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    Cambridge YMCA

    3.6 (77 reviews)
    Closed 6:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

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    I cam, I saw, I didn't conquer
    Fox E.

    False advertising. I never came when I was here. I didn't even come close, I didn't even edge. Maybe once I finally figure out how to come at the Cambridge Y, it will be a Bridge to other, better things. A Came-Bridge if you will. The gym in Cambridge is definitely one of the most unfortunate that I've been to. The people here were really nice and showed me around and everything. But the equipment itself is clunky and out of date and a little bit embarrassing for the YMCA. You have to go all the way down to the basement to use it, and the locker rooms are pretty far down as well. I understand it's not an area where you can really afford a lot of different types of properties but this one definitely could use a massive renovation in terms of the gym and the cardio equipment. The bike wasn't really too bad. They have a big pool as well. The lockers are a big problem. Terribly run and organized by letting people keep their locks on them indefinitely (thereby making those lockers not usable for anybody else). I can promise no extra fee is charged for this otherwise 95% of the lockers wouldn't be "taken" 24 7. Because they have insane amounts of lockers. The vast majority of them have locks on them so if you're not a permanent member you have to go all the way to the corner where they have a few broken lockers for everybody else. Not cool at all. Still, because they were so friendly and because the bike was pretty good and because it's in an area where things are tough anyway I guess I would have given them a 3 or 4. Little did I know that several days after using the Cambridge YMCA I would have to come back here in rush hour traffic and lose about 2 hours of my day which meant that I wouldn't get to go to Providence or New Haven. This is because the person that checked me in the first time insisted on seeing my driving license and instead of giving it back to me, it ended up in a little drawer. Great work. Luckily for me I realized that was the last place I'd had it and called them when I was down in Quincy and ready to leave the Boston area and they confirmed to me that indeed they had my driver's license. I was not too happy about it but I came back up here and I got it so I will say at least they kept it for me and thank them for doing that even though it was a massive inconvenience. 2 stars for being friendly and not losing my license, but old AF facility, awful locker rooms, and shame on them for demanding my license and then not giving it back to me. If I hadn't realized this is where it was, it would have sucked for me.

    77 year old boxing ring - the oldest in the country.

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    2 years ago

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    Nicole N.

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    9 months ago

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    Nicole N.

    Thank you Alice!!

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    5 years ago

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    Nicole N.

    Thank you for your kind words about our staff and facility Susan!

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    Thank you for the kind words about our staff and facility Michael!

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    7 years ago

    Ok gym. Long-standing issue with ventilation/temperature in the basement cardio area. Would be wonderful if this were fixed.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Cambridge YMCA

    Do you have 1-day or 1-week drop-in passes for open gym? If so, how much are they?

    Hi Maya- we have a week pass for $40

    Does this facility have any Precor AMT machines?

    Anna, Unfortunately, we do not have Precor AMT machines at our location. We do have Cybex Arc… Read more

    Is there a stair master?

    Yes we do have a couple of stairmasters in the cardio room

    Does this gym have an arc trainer (for cardio)?

    Brooke, Thank you for you inquiry. We currently have 6 Cybex arc trainers in our cardio room.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Cambridge YMCA

    I've taken the most fun classes here (punk rope, push and pull, weights 101), and most are included in membership.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

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    Healthworks Fitness Centers - Cambridge - Comfy robes at Restore Spa

    Healthworks Fitness Centers - Cambridge

    (244 reviews)

    Porter Square

    I can't believe I have not written a review so far! My favorite gym by far! Amazing classes, a…read morelovely spa area, friendly and accommodative staff and inclusive/judgement free environment. I didn't know I needed to be in an all-women environment to feel comfortable and judgement-free, but here we are! The membership is worth every penny. The Cambridge location is conveniently within the porter square plaza so the er is plenty of parking. Just try it - you'll remember me!

    I visited HealthWorks in Cambridge because I am interested in finding a gym while I'm in the area…read more I was able to schedule a tour pretty easily and the front desk was accommodating when I needed to switch my time. This is my review from attending the club during one visit. LOCATION The location is pretty accessible by train and there is parking at the Porter Square parking lot. CLEANLINESS When considering a gym, the cleanliness is of high priority to me. The facility was relatively clean and they had places to use wipes in different locations on the floor. EQUIPMENT The equipment is pretty updated. I went in the middle of the day and there was plenty of equipment available for use. PRICE The price is on par with other health clubs of similar status? I have paid more for gyms but this certainly isn't cheap even with my corporate discount. I could see how you can get a lot of value because they have different classes and is someone that takes many group classes, it's nice to see that they have a number of classes to choose from. I like that you can choose to forgo a contract because I'm not able to lock into a year-long contract at this time. I will say the locker room has a lot of different things that you would need to get ready such as blow dryer, flat iron, feminine hygiene products Q-tips. The showers are standard not very spacious and they have soap or body wash shampoo and conditioner. The lotion isn't the best quality. Despite slathering plenty on my skin, I was was dry soon after. My main gripe was that the bathroom or changing area definitely smell like corn chips. I haven't decided if I'd become a member yet but this is a pretty solid health club.

    Cambridge War Memorial Recreation Center

    Cambridge War Memorial Recreation Center

    (9 reviews)

    Harvard Square

    Clean 25 yd pool that wasn't too crowded. I went after work and didn't have to share with more…read morethan one person. Also, there's a very large diving well and separate kiddy pool so the lanes don't get full of aqua-joggers or families. Compared to some other local (non-university) pools, it's not quite as over-chlorinated or quite as warm, and definitely cleaner. Cheap entry by day, multiple-session card (I did the 10 entries for $40 which I think is budget-friendly) or gym membership - although I haven't checked out the gym yet. Only complaint is limited hours of lap availability and no AM lap swim during the winter session.

    I am trying out several different masters swim programs in the Boston area and this is my second…read moreone I've tried. (See my other review for Quincy masters). So, I have to say, this one is just okay. You get a decent workout, but it's not HARD. And the reason why is not because of the workout itself, but it's because there are no SEND OFF times. Basically, the workout is, you do X amount of sets, but resting wise, you just do 10 or 20 second rests after each set. And so personally I'm not motivated to swim faster because I'm not trying to do anything on a specific time constraint. I find myself a little less focused to go faster without sendoffs. Also, the workout is pretty much the same each time- you start with a warmup, then 2 underwaters, and then the main set, and then an IM set, and the same kind of sprints where you try and do each 25 with zero breath or one, or whatever it is. It's not a bad workout, but I'm incredibly bored because I know it's the same each time. The main set changes each time, of course, but the sameness of structure makes it kinda boring. We get a decent amount of yardage in- anywhere between 2400-3200 per hour and 15 minute workout time. Practices are twice a week. As for the coach, Elyssa, she is a lovely woman. However, she doesn't quite have the enthusiasm I'm personally looking for. I want somebody to yell at me and give me critique. However, in her defense, she does have to coach 6 lanes of people so I understand it's not easy to give personal attention, so I don't blame her. But personality wise, I like a little more spunk in my coach. But everyone is there for different reasons so it's hard for a coach to be everything. The one thing that really bugs me is the staff that works there at the front desk- they are SO unfriendly, rude, impatient and clearly underpaid. They are CRANKY and they are the first people I see when I walk into that building so it makes me want to not be there. The pool is about a 10 minute walk to Harvard T stop (cut off across Harvard campus will save you ample time), so it's not terrible in terms of location. Oh, the pool itself really sucks. First of all, there are bulk heads that's separating the different sections of the pool so there's nothing to GRAB onto when you're doing two hand touches; it's completely awkward and irritating. Imagine finishing and doing two hand touches on a wall. Also, when you get into the pool, they have these blocks that are covered by orange covers that sorta get in the way and make it hard for you to get in- not to mention it is IMPOSSIBLE to get out because of the depth. You have to swim to the ladder to get out of the pool, because there is no way you can get out from the pool otherwise. It's kinda ridiculous. Cost wise, it's $105 for 20 sessions, so that's $5.25 per session, which is pretty cheap. I've looked into many other programs and this is probably the cheapest one. So pros: -Pretty good location if you're in Cambridge -Decent yardage of workout -Nice coach -Inexpensive Cons: -Sucky pool -Unfriendly front desk staff -No real send off times, just go at your own pace (which can be a pro if that's what you are looking for) - A bit dull (atmosphere, people, some of the workouts) If you are in Cambridge and are looking for twice a week workout for fitness, this is probably a good option for you.

    New York Sports Club

    New York Sports Club

    (15 reviews)

    Davis Square

    I have been taking Angelica Teixeira's classes whenever I can. She is such a motivational…read moreinstructor and makes even hard exercises fun. Her classes are always varied and interesting.

    If the gym would take greater care to tell members not to drop weights, or if the gym would add…read morebetter vibration isolation, then the CVS employees and customers downstairs wouldn't have to hear the booming noise at odd intervals. The noise is disturbing. A few days ago I asked a CVS employee about the noise, and the person said the noise happens all day. I've been going to that CVS for years, and I've heard the noise plenty, and I figured it was time to complain to the gym. I don't know of anyone who likes the noise, or who wants to hear the noise while standing in line to pick up a prescription--do you? At the time I visited the gym and complained about the noise, I was told the manager wasn't in. What I was told by the person at the front desk was a series of standard deflections, which didn't sit well. To paraphrase: 1. The gym tells people not to drop weights. I'm not sure I believe this. It's not hard to monitor. The gum should make it a policy to kick someone out (for the day) if they drop weights. -- 2. The gym can't do much about it. Sure the gym can! It can warn people or tell them to leave for the day. There is no right to disturb the peace because a gym member can't handle the weight they're lifting. Members who won't learn to handle weights properly could have their memberships cancelled. They can find somewhere else to work out. Imagine a gym that showed greater concern for other tenants of the same building--that gym could have a better reputation. 3. No one else has complained. Go down to the CVs during normal gym hours, and ask yourself whether you would prefer no noise, or whether you would prefer noise (with no benefit to you). Not many people will complain even if something bothers them. That's too bad. But when noise is loud enough to be noticeable, it shouldn't require a complaint. It should just be fixed. CVS employees (like other people in retail) might be concerned about possible reprisal. I would be. --- It's not uncommon to encounter people in gyms who like the thud of weights dropping. They may even be in good shape, and they may only drop weight during some exercises, but when they drop weights they're not acting as good community members. For many exercises, if someone in a gym drops a weight, then the person isn't actually *doing* the weight. It's an incomplete rep. I've been in gyms where more people understood this: if the weight is barely under controllable, consider reducing the weight until your form improves. Here's to hoping the gym will do something about the noise problem.

    Somerville YMCA - Excellent dumbbells from Perform Better, arguably the best in the biz!

    Somerville YMCA

    (41 reviews)

    It has all the basic equipment I could need, staff is friendly, and it's never busy! The only con…read moreis it's pretty ancient but it looks like they've slowly been replacing equipment with newer stuff and they have chalk which I appreciate when it gets hot in there. The basic plan is $35 a month which is probably fitting for the area and you get access to other YMCAs so can't really complain.

    After nearly five years away, went back today due to having a medical appointment just five minutes…read morefrom here. Very glad to see all the improvements that they've done: 1. Cardio room: replaced crappy old stationary bikes with two almost-new Keiser spin bikes---these are free of silly frills/gimmicks unlike the big hulking Life Fitness, Precor, or Cybex bikes but provide unmatched ergonomics and authentic bike-feel, which is why they are used in spin classes everywhere. Forgot how nice and strong the AC is...sigh, if only the weight room had the same! 2. Weight room: instead of a random hodgepodge of ancient dumbbells, they finally got a full matched set of Perform Better (also the best in the business) rubber coated dumbbells, two excellent Matrix multi-position adjustable benches, a full Valor Fitness squat cage with deadlift platform & arms, a Smith machine with deadlift arms, and a smattering of kettlebells including 25# and 40# pairs, topping out with 55# and 70# singles...80-100# would have been better, but a 70# max KB isn't bad. Some new weightroom accessories I've never seen anywhere else: a Titan multi-grip Olympic barbell, a fat barbell and fat lat-pulldown straight bar, a pair of 6" wooden blocks with handles, and a number of other unusual but useful training tools if you're willing to dig a little and use your improvisatory imagination. Of course they've kept some of the old stuff, like about 4-5 pairs of truly old-school York dumbbells and a gazillion of old rusty all metal weight plates (most gyms now use rubber coated plates with built in hand openings for easy carrying), but hey, better to have an over-abundance of old weights than not enough of the new weights (as sometimes happens in the newer gyms). 3. Elkay filtered water fountains in cardio room and by basketball court...this is a life-saver, literally! You don't want folks getting dehydrated just because they don't like the taste of a crappy old water fountain or tap water through 100 year old rusty pipes. 4. The small indoor track above the basketball court is about the same, but I noticed they've made the best of it by adding a Concept 2 rower in one corner (next to a Wing Chun dummy, which I have NEVER seen in a gym before, wow), a Stairmaster next to the 80lb hanging bag (vinyl Everlast, not bad) in the opposite corner, and a carefully stabilized "Power Tower" in the 3rd available corner. Now that they have kettlebells, the track is perfect for doing weighted carries (Suitcase C, Farmer's C, Cross-body C, etc) which is an incredibly useful full-body and core-intensive exercise most people overlook. All in all, I'd say that this Y while small and still burdened with the ravages of age (the locker rooms and showers are just as decrepit as ever), it does have about 90% of everything essential you really need. The Fitness Director, or whoever manages the workout rooms, has clearly put a lot of attention and care to make the best of their clearly shoestring budget...and does know what they're doing, and does it well. Their opening hours are relatively decent compared to the Cambridge Y or especially the Charlestown Y. Unlike those two places they offer free parking...big plus in this area! I do wish they would get rid of the silly "Health Center" extra membership tier that allows access to their mediocre saunas and just get two really good saunas built into a small increase in membership fees. Their membership fees remain a good 25% or so lower than that of other local Ys, but considering how old and small the place is, that makes perfect sense. If I lived 2-3 blocks away like I used to, I would still come here if I didn't have a car, or whenever I didn't feel like driving 15-30 minutes to better/bigger Ys nearby.

    Cambridge YMCA - gyms - Updated May 2026

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