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. read more

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. read more

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!!! read more

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! read more

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" :-) read more

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. read more

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. read more

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

For the price (~$110 for a family membership), this place is tough to beat. The facility is on the older side, but it has just about everything - a pool, lots of cardio machines, multiple weight rooms, group classes, day care, etc. Peak times are definitely after work on weekdays but even then, it's pretty easy to get on a machine (maybe not the exact cardio machine you want, though). One of my favorite things about the Y is that they have a separate weight room for women. At first, I didn't think I would use it, but it's less crowded and has all of the machines I typically use - also, there's a fairly large area with mats for stretching. If you need it, there's validated parking at the garage a couple of doors down - the Y doesn't validate at all hours and the schedule wasn't terribly easy to remember so you should get a parking validation schedule from the front desk. read more

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 read more

First off, let me say they're pretty expensive, and I required financial assistance from the place to even be a member. Why didn't I just go to a better priced gym? Well. I wanted to swim. You see, I'm not a huge fan of this whole "working out" thing and I don't like doing anything other than yoga and swimming. Heck, I still don't go as often as I should or like because I'm lazy... and the pool's cold. I go late in the evening when the other 2 pools are closed. Some days it's crowded in the pool and other days not so much. I enjoy swimming here, and especially enjoy and short soak in the hot tub before heading home. My only problem is the pool doesn't feel anywhere near as warm as they claim it to be. I'm a cold water chicken, and that's what makes me dread going and actually I use as an excuse quite often. But hey, once I'm in and I've swam a few laps it gets hot. So I need to suck it up and deal. I know. I've had only one bad experience where I politely asked an older lady if I could share her slow swim lane because let's face it, I'm no pro. I probably belong in the Medium paced, but I try and keep in the slow if possible. She yelled at me and told me no because I couldn't swim fast enough (she's never seen me swim!) I was having a pretty rough day that day and so I just headed home. In hindsight I probably should've said something, but oh well, that's the only time it happened. I usually have to share a lane, but the most it's really been is with one other person which I don't mind. I can't say how their other equipment is, as I haven't tried it out but my boyfriend does his cardio, weightlifting, and basketball playing there as well. His only complaint are the weird old men that sit around naked in the locker room. read more

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. read more

I was a member of the Berkeley YMCA for about 4 months until I moved into San Francisco. I really enjoyed the facilities including multiple pools, woman's gym and great classes! I especially enjoyed the yoga classes on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Membership is a bit on the steep side, but it was very easy to apply for and receive financial aid. They have the applications in the lobby area. The staff is friendly and helpful and overall I had a great experience. read more

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. read more

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 read more

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

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! read more

The hot showers in the women's locker rooms are gone just in time for Christmas! How convenient for an executive director who went MIA to escape fallout. I'm afraid cold showers are a city of Berkeley health and safety violation and someone is bound to be hurt or worse spread disease. Risking health and safety code violations just to save on PG&E is not worth it. read more

I have been a member for about 5 years, and love the friendly, community feel here. I have made many friends here over the years and so that has been an added bonus. Elements I love about the gym: the equipment is kept clean and in good working order, towel service, plenty of machines so you don't have to wait to use the popular equipment, fun & friendly fitness instructors. I especially appreciate that there is a separate women's workout & stretch area (wonderful!), and also that there are many different fitness classes. My favorite classes are the spin and zumba classes. read more

I worked out here for many years. I love all the programs they have to encourage a healthy lifestyle from toddlers to seniors. Thanks Berkeley YMCA! read more

This is not a luxury fancy gym full of beautiful people posing and strutting. But it's an obvious hub of the community and features an enormous variety of activities for all people...young and old, disabled and not-disabled, male and female, athletic or not-so-much. And if you want a variety of exercise options in one convenient location this is a great space to belong. They have a nice selection of all sorts of fitness equipment...cardio, machines, free weights. I don't generally do classes but there is a robust selection of yoga and other aerobics classes available. The space is divided into small rooms so you don't have the sort of depressing row upon row of exercise machines that are stacked one upon another. Towel service is part of membership and I understand you can also rent a locker to store your stuff. As a new parent what wows me most are the kid's activities and resources. They have a reasonabley priced day care service for when you want to drop off you kid while you work out. They also have a great kindergym, with a screened in trampoline, a climbing structure, and lots of padded flooring for runnig and tumbling about. A very large lap pool and two smaller pools for swim classes and for young children. The men's locker room is being rehabbed but it should turn out pretty nice and has a very good dry sauna. I have not been a member for long but happy so far! read more

Ugh! I used to love this place but in the last couple of months, when I come for water exercise classes in Grace's pool, the class is cancelled and the pool closed. People upstairs don't know what's happening downstairs. Staff are rude to members of color. They ignore members with disabilities who need help getting in and out of the pool. The facilities are amazing, but the staff ruin it. read more

The staff are rude. They power trip people from other Y's unesesarily. Pool is over clorinated. Gym equipment is old and the whole place smells bad. read more

Love everything this place has to offer. I came here with their free day pass for new people to try out the gym for a day. The facility is huge with a diverse array of machines and classes. I swam at around 7:30pm on a Monday evening. All lanes had about two people, and sometimes three. This makes for a very crowded condition and throws off my rhythm when I have to dodge people on every lanes. However, around 8, the pool cleared up and I had a lane to myself. I saw the hot tub but it was crowded, so I headed to the steam room and sauna. The sauna was not very hot, but the steam room was not and hot and steamy which was the perfect way to end my swim! The locker rooms are clean with hair dryers available. The showers and locker room layout was a bit uncomfortable. Remember to bring flip flops! The floors looks clean enough but I didn't see anyone actively cleaning the floors with all the bare feet and shoes walking about. Overall, a wonderful and nice facility! Service was quick and friendly. Membership and monthly fee is a bit pricey, but perhaps worth it if you take advantage of the classes too. I'm still debating whether it's worth the price since I mainly just like the pool and steam room which comes with membership. They offer parking validation for $1 for 2 hours. read more

This gym was terrible. I went in with a free one-day membership to test out the gym and I will never be going back. The employees were unkind and unhelpful. The layout of the facility is extremely confusing and does not flow very well. The equipment is not in good condition. The gym smelled bad. The women's locker room was in poor condition and was hard to find. On the plus side, it seems like there were many opportunities for parents with young children and the pools look nice. read more

The worst Y experience ever!! Both facility and staffs. Especially staffs. Mann I miss the city!

The roof fell on my friend and a naked old woman walked directly into me. It smells a little funky

I gave in. After months of debating and needing a place to register for swim lessons (I only dog paddle!) I signed up. Thankfully, since I was on the dole at the time, they let me sign up with a discounted membership. This helped my choice greatly. Clean facilities, much better upkeep than 24 hour fitness! The women's only fitness center was also a big draw. I love the fact I can choose to work out upstairs and shower or work out downstairs (or swim), use the sauna etc and have spacious lockers and showering areas and not be exposed to male grunting or smells. There is a time and place for that, people! I had my first trainer meeting with Natasha a few months ago to get the tour and some basic ideas for a routine. I'm due for my 2nd free session, so I'll be sure take advantage of that. She spent a good hour with me, showing me stance, form, random machines - some even I've never used before, seasoned gym bunny that I am. They have a lot of classes, though I won't be able to partake as much now that I'm employed again all the way across town. The spin class was brutal to this newbie... I aim to start swimming in December, so I'll be sure to update when I do. It's a little hairy and hectic on the weekends what with family and kids and strollers...but I'm sticking with it. I also appreciate the FREE towel service (again, not provided with my other gym) and the dryers in the women's area. Plenty of free hand weights and machines that actually work - who knew? read more

Why can't my gym be this funky fresh?? When I hear people talk about going to the "Y", I always envision a really ratty, stinky, and sorry lookin' gym. Oh man, the Berkeley "Y" is THE bomb, and sets the bar high for ANY gym. The building housing this gym is HUGE. It must be an older building because the exposed brick walls, little nooks, and vast layout is nothing like your typical "modern" gyms. I think I only saw a portion of the gym, but from what I saw, I saw a huge cardio area, little cubby holes for stretching, big rooms for free-weights, a huge child play area, huge pools, volley ball courts.....and that's just a tiny bit of what I saw. This place is several stories of cool working-out possibilities. I was able to check out the gym for free (because I was a friend of a member). I'm sure the rates are also economical as well. Such a top notch facility, with beautiful-looking people, and with a sense of community---such a far cry from my lame gym. read more

I'm glad I became a member. I always walked by on the way to/from downtown, and never realized how big it is. The place is ginormous! There's several floors, and three pools. They offer a plethora of classes throughout the day (most of which are included with membership). And when you join, you get 3 sessions with a trainer. I've only been a member since January, but I've noticed they do maintenance regularly and fix issues with machines relatively quickly when they break. I'd say the equipment is pretty standard, and they have some interesting machine like a ladder climber and three special ellipticals that take you through a running motion (never seen anything like it). The yoga studio is absolutely gorgeous, with big windows and high ceilings. I really enjoy the women's workout area upstairs, especially that there's free weights, machines, and cardio equipment. There's 2 women's locker room, and they have a sauna and a steam room. The locker room is stocked with hair dryers, but you'll need to bring your own towel if you shower (as the ones they hand out are tiny). Definitely a diverse crowd that comes here, with a great mix of people. Everyone I've met has been friendly, and the staff are pleasant when you're coming/going. They validate parking ($1 for 2 hours) at the garage next door, which is a nice perk. read more

Came with my son (16 months old) and my husband to check out the gym and try out the swimming pool before signing up for swim lessons for the little dude. there's lots of cool family stuff at this facility including a giant padded indoor playground! Unfortunately we weren't given the proper info when we called ahead to ask what times we could go swimming and were then given more bad info when we signed up for a guest pass at the front desk. We ended up wasting our day, buying the little dude a swim suit and swim diaper that he didn't wear, and going home without swimming, feeling super disappointed. If someone had just taken the time to explain how things work, we would've had a grand ole time and probably signed up for a family membership. I'm sure this gym is great if you already know your way around, but as a first time guest we weren't treated well by the staff so we won't be returning or signing up for a membership. read more

The Berkeley Y has some shortcomings, but it's a good gym overall and probably the best option around. Pros: *Wide range of modern cardio equipment and weight machines. *Spacious 3-level arrangement with separate cardio, weight machine, and free weight rooms on the main floor. *Other features include pool, hot tub, steam room, sauna, basketball court, dedicated work-out area for women, etc. *Fitness staff are easy to find and available to answer questions, not just provide scheduled appointments. *Towel service and clean, spacious lockers make working out that much easier. *Validated parking is offered on weeknights, which is handy when it's too rainy to bike. Cons: *Expensive. Currently $64/month plus a steep initiation fee! *Poor evening hours, especially on Sundays. *Sometimes 2 classes are scheduled in the pool at the same time, forcing everyone to swim 3 to a lane. *As a single male without children, I feel like I subsidize services that are not available to me. *No Wi-Fi, and no HGTV either. The Y is much better than the nearby 24 Hour Fitness, which is the only other competition in town (if you aren't a student). Maybe a third gym will give them both a run for their money! In the meantime, pony up some bucks if you want a positive gym experience. read more

Came in on a Sunday morning to take my friend's class and wanted to get a quick workout before it starts. The woman at the front desk said that I need a walk-through to get a day pass and no one is available to give it to me so I can't go in. I tried to explain that I have been to this location before to which she responded that they don't keep records of that so it's a "no". I had an option to wait for an hour for my friend to arrive but honestly, that just killed the good vibe for me. I understand when there are rules but this was just rude for no reason. Never again, snooty robot staff. read more

I can't really be honest and say that I'm the biggest fan of going to the gym, but I can truly proclaim that I love the Downtown Berkeley Y! Unlike most gyms, there's truly a sense of community at the Y and you feel the commitment to being healthy. You'll find people and kids of all shapes and sizes and colors. Sometimes there are strange people. A lot of times there are ladies working out without a bra. But that's what makes the Y so great. Another great thing is that they offer financial aid. You don't have to be in poverty to receive it; I never thought my application would be approved, but it was! Sure even with financial aid it might be pricier than the 24 hour fitness...but I don't want to go to 24 hour. There are lots of classes offered, many scheduled conveniently after work. I wish some of the weekend classes were less early, though My one complaint is that the gym does get crowded. I've found my favorite instructors, but unfortunately they don't teach many sessions. One class I attend is particularly crowded, and there are tons of Berkeley High kids who attend...I think there's some sort of partnership between the school and the Y for PE because they always have to get an instructor signature after class. It's just a little frustrating that they created such an influx but the number of classes offered remains the same. read more

After a looong search for a gym that would offer both swimming for the kids and adult classes for myself at reasonable prices I finally found my spot here in Berkeley and I am staying! This gym has everything my kids and I need in a workout facility and then some.. There are three floors at this YMCA and tons of choices for your workouts. There are two large workout rooms equipped with every machine possible to get your rear into gear.. If you don't know how to use the equipment, they have trainers at no extra cost that will give you an orientation and a workout plan. I absolutely love the kids workout area/homework/entertainment lounge! They have trainers in the kids faciility that will help your kids stay in shape! What a great idea and you can even stay and get some pointers because the kids workout gym is fully equipped with stationary bikes that have video games, treadmills and other workout machines as welll as a game room with a Wii consul and active games and a homework area. You can tell they take their kids seriously here :) .. Once you drop the kids off, the gym offers so much to do that you probably want to go in with a game plan and a class schedule.. I find it hard to choose between the Yoga class, pilates or the pumping cardio classes. The new yoga room, once completed will have heated floors :) Awesome! They have two womens locker rooms and one of them was recently updated and has a sauna and a steam room..There is a large pool and a smaller kiddie pool, hot tubs and many other features.. I enjoy coming here at least two (on my bad weeks) to three times a week and always leave invigorated and ready to tackle the rest of my week. read more

Let me start off by saying that I am allergic to exercise. Sad, but true. The thought of paying actual money to torture myself on a machine going nowhere is NOT my idea of good spending. However, I'm also cursed with a pitifully slow metabolism. Which means that getting some sort of regular exercise is absolutely necessary. This is where the YMCA comes in. They have an incredible financial assistance program (woohoo) which makes the cost of a monthly gym membership actually affordable. The staff are friendly, and the place is usually clean, cheerful and full of people. I love many things about the Y, but my favorite perk of all is the women's only cardio and weight rooms. I've never felt so comfortable in a gym before. Without hordes of burly muscle men intimidating me in the weight room, I can actually get my strength training on! Even cardio's not so bad with a trashy magazine and yummy beats on my ipod! I never though I would say this- but I actually look forward to going to the gym. Wow. Miracles do happen! read more

So I am the very least athletic person I know. Truly, I was the kid that got hit in the head with the ball at recess and relished getting out of PE. Thankfully, the Downtown Berkeley Y does not judge. In fact, as other reviews note, there is SUCH diversity (classes, ages, sizes, skill levels, etc.), that I feel totally comfortable! (And no balls have hit me!) However, I noticed some are weary of/uncomfortable with the counter service and I thought to offer my two cents as a former Berkeley teenager from the Flats. I try to balance the-sometimes-in-need-of-development front desk service against the importance of the Y for young people in Berkeley. There are not a lot of good AND affordable options for teens in Berkeley. An opportunity to work and a venue for exercise and sport may require us as adults to exercise more patience. But I really feel that is part of what the Y is about----and worth some deep breathing. Kudos Downtown B Y!!! read more

Honestly, this facility really surprised me. I got a membership here because budget was tight and their prices are reasonable. Therefore, to be honest I wasn't expecting much (especially given my experience with YMCAs in the past). But this branch is a really good facility- they keep it clean, the staff is always friendly and helpful, and they now have a discount for young adults under 26! Lots of good equipment, well maintained and cleaned. The showers are kept clean and they have lots of space to safely park bikes. I personally think this is a great investment for any young folks (especially recent graduates still in the area) and would recommend to anyone. Highly recommend! read more

Hi! I been a YMCA member since 9/04/05 and this is why: The facility has 3 floors, it has a pool,jacuzzi, hot and dry sauna, brand new equipment, sensor water fillers etc.. I personally like the upper level which it has a female only room (weights, stretch and cardio rooms) It's a clean place that offers towels. It has plenty of classes like dancing, cycling,yoga etc... My favs teachers are Noel and Kim. You have to bring your locker lock but if you forgot you can borrow one (upper level desk, idk if the front desk has some) you lost your lock's key, go to the front desk and they will cut the lock open for you. You don't know how to use the equipment, don't worry there are plenty of certified personal in each room and will gladly inform you. It is half of block away from Berkeley downtown Bart station. There is a garage and they can validate your ticket it is located next to the facility or you can ride your bike there and use the brand new room designed for bikes. If you give your email out they will send you updates and special events information. They also offer financial assistance to lower your monthly gym payment. I love YMCA read more

So i wrote a review on the day my baby got injured in childwatch. Then I thought about it and erased the review and tried to delete the picture, but my yelp won't let me. (I emailed yelp to give me ideas on what i'm doing wrong, and waiting for reply). So the pic I included is of the back of my 6 month old's neck. ymca was puzzled how it happened in childwatch, as am I. Doc says something was sticking out of chair, or perhaps a swing that baby was sitting on. I canceled my membership, as this was my reason for joining - childwatch while I workout. Perhaps I'll return later when my child is much older. They have a swim program and I did take baby there for free swim, which was enjoyable. But I had to down the stars based on that experience. They said it was the first time any child had been injured, so I guess our experience was a first time thing. read more