Amazing facility! Love the turf and the gym. The staff is wonderful and very helpfull. Would recommend for families very friendly.

What you might not know about the YMCA in San Rafael, is the swimming pool and the gym excellent! BUT are just the tip of a heartwarming and effective hub of community service! Just last night I was at the "Campaign 2019" kickoff dinner at the Homeward Bound Key Room. The reason for the low key dinner and speakers event is to start this year's fundraising, which raises money for the community service programs the Y sponsors and operates. The membership dues go to run the facility. The first speaker was Tomash a Drake High junior who explained he was an awkward sorta video game in his bedroom recluse until he got involved in the Youth in Government program thru the Y in Middle School. By the way he ran for YIG Governor last year and spoke in front of 500 people! If you could have seen the proudest mom in the world watching you would be in a good mood for at least a week! The second speaker was Mariana a program director at the Y who spoke, with not some little passion and emotion, about extending waivers on the membership dues to families affected by the recent government shut down. Not something your generic gym is likely to even consider! So now you know! read more

I love the place! I go pretty much every day during the week in the mornings because they offer a childwatch, and I can leave my two little ones there while I work out. They have good classes (my favorite one is PiYo on Wednesday mornings), but I mainly use the machines. The childwatch staff is great. My kids really enjoy spending time in there. They also have a nice outdoor play area for kids. My son attended both group and swim lessons and absolutely loved them! He also did mini soccer, and toddler basketball. All great. I'm a big fan! Plus, I did two bootcamps at the Y, which I really liked. Thumbs up! And it's affordable (membership, classes for kids, etc.) read more

Great place, always clean. Never too busy. Might have to close your eyes when you go into the locker rooms, old guys dont believe in towels, YUCK!! read more

Great place for families. The Y-kids(child watch) is amazing, especially the teacher Linda. The swim teachers are great especially Deborah and Robin. Our daughter has learned a lot in just 2 months time. Not to mention the sauna is thoroughly relaxing! read more

Staff is very friendly. Machines are nice and in great shape. Everything is clean. What more can you ask for from a gym? Haven't tried out any of the classes yet or the pool, but so far I am a fan! read more

The best YMCA I have been to and I have been to all in SF and Novato. Only minus is no music, I hate having to lug my music around with me while working out. read more

Great facility with pool. Raquetball basketball court. They have a chidcare on site so you can drop the little ones and work out. Hit tubs, TRX classes. Great way to avoid the 101 mess in the mornibg and blow off some steam read more

This place is great! Took the Yoga class this morning and it was amazing!! Packed- with good energy people. The instructor Amber was amazing! She is an excellent instructor! Would totally bring friends to this class!!! read more

The only complain I have is they close down the basketball court for an NIA class that only have 5 ladies.

Sept 2018 They just re did the whole gym looks and feels like an new premium gym but although it's nice feels like a lot of less machines and not that much still great but could have more read more

Have been going to this gym for years now, gym schedule online is always faulty. I feel like the junior ball is always taking up the space in the court, so if your looking to play basketball your out of luck cause this place will not accommodate your needs unless you want to play in between either volleyball or junior ball for a span of 30 minutes. Also your probably thinking what about adult basketball? Well if you want to play with a bunch of middle aged men who got their dreams crushed in high school/college and yell at you when you miss a shot, over a damn pick up game than be my guest cause this place sucks. read more

I love this YMCA for several reasons. It opens early at 5:30. If you arrive earlier than opening hours, you can enjoyed their freshly brewed coffee, good one. I enjoy very much the pool and hot tub. Their staff are very friendly. I heard many interested programs, that I just need to schedule an orientation class to find out, although I have my own exercize program. Most of the members are polite and quiet, knowing what they do. Slamming weights is only exceptional. Fortunately those slamming weights do not come back. read more

Such a great facility and friendly staff! Well taken care of and such a great place to be a member! They have a large selection of equipment and classes for whatever you enjoy doing! My daughter loves going into Y Kids, they are wonderful! read more

We just returned from the Y on the day after Thanksgiving, with five of our out of town family as guests. There was something for everyone. Racquetball and basketball for the pre-teens, teens, and adults, and swimming and sauna too. There were two to three people swimming in each lap lane with no problem and people 8 months to 80 years were bouncing about in the open pool area. The water was pleasant to enter but not too hot for lap swimming. The locker rooms were well equipped and clean. Loved the sauna and the swim suit spinner. No dripping wet suit to take home. Everyone is down to earth and very friendly. I have joined several gyms, and swim clubs over the years. The YMCA is the best. Tell your young friends about the Y. It is an awesome center and it is healthy for young people to see their seniors staying in shape. MJ read more

I've been going here for the past few years. The staff at the front desk are really friendly, and it's a pretty popular place to work out. The machines are in relatively good condition, and there is a good supply of them. My only issues are (1) the parking, which is insanely difficult when you're going during the peak hours at night, and (2) the price of membership is sort of high compared to what you're getting, which is a decent but not amazing gym. read more

This is in response to Tom's review. I'm a member of the Marin YMCA. I'm all for freedom of speech, but the comments about jewish women and his last sentence have to go! The YMCA prides itself on inclusion of everybody, regardless of shape, sexual preference, religion, etc. By the way, I love the Y and am in good shape and the Y has great staff. If someone doesn't like the clientele, they should keep it to themselves, or they should join some place else. read more

FYI, This review is only concerned with my experience with the lap pool. If you are a serious swimmer, and/or expect lane etiquette to be followed, this is not the pool for you. The pool schedule offers family time, rec time, and aerobics classes, in addition to the lap swimming I signed up for. Unfortunately, 8 out of the 9 times I used the pool (during lap swim) the rec swim, kids, and classes overflowed into the lap swimming lanes. On top of that add social loitering in the lanes with swift aggressive swimmers in the slow lane. I am a serious swimmer, but have a neck injury. My preference is to swim in the slow lane, relatively uninterrupted, and without fear of being further injured. Or bothering the other swimmers. The staff and lifeguards were sympathetic to my concerns, but nothing changed over the course of the month I went there. I suspect that this is a pool dynamic that works for other people. Everyone I saw appeared to be very happy, and having a good time. Rather than fight the dynamic, I just moved on to a different pool (JCC), where I am happy to say I am busy swimming away, without hurdles and barriers. read more

A good facility. Staff very helpful. It has very good pool. YMCA is more affordable then other facilities.

My children are in the YMCA after-school care on campus at their elementary school in Novato. Since the beginning of the school year, I've had nothing but problems dealing with billing and scheduling (in the San Rafael office and on campus). I've never experienced this amount of incompetence when it comes to running an organization. And that's an understatement. I've had to be either on the phone or email with these people almost every week about one issue or another since we signed up in August 2014. I want to pull my hair out. Unfortunately there is no alternative for after-school care on campus so I'm stuck dealing with this company for the next 5 years. read more

A really welcoming place for ANYONE. I love it. My kids and I come here all the time. The people who work at the Y are the best too.

I would have given this place at least 4 stars, but after today's experience, I amy tempted to cancel my membership. The customer experience with the person on the phone was one of the poorest I can remember. I won't point out names for the sanctity and privacy of the person, but I asked for a credit back for times I never used. Did you know that there is a vacation mode you can put your membership in? I was never informed this, and I i knew in advance there would be a period I would not use membership. I asked for simple credit back, ( even a partial would have been fine) and she was not or could not be willing to accommodate me saying it was strictest of their policies. First, I was never disclosed this when I signed up. And two, she seemed u willing to even try to help a loyal customer. I am tempted to cancel my membership due to horrible customer service. A little sympathy and empathy can go a long way. Where is the human touch? Absolutely horrible. Update: I did get w chance to speak with one of the people in charge there, and they agreed, apologized and to my knowledge, have fixed the situation. I feel comfortable enough updating the rating on this. read more

I have a doctor's note to hold my membership. I want it to be held from July 1 - August 31. One staff did it for me. But today when I arrived at San Rafael YMCA at 8:25 am, the woman at front desk said that I was only able to hold my membership from June 20 - September 19. I said I can't come for whole July. I tried to use my guest pass, (I never used it before.) She said I can't use it. I think it doesn't make sense, if people want to enjoy the membership at beginning of the month, based on the rule, this person has to pay whole month fee. That's not right, and not fair for customers. Why the system can't charge people for 10 days as a period, even charge day by day? On other hand, the facility could give people free trying and guest pass, why when I arrived so early, they block me to get in? That's unreasonable, unfeeling. read more

This is a great gym with good machines, basketball courts, racquetball, indoor pool, hot tub, and a sauna. I'm not familiar with any of the classes but if you're looking to work out, it's a good spot. read more

so excaiting . front desk person stephani so polite . attentive . awesome . very impressive ymca should be so proud and lucky have employee like her . read more

Giving 5 Stars... because the Y tries to serve all of the community. This results in some issues for certain members. for example how the pool is used. Coming here for some 7-8 years I have noticed the trainers on the floor have greatly improved. I am mainly a gym weight room person, and take 1 class. The two women instructors who split leading the class I take are 'top of the line', and I consider them both a gift. I have always found the staff, front desk, clean up, maintenance workers etc to be friendly. The activities and equipment are in excess of what most people of all ages require. On rare occasions I have found an individual member acting like a jerk, and yes there have been things missing from time to time... an unfortunate sign of the times, but in no way the fault of staff. For those on a tight schedule, who find (for example) there is a wait for a treadmill, bike, etc... there are so many alternative options available that conducting a 'work around' is not a chore. read more

The Marin YMCA is a wonderful place to go! The front desk, especially, Robyn, Troy, Tania, Susann, Julien do an excellent job and know their stuff! The spinning instructors are all different, but do a great job! read more

Ok I have been a member off and on to the YMCA since 1990...I stopped last year for a year. I went to renew today after I renewed my friends informed me of the changes...the Y now gives financial aid specifically to minorities but not to non minorties. The crime rate has increased several more locker break ins and one knife fight in the past 6 months. It has seriously gone down hill with the recession. The place already was low for me... as I am a swimmer and the pool is just too warm (84 degrees). The Cross Cardio class taught by Karl and Cary was awesome until I found out the audience has changed so much that the level of intensity had to be dropped. I was better off running on my own and sneaking into pools then this situation. The Y used to be good but at $74 a month... it is not worth it. read more

I "was looking for a lifeguard training class for my teen age daughter. I saw online this Y had one on the only week she was able to take a class when school was finished and before her lifeguard job was to start. I called, I was faxed the form and I faxed it back right away giving all the information including my credit card information. My daughter showed up this Monday and they had no record of her enrolling and the class had been cancelled without telling us in advance!! Now it was too late to find another class before her job starts!! Whom ever was working at the front desk never gave her enrollment information to the aquatics department. Their incompetence has ruined my daughter's summer and now I have a teenager without a summer job! read more

pro's-relatively affordable price -but single members pay way more than all other types of members. easy to get to with parking opposite sex kids cannot be in the adult locker room-kids have their own very diverse staff and members-many of them very interesting and friendly cons--lifeguard performance is very spotty regarding enforcing the posted pool rules for safety and sanitation. Results -important sanitation and safety precautions are not happening on a regular basis swim diapers on non toilet trained kids , soap showers before entering the pool, not wearing street clothing and underwear into the pool, no enforced swim breaks for the kids where they get out of the pool to rest and use the bathrooms and more. At least once per month the pool is completely closed due to sanitation problems with the pool which staff call "accidents." Sometimes for 24 hours it is closed for clean up from these "accidents" Pools is used for both lap swimming, recreation swimming for kids and rented out for private lessons,group exercise class and swim teams. results=overcrowding-especially in lap lanes. Rules of slow, medium and fast lanes are not managed at all by the lifeguards which means you can come in for your lap swim and may or may not be able to have a successful work out in your lap lane that's geared toward your specific speed levels. Members can get quite rude about it too. Many members are unaware of how to properly share lap lanes-can result in getting hit while swimming. Many times most lap lanes are closed due to allow many other uses to go on at the same time. You do not want to be in the far right lane swimming laps because it's too easy to get hit by a ball being played yet or kids coming over into the lap lane without supervision to stay in the recreating part of the pool. In general I would say this is not the pool for serious lap swimming. . read more