Berkeley YMCA Residence

Populated by hospice patients, parole felons and homeless shelter folk as per Management's "New Business Model" (their words) while advertised as a fully-staffed hostel. Its fraudulent re-branding of the 1851 non-profit into a subsidy-raiding business generated trauma, health hazard, emotional distress, sexual harassment, xenophobic hate crimes and other personal injuries to civilian tenants. Inaccurate Google Description: NO Air-conditioned; NO Minors Allowed; NO kitchen / NO Bathroom / NO Telephone in the rooms.

Very nice place, if you're on a budget (who isn't). Staff work very hard here to keep bathrooms and lobby area tidy. Front desk lady Maria is amazing, as well as evening guy Joel. Much appreciated. Many nice people here. Enjoy the central downtown location, one block from Berkeley BART station.

My room was totally old. Especially door and drawers. It was hard to unlock my door, and the drawers make horrible sound every time I open it. Also, the shower room was Not clean. Actually i moved here from my homestay, i think the homestay was definitely better than this jail room although living in this room is more expensive. The only thing I'm satisfied with is that this building is in downtown. I don't recommend you to stay in this hotel

Bed bugs, bed bugs and more BED BUGS ! I told staff abt it immediately and they said they'd wash and spray the room while I was out. OK. I suppose they did 🤷🏾‍♀️. But it didn't get rid of the bed bugs. I asked for new linens and the linens they gave me had dead bed bugs in them. I went to stay here in between leases and I'm afraid that I'll bring bed bugs to my new place. The bites are psychological torture that have me afraid to sleep. Also the first night I was there. They didn't have a key for the room, not just a key FOR ME, a key to the room period, not even for themselves. They opened it with a master key and didn't show me that the door knob, when the hard to use handles are in a certain posknow, lock the door behind you so I got locked out and there ZERO overnight staff of any kind, so I spend the first night out in the lobby. Do. Not. Stay there !!@

This is a place to stay for the budget, and is great for that purpose. They have essential things you need, including a shared kitchen. They have paper plates and bowls, plastic utensils, cooking utensils, how water and tea in the morning, small fridge, hair dryer, shampoo. You also have free gym access (bring your id). What I would suggest considering: - the room heater cannot be controlled. The room can be a little hot, so make sure you are flexible on that - windows, wall, and ceiling do not block noise well. Make sure you are ok with some noise. - bring your own towels. All bathrooms and showers are shared - optionally, bring clothes hanger just in case - use mobile data in case wifi is slow - electric extension cord in case location of plugs is inconvenient for you There is Target and Trader's Joe closeby. The staff, though not going be professional receptionist, is there 24/7 and get things done. When you arrive, come to the Milvia st entrance (there's a small door there) and call them to let you in the first day. It's like an undergrad dorm, so if you are happy to adjust, this is a good place for the price.

Very friendly staff were able to provide a room at the absolute last minute. I would suggest booking in advance, as I was very lucky (1 to 2 weeks). If you are on your own, a minimalist, low on cash and need somewhere to stay, this is a great place. Very close to UC Berkeley and Berkeley BART station.

Mis-information/communication during the application process for housing, and Covid UN-friendly habits. Ask them 3x what the rent is because they will change it. Kind staff, but a waste of time procedurally.

You get what you paid for. Very affordable place in downtown Berkeley. Small rooms, shower, toilet outside in the hallway. Full size kitchen if you want to cook. Pedestrian crossing sound all night can be very annoying. So, place to crash for night or two with out much expectations.

My favorite YMCA in the Bay Area. Always a nice and friendly vibe, great classes and mindful people. The pool is amazing as is the weight room. Check out the pilates classes as well (they teach the reformer, which I love). Parking is difficult, but if you're in a pinch, there is a garage next door (no validation though). And try to avoid the period between 12 and 1:30. The area is crazy with high school students from nearby Berkeley High.

I wish I could return to the YMCA, but now that there are no permanent lockers, it doesn't work for me. I use public transportation and would like to work out on my way home from work. But that would entail hauling sneakers, work out clothes, clean clothes, towel, toilet articles, lock, etc back and forth every time. It's just not possible. I guess they assume everyone is driving there to use their facilities. I emailed them and asked if they could accommodate me in some way, but they can't. So I have to find a place closer to my house with later hours and go after I get home.

I love the gym but the young men really need weight machine manners. They all just sit on their phones between sets waiting for someone to ask if they can work in...then do they do the next set. I would love for that really tall guy who works here to walk in every hour and kick people out who are staring at their phones. They ignore the signs everywhere telling them to not rest on machines between sets.

Have given this sports and fitness business since a newborn. Can not say how disappointed I am with the corporate job now. To prepare for days who is working a regular 9-5, saving the manager a lot of work in Between. I would not recommend to anyone else. The support/ front of house staff are really rude as well. Like superior demographics I would teach young, and younger what to do for their bodies. The pay spirals as well, that distance to the gym, if company, it is harder to concentrate. I make my own gym now and it feels much healthier.

Most services discontinued during the pandemic never came back. No spin classes, no towel services, limited hours (still). Same price though and super crowded!

Having put up with 4 years of a college gym, it was nice to finally move on. At $40/month for young adults, you too can experience the magic of the Y. A free weights room, tons of cardio machines, weight racks, circuit machines, a pool, cycling room, courts, and more, you can really do it all. On top of that, they have a sauna & steamroom for a calming cool down after your workout. You have to bring your own lock to use their day lockers in the locker room, otherwise they also have some digital lockers available where you make a PIN code. They also have some weekends where you can bring a guest for free and a referral program. Happy to have a nice welcoming space to get some physical activity done

The Berkeley YMCA location was my go-to YMCA location when I wanted to work out on my work break when attending/working at the University of California, Berkeley. The building was close to campus and part of the Bay Area YMCA system, meaning my YMCA membership got me in here and at other YMCA locations in the Bay Area. I only ever walked to this location, so I did not run into any bike or vehicle parking problems. The front desk was just inside the entrance and desk workers were friendly. Towels were typically well stocked and available at the front desk upon entrance. I primarily used the cardio equipment/machines and the locker room. The walk to the women's locker room overlooked an indoor pool, however I did not utilize the pool space. Locker rooms were cleanly as was the cardio equipment space(s). The equipment functioned well, though one time I rowed so hard on the rowing machine it moved backwards across the room. So, I got to reposition the piece of equipment afterwards, for which I was thankful it was lighter weight.

The facilities are average but I've never struggled with finding equipment. Only major con is you HAVE to end your membership in person. There is no option to end online so beware.

So many amenities! Great classes. Kind and helpful staff. I also appreciate how the machines are set up in the different rooms.

Sorry to all the people who seemed upset in other reviews but from my point of view this YMCA is top notch. Just started going here so I'm not comparing it to what it was in the past. It's very clean and has an updated look with lots of new equipment. Women's locker room is nice and clean with a steam room and sauna. There's a hot tub by the pool but I haven't used it.

Do you like being racially profiled? Do you like getting the run around or that it feels like pulling teeth just getting information or especially to cancel a membership. You can't cancel unless they send you an email then you have to email back a request to cancel your membership. You can't just go to your account and cancel, no they have to make you beg them to cancel membership with an email, you have to beg them stop taking your money from the card you set up your account with. Does any of this sound helpful and or convenient l. No of course not because as long as you are not black or white you get the run around, you get profiled... You get the privilege of being treated like

The staff here aren't knowledgeable. I bought a membership to swim with my son. The receptionist said open swim was available, but when we got there, the lifeguards refused to let us swim because of a class in session. Me and my son were in our bathing suits at the pool and they didn't care. The membership manager didn't care either. As I was leaving, I told him what happened and he had no response. Didn't offer to help. He said they would cancel my membership. He didn't try to fix the problem or find out what went wrong. No customer service at this Y.

My previous review of the Berkeley Y was removed, I wonder why? I criticized the removal of the women's weight room and how the women's locker room and bathrooms were now unisex. This is profoundly disrespectful to women and their right to privacy.

We were avid fans of the Y before the pandemic. I rejoined the gym in 2024 to enroll my 3yr old for toddler swim group lessons and with the hope that I can start using the gym more regularly as well. The group swim lessons for kids was not a good use of our time or money. The swim instructors were completely disengaged and our particular instructor kept looking at the clock literally every 2 minutes to see if her time was up. There was no attempt at making young ones feel comfortable if they were overwhelmed, which was natural given there were multiple age groups and classes happening at the same time and it was utter chaos. We stopped going after 2 weeks as my daughter was very distressed by the chaos and I didn't think she was getting anything in return even if i helped her manage her anxiousness around the class. There is absolutely no semblance of customer service. I left multiple voicemessages for the swim director to give them feedback or speak with them on how to manage the situation, but none of my messages were returned. I finally gave up. I still kept my membership thinking I could make use of the gym more regularly. I am a working mom, so none of the classes during the week work out for me. They have hardly any classes on weekends. I used to go to the weight room which is ALWAYS crowded, especially in the afternoons once Berkeley High kids get out of school. they dont limit registration for any of the classes. They have a weights for women session at noon twice a week and the one time I went there, there were 45 women taking the class in the already crowded weight room. And even if I managed to come before all that chaos began, parking has been an absolute nightmare. The garage is quite expensive to park and the Y no longer validates parking there as it used to before. Metered parking for 1-1.5hrs hrs is also quite expensive and difficult to find close to the gym. But above all, my 1 star rating is for the absolutely archaic customer service system the Y has. You can never reach anyone with authority by phone or email. Something as simple as cancelling your membership is unnecessarily complicated. You cant do it online or over the phone. You have to go there in person or email and they will get back to your email whenever they can!? The Y needs to do better to serve its members. I am not coming back here nor recommending it to anyone if asked.

Finally reached my breaking point with this YMCA. They shut down the kids gym. They no longer have child care. They don't open the kids pool and have very limited hours for family swim. It's just not working for us given we pay $110/month. For what? An hour of swimming once a week at most. The math doesn't add up.

Great place. I only swim. Jacuzzi, sauna, locker room all good. Morning busy but makes my day so much better.

I don't really want the word to get out, but this is a great gym. It's not the newest but it has great athletic training and weightlifting equipment. And a pool! I'm so happy to be a member here

Wow. The weights here are exquisite. I've never seen any weights like this before. They fit perfectly in the cusp of my hands like my hands around a warm cup of hot chocolate on December 14th at 8:41pm. There are 8 stories. If you start at the bottom you can keep walking up the stairs forever and you will never get to the top. The pool is Olympic size. The diving board grants access to an amazing view of Berkeley and North America. A lot of amazing young students there. They are learning and growing. I'm excited for the future of America

Three stars for the effort of the people who still work here. I get the feeling that the admin wants to minimize costs and is using the pandemic as an excuse not to replace employees and return to normal hours. . I love the different workout rooms and I used to love the women's fitness center. ( Will they bring it back? Does anyone know the plan?) I've heard nothing negative about using a sauna during a pandemic, high temperatures are the enemies of virus; Yet they keep the sauna closed. They could open it by appointment to thin out the numbers, as they do with the pool. Latest word is that the sauna is back Feb 1. We'll see. We need an activist group for Y members as we had in years past, to assure member input so that what we love best at the Y is not lost.

A membership at this YMCA is such good value, especially if you enjoy powerlifting or weightlifting. They have Rogue bumper plates with 4 power racks in one room, and they've just added another room that has another 8-10 racks and benches. Even during times when the gym's busy (aka evenings when everyone finishes work), it's never a long -weight- to get a rack! The gym also has a pool and a bunch of weight and cardio machines. There was an issue one day with one of the lifting platforms being damaged. I heard a member bring up to the staff, and I saw the staff immediately notify a supervisor to correct the situation, and they decided to replace the platform. There was a new platform by the next day. That's quality that you don't see at a lot of other gyms! A word of caution though: the members at the Y aren't the most covid safe. Although there are paper towels and disinfectant spray available to wipe down equipment after use, most of the members don't use them. They also appear to be pretty lax about masking. Everyone needs to show proof of vaccination to work out at the gym, but just consider that if you're being extra cautious.

Older building but the equipment is all good. Almost all Rogue equipment with Olympic platforms, a functional workout area, and a small but efficient cardio area. They have a pretty good selection of lifting equipment that not every gym might have like T-Bar Rows, Mag Lat handles, and a Skierg. Overall really good if you're just looking for a local gym with good equipment. Gets busy after school/work but not too bad to get your machine.

Absolutely love the gym; I've been coming here now since August, and the facility is great. Since I've been here, lots of upgrades have also been made, like new/ more weight-lifting platforms and new weights. They also converted a section in the top floor to accommodate turf for sleds etc making it a large aerobic space.

I used to love the YMCA and recommended it to friends and family. However, they have poorly handled the pandemic/post-pandemic. After the pandemic started I tried without luck for weeks to reach them so that I could cancel my membership; I finally had to resort to having my bank block my payments to them since they never responded (they ended up not charging but took forever to let the membership know). When they finally opened up again in 2021, they still charged their FULL membership prices for very limited hours, including no evening, weekend, or Friday afternoon hours, and no in-person group classes. So instead of paying premium prices for limited services, I signed up with a different gym that was half the price, had in-person classes, and was open nights and weekends. Finally, almost 2 1/2 years after the pandemic started, I decided to try the Y out again since they were offering the first month at a discount. The first thing I tried was the stationary bike with a 'live TV' that wasn't working and a ridiculously complicated procedure to connect to my device, which also didn't work. There are in-person classes now, but the choices are still very limited compared to pre-pandemic, as are the hours - if you like to exercise in the evenings or weekend afternoons, fugget about it! Yet they still require you to pay a premium price. On top of which the discounts at their parking garage during the day are not great; assuming you use it for 2-hours at $3/hr, 5 days per week, you're paying another $120 on top of your monthly membership. Street parking is not really an option at either the Berkeley or Oakland gyms anymore. Even though it was prime time when I went, the gym was strangely empty, unlike before the pandemic when it would be full, or unlike my cheap gym which is always pretty crowded regardless of the time of day. Maybe if they offered the services and classes they had before the pandemic OR lowered their prices to reflect the restricted services they wouldn't need the promotions. just saying. So, after this month is up, I will end my membership and go back to my cheap gym, where I can exercise anytime during the weekends or evenings, there is a wide choice of classes, the live TV works on the bikes, there is free parking, and the price is 1/2 that of the YMCA.

I love the Y. I'm a swimmer and the have great pools. Also, weight rooms and classes, such as senior stretch, yoga, etc.

Hidden gem! Fully supplied and at a great location. I admire the sauna, swimming pool section, public open jacuzzi and so much more. They have a gym, but I used the swim area for the most part. Berkeley is urban-like and the YMCA community is friendly as well as relaxed compared to the vibes of SF. I felt at ease and at leisure. At the moment, striving for my balance pace life and to be noting - breathe. It will all one day come together. While I was releasing tensity in the heated room, clarity struck in the mist. Focus on what matters and everything is simple. Drown out the noises and distractions. Keep on the routine and just keep swimming...

I'm a YMCA Member from outside of California and was told that to use this facility for 2 hours I would have to pay $16. I have used my YMCA membership in locations throughout Washington, California, and Arizona when I travel and thank goodness for YMCA membership reciprocity that I have never had to pay a fee to use a facility until I came to the Berkeley Downtown YMCA. I asked what about my YMCA membership national reciprocity and was told the $16 is the YMCA Member-Guest day pass price because I am not a member of this particular facility. They also would not validate my parking since it was after 9:30am. So I paid $2.50 to park and NOT work out. Waste of my time and money. Go to the Oakland YMCA where they won't charge you extra to work out.

I love the Y for so many reasons. During normal times, it is an exemplar of community building. The staff and management are kind, inclusive, and equitable; the members respectful of the space and one another. Unfortunately, during Covid, the Y has not managed to adapt to our new reality, one that asks for more emphasis on safety, particularly in terms of mask wearing. I have worked out twice in the last 2 weeks, only to encounter Y members who were either partially or fully unmasked. It is difficult to believe, as we approach 600,000 pandemic deaths, that anyone would be so selfish, or callous, as to uncover their face in an enclosed public space. What is almost as difficult to believe is that the Y seems to have no plan to insist that members mask up. Both times when I saw folks without masks, Y staff were literally standing right next to them (in one case, staff were talking to the unmasked person and laughing with them about the fact they'd taken their mask off). I had to insist that they approach the members to make them put masks on -- staff are either not empowered, or not inclined, to enforce mask use once members are inside the facility. I will continue to go to the Y given that I am relatively young, fully vaccinated, and have no underlying medical conditions that put me at risk for death or hospitalization due to Covid. However: IF YOU ARE A PERSON WHO IS WORRIED ABOUT THE NEW COVID VARIANTS OR WHO MAY BE AT HIGH RISK DUE TO HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, ASTHMA, HEART DISEASE, ETC., KNOW THAT ANYTIME YOU WORK OUT AT THE Y, THERE WILL LIKELY HAVE BEEN SOMEONE THERE BEFORE YOU WHO EXERCISED WITHOUT A MASK. THEY WILL HAVE WALKED THROUGH THE BUILDING OR RUN VIGOROUSLY ON A TREADMILL (I WITNESSED BOTH), AND YOU WILL BE INHALING WHATEVER THEY HAVE LEFT BEHIND IN THE FORM OF AN AEROSOL. It is sad that the Y is not taking this more seriously. If we ever return to normal, the Y's old way of doing things will serve us all well. If we don't, the staff will need to figure out new modes of operating, including the containment, and banning, of members who have so little care or regard for others that they are unwilling to do that smallest of things -- wearing a face mask. Given where we are, and what we have seen, any community member who needs to flout the rules out of some sense of entitlement or rebellion needs to be encouraged to stay home. It's a matter of life and death. The anti-mask brigade has no place at the Y.

I went to this gym for a year and a month and what I loved was the friendly service, competitive pricing, and the range of classes. What I didn't like were how cramped the classes were, how smelly and stuffy the classes got, and the mixed caliber of the instructors. Some of the instructors were absolutely incredible, but then others that really lacked the enthusiasm I look for in a fitness leader. Their classes include Zumba, HIIT, hip hop, yoga, pilates, and more. I do also like that they have a whole section dedicated to women-only. Tons of machines available and an entire matted section that's nice and quiet. They have clean towels available, a pool, and also options for kids. All in all, a good option if you're looking for something affordable.

First time at a Y and I was surprised at how big it was with 3 levels. Huge swimming pool in the basement with lockers and separated sauna/steam rooms in Men/Women locker rooms. The first floor has the reception area where the staff I encountered were helpful and friendly. Weights/cardio equipment are plentiful. The 2nd floor has a few bball courts and cycling studio. A great alternative to the active 24 hour fitness a few blocks away.

I love their swimming pool! I swam there every day for a while. There's a very good atmosphere and good vibe.

25m length lap pool!!! Called to confirm (because this information is nowhere else on the web...). If you've been looking for a new year's resolution gym, let this be the one! FACILITIES: Clean and modern cardio, free weight, and machine weight training areas. Cardio area has a nice set of windows (for a row of the machines), so it doesn't feel like you're Mario running on endless loop into a brick wall. Weight area has everything you need (though I do wish they had a reclining lower back machine), and dumbbells/weights are well organized and return to their proper places on the rack. SERVICE: Front desk is always friendly, helpful, and welcoming. When you call the Y, a human always answers the phone. Love that there is a consultant in the weight training area--many people can work themselves into injury without the right form or knowledge, and having someone friendly and ready to help on site makes all the difference. AMBIANCE: Given that this gym is oversubscribed (no other public options in downtown Berkeley), there is always a bit of a wait on equipment (workouts take 10-15m longer here) and likely more than one person in the lap pool lane with you. That said, it truly feels like a community--everyone is friendly, most are willing to (or trying to!) chat, and there are more smiles per person on average than any other gym I've been to.

This is a disappointing time for me. I discovered the Berkeley Y about four years ago when I was at an unhealthy weight and in a dark place. This gym quickly became my temple and as an OUSD teacher I really needed a safe space to get healthy and also maintain my mental health. The fact that they had a womxn's only gym, and that means anyone who identifies as a womxn, was incredibly important to me. Now I can't afford to come anymore. Their idea of "financial aid"is roughly the price of less than a sandwich a month. For a teacher living in the bay area that's just a little bit insulting. The landlord raised the rent and we also have to cover all the utilities. This comes at the worst time for me personally. I would love to continue to be able to financially afford the YMCA because as a teacher, I am committed to supporting people that do good work for the community and for the children that live in it. Unfortunately that is no longer an option for me. I am super bummed that we have to part ways. Shout out to ALL the staff, but especially Noel, who helped me loose almost a 100 pounds and get healthy in all the ways with that contagiously bright light and positive energy of his. The best instructor I've ever had, hands down.

There is so much to the Y than I ever knew. To be honest, the first thing I knew about the Y was the song. Thanks Village People. Probably true for most people who like me, didn't grow up with a Y near by. What I'm learning is that the Y is a community hub, where people TALK to one another and get to know each other. I've gone to other gyms before where I'm in, I do my thing and I get out. This place however has a chill vibe. It makes me want to engage with people. Like the other day I saw another person rocking the Spartan shirt as me (Spartan Race is an obstacle course race), so I went up and said hello. We got talking for a bit about our upcoming races how we're training for it. It's moments like those that make me want to come to the gym more- which in turn surely will be better for my health. You can workout almost anywhere you want but I workout here because I enjoy coming here. The Y I'm learning is more than just a gym, its a community and I'm happy to be a part of it. 4/100

Rude staff. I've been a YMCA of San Francisco member and previous employee for nearly 20 years. I hold this organization in high esteem for the community services and promotion of good values. My experience with the staff at this branch was seriously lacking the application of the principles that the YMCA stands for. The caring and respect were absent in all three of my interactions, as well as a lack of responsibility in giving misleading information. Very disappointing to have my second negative experience with the YMCA of the Eastbay.

Love the functional fitness area upstairs and thenew turf just recently installed. Perfect for the sled they have too. Great list of amenities and choice for working out

The limited hours make coming to this gym hard for someone who works a standard job. It's exacerbated by it essentially being open 4 hours on the weekend. There isn't a good AC system, and the fans don't seem to do anything, but that can be tolerated. For the price they charge, it's probably not worth it. The gym itself is decent, better than I expected. But, probably partially because of the limited hours, it gets pretty full when you get off work, making your workout a compromise almost always. It's decent if you just want a quick cardio session, as long as it's not on Sunday or Saturday afternoon. But a full weightlifting workout is difficult, unless you have time in the morning. On the other hand, unfortunately, you probably can't find a gym with this much equipment for this price in Berkeley.

Will always have a soft spot in my heart for the good ol' ymca. My dad was on the board of the one by my house growing up! This one holds up the tradition. Clean, useful, and convenient being right downtown. It's worth the cost vs therapy and can't beat price.

What do you call a gym that locks most of its studio rooms during business hours? A. A colossal waste of space B. A colossal waste of money C. The Berkeley YMCA D. All of the above If you answered D, you are indeed correct! Went to the Berkeley YMCA last night to try and use an open studio room when there were no classes booked. Was informed rather rudely by the Yoga instructor that even though the class she just taught was over and the building was still open for the next hour she was going to lock the door so I had to leave. Walked around the building trying to find any open studio room and saw no less than 3 rooms completely empty with all the lights off and doors locked. Why have a gym and keep all your unused studio rooms locked while the gym is still open? Am I supposed to be window shopping my workout? The only pro of this place is that it's an easy walk from BART and that the janitorial staff is super sweet and always willing to help you find your way around if you get lost. The fairly old building is like someone took an old college lecture hall, randomly installed some mirrors in rooms, and added the locker room from your high school. The pool does appear to be updated though. I'd strongly recommend going to Downtown Oakland or Albany YMCA instead.

The downtown Berkeley YMCA is such a great gym and community to join. There's no annual fee or sign on fee, just a monthly charge that you can cancel whenever you'd like easily. The facilities here are clean and comfortable. All of the cardio machines can be connected to Netflix and Hulu which is fantastic. I've never had to wait for a machine or had an uncomfortable experience on a machine which is rare for a gym. I took advantage of a free training session and it was a positive experience as well. The staff here are also very polite and cheerful. You can tell that they genuinely enjoy working there.

This place continues to be unacceptably horrible for all these years. All their fitness machines were often dirty, smelly with tons of fingerprints on it. 9 out of 10 times, youtube on the treadmill would either run slow or not working at all. The gym is always fully packed during weekdays evening, even for the HOUR BEFORE CLOSING. Probably just to throw in some extra perks for the existing members, they decided to admit some gym members with seriously questionable hygiene habits, every time I walk into the cardio area, it smells like a homeless shelter!!!

Still paying full price for half the gym time. Nice. Just expand the hours, I don't understand.

Becoming a YMCA member is a breath of fresh air, as I was an RSF member for 4 years. The RSF was convenient as it's right across the street from my office and only $43/month for staff. However, I've had a growing level of dissatisfaction with the RSF over the years so I finally took the leap and joined the Berkeley YMCA. After only a month, I can say that the Berkeley YMCA is FAR SUPERIOR to the RSF!!! They have really nice staff who make a point to interact with members. In the RSF, most of the [student] staff were on their phones or computers and didn't even look up as you walked by. The YMCA has new Keiser bikes and several fans to keep the area ventilated. There is a digital clock, good lighting and a water station in the Spin room. In the RSF, many of the bike monitors (and fans) were chronically broken, there was no clock, and you could barely see the bikes, the lighting was so dim. There are TONS of cardio machines - including 18 treadmills, most with TVs! The YMCA provides validated parking. $1 for 2 hours in the parking garage next door in the mornings and late afternoon/evenings. And inside bike parking!! There is no easy parking at the RSF and only outdoor bike racks. There is a distinct community feeling with a diverse group of people of all ages. At the RSF, 90% of the members are students aged 21 or younger. Good weight rooms: lots of benches, equipment and space. They even have a nicely equipped women's gym. Also several areas to stretch! In the RSF, there was a distinct lack of benches in the weight rooms and they would block one entire room during prime time for a circuit training class. And only $20 more than RSF. Well worth the extra money!! The only thing that the RSF is superior is the outdoor pools! The YMCA has several pools but all are indoor. I just started taking a 6 week Pilates Reformer class, what a bargain at only $135 for the series! Super happy I've found my new "home" :-)

Yuck. End of story. I almost got punched by a she dog who didn't like that I needed to put the window blind down about 4 inches, or else be blinded. Waaaaaay too Berkeley for me. Day care all booked up. Felt like summer camp. Think I may have got lice.

I give this place credit for successfully serving a wide ranging clientele. They have everything from newborn babies to retirees under one roof along with world-record powerlifters. As a competitive lifter myself I've found the platforms and equipment to be the best ever seen in a commercial gym. They've also done a good job adapting with new equipment and space including a functional fitness room with air bikes, prowlers, rowers, etc. I've always found the space very friendly and helpful, and part of a generally community-centric vibe so I'm not sure about the complaints seen here. The only negative that I can't really blame the Y itself for is the older men that use the locker room like their personal spa, which can get a little gross.

I liked the YMCA when I was a member there. I canceled my membership because I went back to school and my school offers free gym membership. This is a great place to swim (multiple lanes, not so crowded, in-doors if you are into that, and shallow pools that are beginner friendly). Plenty of interesting group classes. Good cardio machines too. I did a cycling class one time; definitely very intense. Membership rate is moderate, and you can apply for financial assistance if you are in need. Cons: I can't testify to their weight-training section because I didn't pay attention to it. The changing room/shower could certainly be cleaner. Sometimes the gym is crowded. In general, I like the Berkeley YMCA - I think that it offers a more cozy, friendly environment than commercial gyms and that is important to me.

What you need to know... Berkeley YMCA is a regionally renowned Community oriented fitness complex. The YMCA is a place for everyone from Families, to serious power lifters to run of the mill cardio hippies. Props to anyone who has the courage to step through these doors of transformation. Pros -Lots of classes in many specialties, lots of yoga styles. -Free weight room with state of art squat rack and updated cardio machines. -Towel service. -Friendly, helpful staff. -Financial aid, everyone is welcome at the YMCA. -Lower level with 3 pools with aquatic classes. -Probably the best YMCA in the Bay area maybe the state. -Probably the biggest YMCA. -Lately, has been improving fitness equipment and interiors. -Earthquake retrofitted building. -Air conditioned -Water dispensers all have purification. Cons -Suffers from trying to make everyone happy(Watch out for Berkeley hippies who are either passive aggressive or out to complain.) -Somewhat pricey. -Not enough restrooms on the main floor. -Can get crowded at peak times. -Children with checked out parents running up and down the hall can get annoying. Pro tips! -No children in the weight rooms ever, it's dangerous, it's unsafe for all. -Come outside of peak times -Realize people with many different purposes and intentions come to the YMCA and none of them are wrong. -Stretch after workouts, and do 5mins of cardio warm up before lifting. Personally, the YMCA has changed my life in so many ways in 2 years. I learned how to do yoga and Olympic weight lifting and will probably get certified as a personal trainer soon.

I thought the Oakland Y was amazing, but the Berkeley Y is off the charts! I've been going about 4 days a week for 2 months, and I keep finding new things to try. All of the equipment is top notch, and there is plenty of it. Strength, cardio, functional fitness, you name it. The pool looks and smells clean. The day care centers look fun for adults, much less kids. The trainers are very knowledgable, friendly and respectful. Chris and Rashad are wonderful. Can't beat the location, too. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

This is now the branch I visit the most and overall it is a great facility but I have a few gripes with it. Again, I only use the pool so I can't comment much on the rest of the facilities, although I will say they look extensive. First of all, the pool is very large with 6 standard 25m lanes. There are at least a few lanes open for lap swim at all times. They are open exceptionally late for a pool: 5:30 - 22:00 on weekdays, 7:30 - 19:30 on weekends. I don't think I've ever been to a pool with such great hours. A towel is provided. I say a because they will only let you take one towel here. If you want an extra one you have to pay $1 more. Swimsuit dryers are there as well. Facilities are clean and fairly well maintained; however, right now they are doing renovations in the women's locker room which is kind of annoying. They also only provide shampoo/soap and not conditioner like Embarcadero did. One of my main complaints about this pool though is that it is SO cold. I am not a wussy. I am Canadian. Winter is in my blood. And I also expect pools to be cold. But this is the coldest pool I have ever swam in - no exaggeration. Their website says that they keep it ~27C. Maybe this is true; I don't have a thermocouple in my body. But, I do know that if you don't keep moving - rather rigorously I might add - your teeth will be chattering. I have found the water pressure for the locker room showers to be rather low. I don't need to be hosed down but on some of the showers it is a little bit more of a dribble than a "shower". I've also been in Graces pool and that one is very nice and warm. Unlike some of the other reviews, I have never experienced any sort of rude customer service by the employees. They have always been very nice to me and when I switched over from another branch they were very helpful. For $40/month I think it's still more than worth it. I still love the Y and will continue to support this great local organization!

Ah - the Berkeley Y! I confess - I was a big fan of the Berkeley Y and would work out in the separate women's gym quite a lot (it smells better). What turns me off is all the rude Berkely/Oakland parents who stop in the middle of the walkway, doorway, stairs or any other path to fuss with their progeny, whether bipedal or in strollers. Heck, when I was a kid - if I stopped to tie my shoe lace just *anywhere* - my mom would warn me to move out of the path of traffic and to allow the adults to pass before doing such a thing. Not so much here at the Berkeley Y where a 4 year old might go careening down the stairs and just STOP between the legs of a stranger - dare you say "Hey! Watch out!" the parent of said child will scold YOU because it's YOUR fault that their child is running amok. There's also a lot of lockerroom theft there - despite the cameras - I'm not sure how they do it, but I've lost stuff from lockers there 3-4 times. Wear flip flops as many teens there don't and you *will* end up with plantar's warts. OTOH - if you have kids and just want a place where they can run around in relative safety - this is the gym for you! PS: it is not funny, okay, or cute for your 5 year old boy to ogle me while I change clothes or to join me in my shower even if I laugh it off (this has happened a lot). I think they installed a new kids lockerroom area but I'm back to the McDonald's of fitness these days... 24 Hour!