This place is a dump! It is dark, dated and dirty inside. The staff suck. There are always a bunch of kids (who supposedly work there) at the front desk yapping to each other and ignoring the clients. The manager is a joke, he is so incompetent it is ridiculous. I just joined Lifetime in Westwood and it is like going from the ghetto (DHAC) to a mansion. Waste of money at DHAC. Lifetime does not charge extra for the outdoor pool, the club is MUCH bigger, lockers are clean and spacious, and the staff is nice and attentive. DHAC will be out of business soon! read more

Won't give a day pass .. Refuse to tell monthly rate on phone .. No exceptions even if you don't use email? Very strange tactics.

Would love to join the outdoor pool, but they refuse to give pricing over the phone and they won't let you try till you buy (ie, I have to find a time to go when I don't have my kids with me). SALES: people like to know what they're getting before spending what is definitely 4 digits for 10 weeks of pool. It'll benefit your bottom line to give folks a trial day. Total turn-off. read more

This place is a joke. Their Manager cannot return a phone call to save his life. On top of that I heard they just hired a new soccer coach, Henry. This is the same guy who just let one of the best sports academy's in the area go under (NEW ENGLAND SPORTS ACADEMY) because of his inability to conduct business in a respectable manner. I know for a fact that he also stiffed more than half of his staff when the place shut down, owing them thousands of dollars. Dedham health you get one star for your inability to hire staff that are respected in the community. I will personally be telling everyone I know NOT TO GO TO SOCCER AT DEDHAM HEALTH. read more

I emailed and called here to get info on membership prices. I explained that I had surgery and could not make it in but was wanting info to take with me to the doctor in a few days about options. I don't want to present options to the doc if I can't use it! I was told by email a generic, this is what we offer, that is sent to all people. When I called, I was put on hold and told they could not give me any information unless I came in and if I wanted the physical therapy office number, I could call them. I don't need PT! They REFUSED to give me a membership price because I could not make it in. I will NEVER belong at a place that is soooo lacking in customer service especially for what I hear are very high prices. This is bordering on illegal not to accomodate! Too bad, I just moved nearby and would have joined if they could offer a little bit of help! read more

This gym is OVERPRICED AND CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF HAVE NO MANNERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And yes they do refuse to give prices over the phone because they are that high they don't want to scare you off with a phone call. They want you to show up and meet one of their 'pretty boys' who could show you around and give you all the details. When i finally made up my mind and went back to join,i met this uncouth pig called PAM who was rude and was not giving me the same offer the guy gave me the first time i went in. How freaking shady is that for God's sake?!!!!! I ran out of there like a bat outta hell and i suggest anyone else thinking about it do the same. I also noticed when i was being taken on the tour that the carpet was ripped and FILTHY with stains all over it as though there was a leak and the area was never sorted after the leak was fixed. It just looked disgusting and there was also a STRONG smell of chlorine in the same cardio area which is not good especially when you're exercising!!!!!! And there was also some sort of circus on the Sat that i went with kids EVERYWHERE running around. On returning to try and join, there seemed to be a match.com event going on for the elderly and widowed judging by the vintage of the gathering in the lobby area. A note to management : YOU ARE CHARGING WAAAY TOO MUCH TO NOT HAVE THE PLACE SPIC AND SPAN and i noticed all of this on my 'tour' of the place.....................YES I WAS ACTUALLY LOOKING AT THE FACILITY AND NOT PRETTY BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TACTIC FAILED! Oh yeah and teach Pam some manners please although at her age not sure if that feat can be a success. I have it on good authority that in response to my review,deham health and athletic are imploring their members to write good reviews on yelp and they're giving them a free guest pass for the privilege...........................once again PATHETIC ATTEMPT and poor Sandy C and Julie L fell for it (Please ladies have some self respect!) They should be giving the two of you a discount on membership,not free guest passes which cost them NADA,NIENTE,NOTHING! MOney hungry club is all i can say!!!! read more

This is billed as a "high end" health club but its dirty, the locker rooms are not well maintained. I got foot fungus from the yoga room. You can do better anywhere. The staff could care less and the managers are AWOL. The workout room is always too busy. read more

I will not be writing anything good about this place. The learn to swim program is terrible, and my kids were later brought to a ymca and learned much faster. The lessons were extremely over priced, and not worth the money at all. The instructors don't seem to care about quality, along with not knowing how to teach children how to swim. It seems as if they only care about getting paid, and not providing service. This hasn't always been the case but recently it seems as if the instructors don't care anymore, and there seems to be a new instructor every week. For a 30 minute swim lesson, my child sat on the wall for the majority of the class not doing anything. Do not waste your money here. read more

I have been a member for about a year and for me, the most important aspect of a health club is whether I am motivated to work out there on a regular basis. Dedham health is the one health club where I have made the most progress. It's not the most modern, cheapest or "flirtatious" club. What it is is clean and never crowded. It has abundant equipment and activities and classes. I like that it encourages its older clientele to stay active and remain healthy as they age. I would say the best thing is the free training by very competent, well educated trainers. In my case, I was recovering from some connective tissue problems. The trainer was very familiar with such issues and designed a program which allowed me to improve my strength and lose weight and most importantly, not injure myself. I have met with him at least 6 times and am encouraged to make an appointment whenever I want. Again, all at no charge with no pressure to do more than I can. read more

All great except for one despicable young obnoxious mouthy " lifeguard " batch in the children's pool who kept opening the door mid winter to the freezing outside " because she was pooh so hot" ! At least ten parents screamed at her at one time not to do it , and my husband nearly shoved her out of the open door he got so angry . Hope she got fired because we stopped using the pool in the winter, i feared my husband was going to eventually choke her ! read more

I started here almost four years ago through the 60-60 program - I am now 180 pounds lighter, fit and able to run (even when no one is chasing me). I also went to a weight loss program (not through DHAC although it is available) and found that throughout my journey to fitness the staff at DHAC were truly invested in my development. There is no judgment and no pressure, the staff are degreed exercise physiologists (not just "trainers") who know what will work for you at every stage of your fitness development. If you miss a week or two, they call to make sure you are okay. I had foot surgery over a year ago, and was able to suspend my membership for six months while I went to physical therapy on site - and every day of PT I was able to use the entire gym even though my membership wasn't active. (There is a fee to re-join after suspending your membership for medical issues, but they waive it if you do PT on site - the on-site PT is fabulous so why not!!) The only issue is parking at peak times, so you have to plan for the time to walk in (while getting even more activity!). The women's locker rooms are really clean, and they have resurfaced the pool and renovated the gym a lot over the past year. The classes and equipment are state of the art. It's a little more money than some of the others, and lot less than the fancy-schmancy - and you get free training throughout the year to help you adjust your workout to your level of fitness. The only thing that would make this the best gym ever is if there were towel service and multiple locations. read more

This is a wonderful athletic facilty. I have been a member 2+ years. The staff are very polite and helpful. I have NEVER been asked by staff to write a review-positive or negative-at all. Yes, this is a 'pricer' gym, but honestly I have belonged from everything from the YMCA (talk about being overrun by kids and people with 'free' memberships) to the Beacon Hill Athletic Club (all show no substance) and his is by-far the nicest facility, with the most amenities and there is plenty of parking. I actually use this gym, which I didn't at the cheaper gyms which only had aerobics classes a couple of times per day--so in the end they were More expensive because I never went! This place has 2 indoor swimming pools, tennis courts, raquetball, rock climbing, laser tag, an indoor track, plus all of the 'normal' gym stuff, etc. I do not see it as overrun by kids at all. They have a separate kids' facilty and family pool. As stated by others-this is not a pick-up, singles joint and it is not Disneyland either. There are family and couple members-and yes, also singles who are serious about their workout, not angling for a date. I want to workout, not have adult pay-per-view with scantily clad gym bunnies trying to pick-up six-pack wannabees. If you want that stuff go watch the Santa 5K run in the BackBay. Some pretty hostile comments about 'pretty boys' giving you a tour. Yikes! My tour was with a nice, informative young woman in her 20's. It was over 2 years don't remember her name. No hard sell either. And, also, I did not sign any binding contract. I pay month-to-month and can quit any time. read more

I use the gym for cardio, weights and classes. I never have to wait for a cardio machine as they have plenty, the staff are very knowledgeable and there is always some one on the floor to help assist you with the weight machines if needed. Great gym and worth the money if you are dedicated to fitness. read more

I have belonged to a large number of much less expensive gyms over the years but never stuck with them. They were dirty, staff bugged you to sign contracts, little individual attention, scary showere, etc. This is the one gym where I've lasted over a year. I guess you get what you pay for. The showers and locker rooms are wonderful. The personal trainers are great. The only things that stopped me from giving it 5 stars : (1) little kids running amouk (2) the bunch of old ladies that use the pool to socialize, even during classes, thus creating a long wait for lane space for those of us who need and want to seriously exercise. Otherwise I love it. read more

DHAC is awesome!!! BEST club around! From the ;front desk to the variety of classes to the tennis. all under 1 roof : ) Oh and the pools too!! read more

It's a good gym, lots to offer, nice facility. They have a great steam, sauna and whirlpool! Spin classes are challenging and a great workout! Curtis was a great trainer and I hope that he stays on per diem, as he has outstanding customer service and many members respect him! Overall, clean and great facility - wish it was not pricey and members were given a few passes to bring guests, as its expensive to bring guests. If members were given a few guest passes each year, it may help to build membership. read more

I absolutely love this place to be honest, yes it's pretty expensive but I get what I pay for. I only pay the young adult membership which is $60 a month (until I'm 24). The fitness center is never too crowded, rock climbing is so much fun (but there needs to be more adult free climbing other than Tuesday night since I work), and the classes are so fun (mainly STRIDE with Sarah G. and Diana). I don't know who the rude staff people are talking about but it's definitely not the personal trainers because they're amazing and the front desk people are always nice - if anything, I'm sure members are rude to them. I do wish the guest rate was lower since I have friends who want to try it out or come to a class but don't because it's 20$ just to come through the door. Overall, love them! read more

I joined DHAC a few months ago when I moved to the area and I am really happy with it. I really enjoy the work out equipment and the fitness classes.. the variety and frequency of the classes are really why I signed up. And, I have to say that the fitness instructors are really helpful, knowledgeable, and really take an interest in your fitness. Also, the number of machines and tvs are a big bonus. On the con side, most of the tvs are on news stations and overall fees are high. But I would definitely recommend DHAC! read more

I have been a member for years. I love the group classes,, challenging and the trainers and members encourage each other. I also play tennis there and love it!! The cardio tennis so fun. Expensive yes, but comparable to other clubs that offer the same. read more

I have been a member of DHAC for many years, I only use the tennis courts and find they are fairly well maintained with the exception of the courts in the bubble. These courts need new netting separating the courts. I find the personnel friendly and efficient. The on-line court reservation is a plus. On the negative side the men's showers and locker room could use some attention. read more

I have been a member for many years. I have been particularly pleased with the staff in the kids room. They know the kids by name and always make them feel welcome. It is a great space for the kids to stay active themselves, play dress up or color. I love that they can attend classes of their own as well. So much better than dropping them off in a cramped space with little to no activity like other gyms I have been too. read more

I have been a member for over 25 years. As both an avid tennis and fitness enthusiast I find the complex rich in what it provides for its members including tennis courts, swimming pools, gym and wonderful classes..I.Adler read more

No long term contracts and really reasonable "off-hours" rates along with a massive amount of equipment and space and trainers makes this place so nice. No pretentious meat heads-- there are a lot of folks there doing their PT and just keepin' their head down and doin' their thing, which I love. Nice salt pool. Room to move and nobody breathing down your neck and no weird hard-sell on upgrades, etc. Sure, the staff seem young, they don't give you towels, etc. -- but everything else makes this place super easy to roll up to, park for free, do your thing, and feel good. read more

The majority of their group exercise classes are lame. The same personal trainers have been teaching the same classes at the same time for years. Go elsewhere if you want good classes. read more

I went to DHAC for physical therapy after my knee replacement surgery. It was awesome! Stephanie was great and i was actually sad when my therapy ended! Definitely check this out and ask for Stephanie!!! read more

DHAC has everything if you are looking for a full service club. I especially enjoy the fitness classes as all the instructors are informed and enthusiastic. The tennis staff has helped my son develop great skills and he was playing varsity level tennis as a freshman! I have been a member for over 10 years. read more

I am not a member of DHAC, but my mother is. I went in today to buy her a gift certificate for a massage as part of her mother's day gift and had a horrible experience. When I approached the front desk, I asked the staff member if I could buy a gift certificate for a massage for one of their members. She said that they didn't have gift certificates but I may be able to put money on my mom's account to pay for the massage. She said she'd get someone else to do that for me. A man comes over and asks how he can help (Scott J.). I explain that I'd like to purchase a massage for my mother, who is a member. He proceeded to ask me several times when I wanted to book it for and if I wanted her to have the massage right then. I tried to explain that I did not want to book the appointment for her, I just wanted to buy the massage. I chose a time-limt and thought we were all set, but then he asked me AGAIN when I wanted to have the massage. I said to him, "I don't know where the breakdown in our communication is, I just want to pay for a massage as a gift so that my mom can use it whenever she wants to." He rolled his eyes and replied "well, why didn't you just ask for a gift certificate?" After telling him that I did when I first came in, he replied in a nasty tone "well you didn't tell me" When I explained that the staff member said I'd have to put money on my mom's account, he still didn't apologize, but rather reiterated that I told her not him that I wanted a gift certificate, and pointed out that he is the manager so I should have told him. I told him that it seemed like it was all a misunderstanding and pointed out that there was no need to have such poor customer service. I left that place feeling talked down to and pretty crappy. I will never join or recommend a gym where management treats people this way. read more

I have been a member for a little over a year. I started in the 60/60 program which was incredible. The trainers that I ended up working with were great. They really cared and always gave me the little push that I needed to try something I didn't think I could do. After my 60 days was up and having had a tremendous amount of success towards my goals I decided that I had to join as a full time member. This was the best decision I have ever made. I love coming to DHAC and working out and participating in classes. My trainers who I started with in the 60/60 program are still always checking in and working with me to change up my routines, give me tons of advice and encouragement. I have also been fortunate to meet lots of members who been successful and help to motivate me to reach my goals. Thanks to the help I received a DHAC I am so much healthier than I was a year ago. I can't thank them enough for everything they have done! read more

I am leaving this club after being a member for many years. There are some great instructors if you are interested in classes, but the club does not add new classes regularly, and does not continue well attended classes when an instructor leaves. The equipment used to be updated on a regular basis, but that no longer seems to happen. Above all, a gym should be clean. This gym is not. I was working out on the elliptical machines by the pool window just the other day. Unfortunately, I happened to glance down to see a disgusting collection of hair that obviously hadn't been vacuumed for a very long time. It was so revolting that I had to move to another machine, but I found this to be an issue on almost any machine with a wide bar support running down the middle. These machines should be cleaned on a regular basis, but it is obvious that no one is paying attention as the filth would be obvious to anyone in management who should be making the rounds. I don't know if I can even go back to finish the last days of my membership that I have already paid for. This gym is expensive, and there are more gym options around Dedham than ever before. Management needs to take a critical look at their gym, and then take a look at what other clubs are offering for similar prices. If you want classes, there are plenty of clubs offering a better selection of classes. If you just want equipment, you are paying way too much to belong to this gym. read more

I would give this place no stars if that was even an option. This is about the summer club (outdoor pool). Anyways, I brought my 9 year old daughter to a birthday party there the other day. It looked like it would be a lot of fun with the wave pool, slides, obstacle course, and everything else that was there. However, it was anything but fun. The pool is not deep (does not even hit 5 feet) so she could not do any fun dives or jumps. The waves were barely on. The obstacle course was not too challenging and only engaging the first time. Worse of all my daughter stepped in poop in the pool and I told the lifeguard (who btw was really nice and paid a great deal of attention to the water/kids in the water) and said she would talk to the managers to clean it up. Proper procedure when there is poop in the water is to close the pool to clean it properly (I was a lifeguard when I was a kid and had to close down the pool once because of poop) and they did not even shut it down for a minute. I stayed by the area to make sure that the poop at least would get cleaned up because the rest of the pool is disgusting. It has scum lines, dead bugs everywhere, leaves, plastic cups, straws, trash, etc. The poop was some what cleaned up, however not all the pieces were taken out of the water and I pulled my daughter out of the water because who knows what else is in the water. I asked the party thrower how much they paid for a membership fee and for that amount of money per family, I wonder where the money is going. Management defiantly needs a MAJOR improvement and the pool needs to have a cleaning crew especially for the amount of money the place costs. read more

really expensive .. but I met this cute lifeguard at the pool. needless to say, we've been dating for 3 years