider are how close is it to you house? If it's farther away, you probably won't go as often. It's on right on your way home, it will be easy making you more likely to go.

Also ask about the contract. Some gyms have policies where if you cancel your monthly subscription, they charge you $200 or more. If you sign up and end up not liking it, you don't want to be stuck. One thing I really like about Gold's is there is no contract.

When you go try out some gyms ask a lot of questions (they all pay their sales people by comission so they push you- push back) and don't be afraid to ask some of the people working out there what their peeves are about the gym.

I joined my local Y about 6 weeks ago and so far I'm loving it. I did it for the same reasons you listed, not a 'serious' gym and it has a pool! Also, it's way cheaper (and closer!) than the other local option and my membership travels to several other local Y's.

I just started the 12 week Y personal fitness program and would recommend you look into it, you get 4 free sessions with a personal trainer who will help you develop a work out routine that works for you and show you how to safely use all of the equipment. I know for me at least even at the Y I had that moment when I first walked in the doors where I was like 'I don't know what the f to do in a gym!'.

I've found the classes to be great, the instructors all remember you and will help you find ways to make it through the class even if you aren't at the same level as some of the other participants. The staff in general are all very friendly and helpful, at least at our location.

I use it everyday, religiously! Does not have all the amenities as some larger gym/spa facilities, but it is subsidized by my company and I only pay $6.00 a month. No complaints!

We were a member of a Y last year and did not like it at all. The membership price was higher than at any of the other gyms and the facility was not nearly as nice (at least where we live) as the gyms around us. I ended up canceling it (we were month to month). It was extremely difficult to get on any workout stuff and started to become more of a hassle than it was worth. I know a lot of people love the Y but for us it just didn't work