This gym continues to improve---they've just recently upgraded all their Life Fitness cardio machines (treadmills, ellipticals, & stationary bikes) to the latest "Club Series+ SE4" version which come with beautiful 24" touchscreen monitors. These monitors feature something like two dozen different "virtual terrain" selections where you can choose different places in the world where someone runs or bikes while wearing a GoPro camera, providing you with their POV experience of moving through scenic urban areas (Paris, San Francisco, Buenos Aires, etc) as well as stunning natural landscapes (tropical island jungles, desert trails, volcanic beaches, etc). This pretty much takes care of the #1 problem with cardio machines: soul-crushing BOREDOM from being stuck indoors huffing and puffing while going nowhere...in this case, a somewhat claustrophobic-feeling, fluorescent-lit basement gym. But with New England weather being what it is, especially those long dark winters when the sun sets at 4pm on icy/slushy sidewalks, what are you gonna do? Coupled with 5 separate free weight areas, a boxing gym with lots of free hanging bags including two Thai bags, and the highest-temperature sauna I've ever set foot in, this remains the best Y in the greater Boston area. Yeah it's in an old old non-pristine building (the Celtics used to practice in the upstairs basketball court during the 1960s, I've been told) that could use some massive sprucing up, but to be honest I'd rather they just invest in the actual fitness gear like they just did with these $11K treadmills! 4 and 1/2 stars (Deducting 1/2 star only because they continue to refuse to restore their pre-pandemic hours, when they closed at 10pm weeknights and 6pm on weekends.) Wish list of further upgrades: matched pairs of 20/24/28kg kettlebells, a Perform Better Glute-Bridge-Roller, and NON-eco showerheads so we don't waste so much TIME waiting for the soap to wash off. read more

Kind of conflicted on the 4 or 5 - for the price point this place is a 5. It's surprising how few good gyms that aren't a billion dollars or jam packed with sweaty students exist in the area. But by a general gym metric, this is more of a 4. The equipment isn't in the best shape, the basement is kind of dingy and sometimes the staff just doesn't have time to deal with you. But most of the time it's just a quality place. Decent classes, all the equipment you could need and it even has a sauna. Fair, the sauna is essentially a converted broom closet, but we're talking about a Y here, I'm just surprised it's not just actually a broom closet. I really found it impossible to find a place that had so much resources in one place, even at a higher price point. I'd imagine Cambridge would be chock full of uppity gym, but it isn't and the ones that are out there don't really hold a candle to what the Y has. read more

great, friendly, clean. the classes are much better and more frequent than most gyms, and the monthly cost is way low. excellent HIIT. the building has a lotta charm too. read more

While the equipment is nice and clearly very new and in great condition-I found the staff to be passive and not helpful. I was promised a tour around the facility as a new member and was not given that. I then FINALLY found someone who could point me in the direction of the cardio room. Needless to say, I'll be transferring locations to a location that has staff that are actually committed to helping and not having you fend for yourself to figure things out. read more

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. read more

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Cambridge YMCA Rude people and I sign up on line to paid. They wanted me to re sign up. I will ask to transfer locations read more

If you are visiting from another YMCA and coming to the Cambridge YMCA under the National Membership offered to New England YMCA members be sure to not only bring your drivers license but your paperwork from your home YMCA that includes your membership number, telephone number and any and all family membership documentation so you don't get turned away. Over the entry process I was asked for all the above. The front desk is more than happy to reject you on the spot. I was also asked to spell my name 4 times by two different front desk people. Even though I called Cambridge YMCA ahead and asked "what do I need to bring with me to access to the Cambridge YMCA", on arrival my drivers lic. was not enough to pass through the front desk attendants, who were more interested in dismissing me and rejecting my entry rather than assisting me. After I found my home YMCA managers telephone on my email I had to insist the Cambridge front desk person call, only then did Cambridge allow me access. But not before she told my home YMCA that I was upset. She also had to add to to this unpleasant experience that because I was granted access she would be notifying National Membership I had 1 less visitors entry. The facility is like doing a workout in The Smithsonian of athletic centers. The older heavy equipment areas are all underground, when a piece of equipment is out-of-order its parked in a corner or a hallway creating a junkyard of unusable equipment. As a firefighter I always look at exits and found most disabled or inoperable equipment blocking fire exits. In order to exit the maze of rooms at basement level or street level you must take the stairs or an elevator. There was plenty of soap in the dispensers which is a must have in an unclean gym environment. There was no sanitizing a piece of equipment after each use due to the lack of products or stations available. Larry I. read more

I've been coming to this Y for over a year now. The facility is always impeccably kept. The staff are very friendly. Being in an older building there are a lot of fun confusing ways to get lost (yes theres signage but honestly after working out I can be a tad spacey) There is a code to get into the locker rooms, that helps me feel like I am very secure, as are my belongings. Since Covid they take your temp as you enter, you scan in and scan out when you leave so they can keep count in how many people are inside the building. When you use any machine or equipment they put a red cone by you to show it needs to be sanitized after you finish. There are large containers of sanitizer wipes throughout the building. You're never further than 5 feet from one. This Y has everything you could want. Indoor running track, everything cardio, weights, classes, even a huge pool! I can't even list it all. I've moved further away from this gym but still come here because I enjoy the friendly staff and safe facility. FYI street parking is thru Passport Parking, it costs 25 cents for every 15 minutes plus a 50 cent fee, so an hour of parking costs $1.75. There is an actual meter also but you need quarters. read more

Refreshingly old school and they gave me a military discount for a one-week pass. Free weights, swimming pool, boxing ring.. the kind of place you feel comfortable asking for a spot on a bench press or to work in with someone on their next set, as opposed to the typical modern day fitness center where members feel entitled to hog a piece of equipment for as long as they please while they play on their phones. Great people, great neighborhood gym. read more

I went and signed up today for a month to month membership. I wasn't even able to get a tour first, yet I signed up. That's how much I trust yelp reviews. And, I was not disappointed. I love it. It's comfortable, the people are friendly, I actually really like the labyrinth design. I can deal with the less than ideal locker room/shower situation. I am pretty excited about the number of classes I'll be able to attend here. --After a month of membership the Y is quickly becoming my home away from home. I have found that there are enough good classes that I can work out at least 3 days a week (without having to use boring ellipticals/treadmills.) I love the beginner bootcamp class, step and tone, zumba and the yoga classes. But mostly I love the community feeling here and the friendliness of the people who come here. read more

Greetings fellow Catabridgeans and those who just can't seem to stay away or simply just wish to live vicariously. SAFE, FRIENDLY, and COMFORTING This is the third oldest YMCA in the country and yes with age brings wisdom and also "charm". If you are seeking a glitzy state-of-the-art gym environment, this is not for you. But if you are looking for a place that is straight up "gym" with all the machines and equipment you could want, with the wide variety of FREE classes (with membership) including boxing (see my picture attached), come on down! The excercise rooms are clean but perhaps lacking the freshest of air seeing its subterrainean (this is my only gripe..no natural light and old HVAC). The locker rooms are just acceptable - nothing nightmarish, nothing zen. Also has racquetball courts and for 10 extra bucks a month you can take as many yoga classes as you can cram in. Select from a variety of Yoga disciplines. Amazing pool that I have yet to try out. The best part about this gym, owing probably to its lack of money, is that there are NO TELEVISIONS!!! love it. The woman at the front desk already knows my name after only 3 visits. Sorry to say I do not know hers yet :( read more

Cambridge YMCA - 77 year old boxing ring - the oldest in the country. - Gyms Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I'm giving the Cambridge YMCA 4 stars mostly due to a lack of awesome gyms nearby. I think if there were some better/cheaper/nicer options nearby, I would bump this down to 3 stars. As it is, I spent a few weeks looking into other choices, and I finally decided on the YMCA. I had both the regular membership and the yoga membership, for a total of about $60/month, a very reasonable Boston-area gym price. This allows you unlimited access and classes. They have TONS of group classes, which is the main reason I joined. The only class I checked out was their Saturday morning yoga class, which was fantastic, although I could hear kids running around outside the yoga studio for most of the class. The gym is a bit confusing, and the first few times I visited, I kept getting lost. There must be 4 floors or so. The equipment is all decent. They have a small pool for swimming, a boxing ring, a yoga room, and racquetball courts. I would only work out in the morning before work, and the fitness area was never crowded at that time. The locker room definitely needed more showers. They have two groupings of showers- one of them only had cold water the two times I showered in it. The other area had two decent showers, but they had nowhere to put your stuff in the shower- a few shelves would go a long way. They also didn't have any areas with mirrors to "get ready" with in the locker area. They literally just had a row of lockers and a few benches. It made getting ready for work in the morning a little bit tough. My other complaint is that if you want to have gym towels, you have to pay extra for "towel service". If you want to take classes or just use an elliptical or weights, this is a good enough gym for you. If you want state-of-the-art equipment in a nice, spacious facility... not so much. read more

It's a massive, labyrinthine building with a helpful front desk and the clear feeling of "we're here for you, Cambridge" that you would expect to get from a place like that. I've performed at the theatre there, rehearsed in a room there heard the sounds of people happily using the gym. I've got a soft spot for this place, both for the history of the YMCA organization and the fact that I really like good gyms/community spaces that work with the people of the city. read more

This is the best deal in town. I joined the gym about a month ago and they've earned my loyalty forever. The staff is incredibly kind (and helped me find an even better discount for my introductory membership). A lot of people note that the building is old. But... the equipment is VERY modern, and they have just about anything you are looking for. Boxing equipment, pool, cardio equipment. I've worked out at all times of day and it's never been too crowded (or completely empty). Not to mention the classes are a very cheap add-on (I think $5/month) for members. The yoga class I tried was excellent and I look forward to sampling many more in the coming weeks. read more

O dear. It smells like horrible body odor and cigarette smoke. The facility is run down, with the walls noticably cracking and the building overall is well past it's prime. Unfortunately the group fitness instructor was also subpar. I believe in the YMCA's mission, but I would not recommend this particular one for workouts. Go to the Huntington location or save your nose and your time for another sports club down the street. read more

Wow, we as a family have never had this bad of an experience at a YMCA!!! We travel all of the country for basketball, have a Y membership and have never had an issue with my son using the gym to get a workout in before his games/camps. My son was not allowed in the gym with his national membership because he was a minor (17) and my husband was not allowed to purchase a day pass to accompany him. We are in town for a prospect camp and the courts were fully open. They were very rude, abrupt and had no compassion for a hardworking kid with a membership to get in some reps. In our experience EVERY other YMCA from NJ to California to Florida, and everyone in between has been nothing but welcoming, supportive and considerate. Not this Y. Please keep this in mind if you are in the same situation. We were shocked with how we were treated and would not recommend this Y to any family from out of town. read more

This place is incredible. Have been going here for ~ 5 months; it was the only gym I could find nearby that offers no-bs high intensity (strength) classes. Most other gyms only have Zumba/Yoga/Spinning but that was not what I was looking for. The trainers are incredible; I usually go to Boxing Conditioning, which actually pushes you hard ; I am still not able to do 100% of the exercises but my body comp has changed significantly. You can even get abs if you want, for Pete's sake! ABS!! What this gym is not: Equinox, or any other overpriced gym. The building itself is old, but they have been renovating for the past couple of months (they've also replaced most of the equipment). If you come here complaining about the building's layout (really? there are signs on every corner), or the towel service (...), then honestly this is probably not the place for you. Come here if you are serious about working out (BEST high intensity group classes in the area!) and don't want to overpay for fluff. You will find all machines, weights (including olympic/free weights) you need. You could also get *gasp* personal training for *gasp* $50/hour? What? There's also a pool, squash court, and basketball court. read more

This Y has it all. Pool, BBall, Racket ball, boxing, Olympic weight room, cardio room, steam, sauna. The front desk is always friendly and welcoming and the floor staff, particularly Chad and D, provide great hospitality and keep the place very organized. The staff makes me look forward to working out here. People complaining about the smell get over it, it's a gym. read more

After a changing in a crowded locker room and waiting fifteen minutes to use a squat rack while a thick blonde in black spandex with a tramp stamp preened with the bar, I decided that a change would do me good and I cancelled my membership at the *not to be named trendy gym in Davis Square.* With a little research and a visit, I then joined the Central Square Y and have not regretted it. There is a whole room for power lifting with three weight racks, the locker rooms are very spacious, the showers are always clean, and there are always plenty of machines to be used. The ambiance is certainly blue collar. I feel like Clubber Lang doing chin ups on the pull up bar and hitting the bag. But the lack of pretension and the diverse membership is definitely refreshing as I'm used to the yuppies of *not to be named trendy gym in Davis Square.* If you're looking for a pick up bar in spandex this is not the place but if you want a no-frills place where a good sweat is guaranteed. This is it. read more

The Cambridge Family YMCA is an incredible asset to the Cambridge community. I love that when I walk in to an aerobics class, I'm likely to be working out with a young male boxer on one side and a retired lady wearing a tie-dyed t-shirt on the other. This YMCA embodies the Cambridge community. People are friendly, supportive, and sometimes just a little weird. The gym is not fancy because it doesn't need to be. It's clean, there are plenty of machines and equipment in the cardio and weight rooms, and the fitness classes are fun and challenging. You haven't worked out until you've tried Punk Rope. There's also a great selection of yoga classes at an extra $10/month for unlimited access - an unbeatable value. But the real reason I am posting a review: I just completed the Cambridge Y Weight Challenge for Women, a 10 week program at the Y designed to help women decrease body fat percentage. I cannot possibly say enough good things about this program. The fact that I decreased my body fat by 10%, lost 13 lbs in 10 weeks, and can now see my abs for the first time in my life is evidence enough that the program is effective, but it is SO much more than that. In addition to weekly nutrition and fitness classes, I received weekly individual nutrition counseling from a registered dietician AND weekly workouts and guidance from a personal trainer. As an active vegetarian, I didn't realize how significantly I was underestimating my need for protein and had no knowledge about the importance of timing my meals and snacks. I learned so much from Tara, Matt, and Kristina, who ran the program. I couldn't believe how easy it was to lose weight and build muscle once I ate and exercised in the right combinations. I find myself absentmindedly flexing in the mirror these days, and I feel pretty awesome. I would wholeheartedly recommend this program--and the Cambridge Family YMCA--to anyone who would like to learn how to maximize their fitness through proper diet and exercise. Phenomenal coaching, and worth SO much more than the $250 it cost to sign up for this program. read more

The 4 star average is so misleading. This is not my regular Y. I came here once on a weekend because it's minutes from where I live. First of all, this building is very confusing. I think it houses the Y, a church, and perhaps a few other organizations. I came here on a Sunday morning and there was a church service going on inside. Here I was walking around in a messy pony tail and my workout clothes, trying to familiarize myself with the facility, while other men and women dressed up nicely attending the service. I felt so out of place. I asked for a quick tour of the facility since it was my first time, the staff politely dismissed me and gave me some simple directions to the locker room and the cardio room. I got lost even with the directions. The place is seriously like a maze!! I circled back to the front desk and a staff showed me the way. The classrooms and women's locker room are on the ground floor. The cardio room and weight rooms and boxing gym are on the lower level. By lower level I mean the basement. There are no windows and very little ventilation. The entire level is rundown and smelly. If I had the guess, the building is probably 200 years old. It could really use some renovation. There are maybe 8-10 treadmills, 8-10 ellipticals, and a decent selection of weight machines. ***Note that the gym closes 15 minutes before the stated closing time.*** I was rushed out of the cardio room. I was stretching on the mat 15 minutes to closing. A staff came over to announce closing and turned off the light, leaving me and a few other lingerers in the dark... Despite its flaws, there are still a few things to like about this gym. The boxing gym looks pretty badass. There is a pool and a sauna. Some of the classes seem cool. You have to pay extra for yoga and boxing classes. It's probably still cheaper than other gyms in the area. I will be going back to my regular gym. One day when I gather the courage to take a boxing class, I may be coming back here. read more

What does $50+ per month really get you at the Camb. Family YMCA? 1) Grimy gym equipment 2) A subterranean workout area 3) Leaky, dripping ceilings w/ 32 gal. garbage barrels to catch all of the leaky, dripping mess 4) Abbreviated hours of operations on weekends (completely closed on Sundays during the summer) 5) A personal padlock cut off one of the daily use lockers by one of the YMCA staff (heaven forbid you use the same daily use locker 2 days in a row at the same time of day -- it happened to me!!) Unfortunately the Camb. Family YMCA is not a good value for a single person like myself. I do not benefit from all of the family/kid oriented classes & programs that this Y offered and my membership dollars are paying for. I wish my membership money was going towards fixing the leaky ceilings in the workout rooms rather than the heating bills (I swear it's been over 80 degrees in there on a winter day). My heart wants to support the Y but my wallet can't do it anymore. read more

I've been coming here three times a week for two weeks and I'm a fan so far. Have only met friendly people so far, free water in the weight room, generally not too busy but maybe I'm just lucky. It's $45 for an adult membership, but I pay $55 for towel service and overnight locker use. It's such a great idea, and I absolutely utilize it. Communal showers only, and there will be geriatric men walking around in full birthday suit in the locker room. But, really, who cares. It's close to Central and that's a plus. read more

The Cambridge Y gives me exactly what I look for in a gym: a decent selection of cardio machines and a pool. I didn't even consider other gyms in the central area (BSC, FitCorp, etc.) not only because they were too expensive for my minuscule budget, but also because they don't have pools and I love to have the option to swim laps. As for people that say the equipment is grimy, I'm not really sure where this is coming from. Although the surroundings, i.e. the dungeon-like basement setting, are fairly grimy, the equipment itself is clean. There are plenty of sanitizer bottles/towels around which I consider a good indicator of the cleanliness of a gym besides the actual physical appearance of the equipment. I also find the labyrinthine layout of the place charming, the staff extremely courteous and helpful, and the other patrons down-to-earth. I recently graduated from BC where the gym, the Plex, was not only dark and grimy, but also chock full of girls with eating disorders spending hours on ellipticals and guys with Adonis complexes spending more time looking at themselves in the mirror than lifting weights. Needless to say the Cambridge Y's patrons are a far cry from the BC crowd, which is probably why I like it so much. If all you look for in a gym is a pool, cardio machines, a reasonable monthly fee, and a lack of pretension that you won't find at most peacock-filled city gyms, then the Cambridge Y is definitely the place for you. read more

Ok this one's for my beloved real gym-rats/meat heads. They have all the no-nonsense iron you need. -Enough bars and 45's to go around -Two squat racks, one full box-style power rack -Two flat benches, two decline benches, two incline benches -Two straight-style pull-up bars, one handle-style -Three leg presses, a weighted belt dip/pull-up/calf raise machine, cables, a whole bunch of dumbbells up to 100lbs, and every piece of Nautilus equipment. The only thing I wish they had was a free-standing (not wall-mounted) pull-up bar, and in a perfect world, a Glute-Ham Raise machine, but I mean that's not enough of a complaint to tarnish this gym's A+ status. Furthermore, there's a bunch of intangibles which put them up there: -It's a no-nonsense kind of gym. No significant population of divas or biceptz bros. Good sense of community, always someone there to spot you, but definitely not a social club. -The boxing gym (connected to the weight room) not only offers you access to punching bags, jump ropes, mats, (and FREE boxing classes) etc, but it gives the gym a real hardcore energy which is great. Even during empty hours, there's always a true believer working out on the bags. -It never gets quite that crowded. -Good cardio room, good trainers, and they have a pool and basketball court. -VALUE. The ladies at the desk who are usually there both know my name, and always give me a smile and a hello. I did the yoga classes a little bit when I was nursing a tweaked lower back, and that was cool too. There nothing negative you can say about this gym and really get behind. If you wanna be pampered, go ahead and find a new place, but they have towels, a sauna, and decent locker rooms, so the lack of luxury is no complaint you can really put on them. Five stars, for real. read more

I really like this place as far as YMCA's in the area go. It's always pretty clean, and the cardio and weight rooms are much more spacious than others in the Boston area. They are also pretty strict about keeping the pool clean (even requiring swim caps for all swimmers) which gives me a little peace of mind when I'm there. One thing that does give me some concern - there's a note by the locker room alerting members that there has been some thievery recently. But at least they let their members know, and they also offer to keep any valuables by the front desk. Bottom line - the membership prices are extremely reasonable ($3-$40/month) and this place offers everything you could hope for in a gym. read more

In Central Square there's a plethora of gym choices, depending on your taste and what you plan to get from it. Sure the Cambridge Y is a bit more expensive than the ones (YMCA) in Boston and Somerville but it's still cheaper than BSC and it has a POOL. Which I imagine is really what jacks the price up at this place. However, if you do not use the swimming pool (I never have) there are a number of extras where you can get your monies worth at this gym. 1. Over a dozen classes offered. - Separate from the yoga classes there are boxing, spin, boot camp, Zumba, kickboxing, and about a half dozen others I haven't mentioned (a few water classes as well) included in general membership. Some are a little more crowded than others. I went to a few of their Gentle Sculpt classes and those were always packed. But their boot camp class only ever have half a dozen people when I tried that. 2. A number of extras to add onto regular memebership - If you're into boxing the lower basement basketball area is home to Somerville's Boxing club for a few years now. You can add that package to regular membership for not much extra. Yoga classes are also an extra add-on for those who want it. 3. It's got a pool. - I don't use it but I wish I did. It's huge but can get crowded during peak hours. Also like most other YMCAs there is a sauna in the locker rooms which I do use. Though recently it's been out of order. The cardio room is usually packed during peak hours which makes it hard to get a machine. I've gone after work and there will be people waiting for a treadmill out of the 9 they have and it's a little more tricky getting an elliptical there's 4 of them on average, one of them is always out of order. The other nautilus equipment is often available and there's never a wait there. There is a weight room on the other side of the boxing club space. Another area that's never full but is active. You don't have the fancy, pristine equipment that BSC has with TVs on all their machines, but really, if you're working out do you need to watch TV? What you do get is a straight up gym with a lot of classes available, sport teams, various extras and lets not forget that pool. So in all a good place to work out that's worth the money, provided you use it of course. read more

On 8/15/18, I went to visit the Cambridge YMCA with a friend who goes there to exercise and go use the facilities it has. Little to my knowledge, the Cambridge YMCA does not allow anyone who has a membership from any other YMCA, besides the one in Cambridge; forcing an existing member to pay for a day pass. Be warned you aren't allowed to enter with a membership from any other YMCA. read more

If there is one thing to say about the Cambridge YMCA it is that they accept their member feedback and they take it seriously. I truly appreciate that. I love the place, it is pretty basic no frills but they have what they need. The bonus is a pretty sweet weightlifting setup. The only negative experience I have had here is with the front desk. Most of the staff are lovely, a few are very rude and unwelcoming. I asked a question about membership types and was met with a "oh, this is a stupid question" response. That was sad. Other than that, great experience overall. read more

The Cambridge YMCA is great for yoga. I really love the classes and the people that come. The community vibe is very strong - old, young, novice, experienced, men, women, all typed of students. Particularly I highly recommend Catherine's classes. I've been going to her sessions since I joined the Y last fall and continually find it a challenge even as my yoga skills improve. In general, the yoga studio is lovely. The warmest place in Cambridge in the winter and a lovely quiet place year round. The option of swimming laps is great, and the cardio and weight training machines are plentiful (I've never had to wait to use any of the equipment). My favorite aspect of the Y is the character and history. The building wasn't built to be person proof, and getting lost in the hallways, stairways, and various rooms I consider a rare treat. The staff is also always helpful and considerate - another rare treat in the Boston area. read more

I belonged to the YMCA in the south end years ago which I loved but now I live in Cambridge so joined the one on Mass ave. While it's not as nice as the South End Y, the Central Sq. Y is good for the price. They let you do month to month, no contract for about $50/month which is way cheaper then BSC down the street. The treadmills are all new machines that get the job done. No tvs or fancy fans on them but if you bring some music you're all set. There is also a pool, all kinds of free classes including spinning, basketball courts, free weights and machines and squash courts. I am not sure about other machines like the elliptical because I basically only run and I only join a gym for the 3 cold mos out of the year but for a basic local gym I think this place is good. This is not a fancy gym but the price isn't fancy either! read more

This was my first time here because I am a member of the Greater Boston Y. Staff were very helpful from the front desk person to trainer Michelle who helped me with a machine even though I was not working with her. I will definitely stop by again so I can get to know this Y better. read more

When you're looking to pick a gym, you have to ask yourself what you're looking for. If you're looking for gloss and polish, or you can't stand the sound of bouncing basketballs, or you need a window with a view while you work out, look elsewhere. If you're looking for a fantastic variety of classes, a very decent array of machines that are usually available, a great location, and a great price, give the Y a try. The trainers will actually answer your questions and give you advice even if you're not one of their personal training clients (though personal training is available), which I am told doesn't happen in other gyms. I've never used the pool, so I can't comment on its quality or availability, but at least they have a pool (which seems rare of the gyms in the area). Do bring a padlock and a towel when you come to try it out, but when you join, spring for the "health center." At least for the guys, it gets you into a much nicer locker room, not to mention a permanent locker and towel service (and a TV and coffee...but who goes to the gym for TV and coffee?). But for mercy's sake, don't leave your clothes there and work out in the same manky duds week after week. read more

At $50/month there are cheaper places to work out on machines, but the Y is the best place to swim in Cambridge if you don't have access to MIT or Harvard facilities. The pool is a historical artifact, small but funky (in the good sense) and well-maintained. I had no trouble getting a lane at evening lap swim. The men's locker room has old-school communal showers, is in pretty rough shape, and usually smells bad. The staff is helpful, well-informed and friendly. There is no sales pressure: I was able to get a two-week trial membership free of charge to try it out. Marked as "good for kids" (even though I don't have kids) because it hasn't changed since I learned to swim here 20 years ago, and I had a fine time back then. read more

I've been a member of the Cambridge Family Y for about two years and I love it. It's old school, grungy and charmingly egalitarian--definitely not for everyone--but it's exactly the kind of gym for me. I mostly use the treadmills; they upgraded some of them a year or so ago and I have no complaints. As for classes, I've been taking the new punk rope class they offer on Thursday evenings and it's amazing. I recommend it if you like a little fun with your ass kicking, or ass kicking with your fun. Yoga offerings are great, too, particularly Catherine's very popular Hatha class. Locker rooms are meh, but I spend very little time there, and forget about finding a parking spot after 5 p.m., but I usually walk anyway. read more

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

I have a free membership to this Y through my work, so really this is the only reason I go here. Upside: all the basics you're looking for. The staff are friendly (though the trainers who sit in the aerobic/nautilus room seem to not know whether or not to acknolodge your presence, so they're sort of like ghosts going in and out of the room. The unpleasant thing about this place is the general humidity of it at all times. The gym is in the basement, so there's zero ventillation and a constantly leaky ceiling. The air quality really makes it difficult to breathe easily once you get a good sweat going. They really need some dehumidifiers or an A/C in there. However, like I said, it's free and so long as I go before 6 PM on weekdays I'll have my choice of machines to work out on. But I think I'd shell out the extra money for a nicer gym where it doesn't feel like you're working out in a polluted rain forest. read more

I've been going to the Cambridge YMCA for about 6 months now, and I'm really happy. It's a decent gym with Nautilus machines, a fairly good selection of cardio machines, and a weight room that's a little intimidating- it feels like I should be wearing one of those huge weight belts and eating steaks while I lift. The free classes are really nice and quite a workout! Yoga is an extra $10 a month but seems worth it. Overall an excellent gym if you're looking to work out without all the frou frous. read more

I only have experience with the Swim Classes offered at the YMCA, so my rating is primarily based on that. We have been going there for child swim lessons for close to two years, and the instructors there are great. They are very patient with the children and good at helping draw them out of their comfort zones slowly. There are often 2-3 different groups of swim lessons going on in the pool when we're there, and the classes are kept fairly small (my son's class size has ranged from 2-6 kids, with the larger group actually being when his class was combined with the kids from the next level up). I cannot say enough wonderful things about Dana especially, whom we have had the most lessons with during our time there. Many of the parents I have spoken with during the lessons also speak very highly of her skill in working with the kids. The staff at the front reception desk are always friendly and helpful. The women & children changing room down near the pool also just got a forced renovation, due to some flooding this past fall and looks great. The men & children's changing room (which was temporarily a "parents with opposite sex children" changing room during the repairs), while not renovated, is also a comfortable place to get kids in and out of their swim gear. I do wish that they were one of the YMCA locations that offered child care while parents work out, as I would sign up with this gym without a question. It's very T accessible, and we've had great experiences with the staff there. read more

I really love the Y. I can't believe some people's reviews, claiming that it's unsafe or feels dangerous, because that's absolutely never been my experience and I've been going many times a week for nearly a year. It's much more affordable (by at least half) than any other gym I looked into, plus it offers great yoga classes throughout the week. It's a warm, friendly environment, with a wide variety of regular people. It's not judgmental and you can always use the equipment. The building is a little run-down, but it's also full of character and the yoga studio is among the nicest in terms of size, character, and equipment, that I've ever used. And you can hear kids taking swim lessons downstairs which, I suppose, isn't that relaxing, but it's also fun to listen to them having a blast. I really truly recommend it. read more