Heads up: No phones allowed in the gym except for hallways and lobby The YMCA in Ann Arbor is definitely a family friendly gym and offers a lot under one roof. If you have children, they provide child care while you work out for up to a couple of hours, which is a huge plus. They also have an indoor pool, and I recently went and enjoyed being able to swim indoors, especially during colder months. The facility is large, spread across about four floors, and includes an elevator, which makes it accessible for everyone. There are a lot of activities happening throughout the building, including breakout rooms for workshops and classes. They also have a lap pool, a sauna, an indoor track, and a full range of machines and weights. Depending on when you go, the track may be reserved for team use, so it is helpful to check the schedule in advance. I really appreciated how thoughtfully they handle locker rooms. There is a separate women and girls locker room, a men and boys locker room, and a universal family locker room. This makes it comfortable for families and people of all ages. The women do use the locker room as intended, so having a separate space for younger girls feels appropriate and well considered. They also have showers and provide towels, including towels for wiping down equipment. That said, my main area of feedback is cleanliness and sanitation. I understand it was the holiday season, but as a first impression, the gym had noticeable odors throughout, mostly sweat and stale air. It would benefit greatly from better air circulation or air purification. While there are hand sanitation stations throughout the gym, not all of them were filled, which is especially important during winter months and flu season. Cleaning could be more consistent overall to better match the volume of use. Parking is another challenge. It is mostly street parking, and there is no parking directly in front. I am not aware of a dedicated garage, so you may need to allow extra time to find a spot. The staff were helpful, kind, friendly, and professional. Everyone seemed to be doing their job well. Nothing felt over the top, but it was solid and reliable service across the board. Overall, this is a good gym with a lot of amenities and a strong focus on families, as well as individuals working out on their own. I would go back, though I do hope they continue improving cleanliness and air quality. With that addressed, it could be an even better experience. read more

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I came to the Ann Arbor YMCA today with a guest pass and had a beyond extremely upsetting experience. In the women's locker room, a women confronted me and my friend in an aggressive manner about our children being present (age 20 mon., 3 and 5). Instead of calmly explaining the policy or offering help, she pointed at us, repeated "They can't be in here," and escalated the situation to the point that my 5-year-old began crying and hyperventilating. She told us she was an employee, which made the behavior even more shocking, as she didn't offer any guidance or kindness, only hostility. She later continued to correct and monitor us in the pool area, and another patron tried to take a pool noodle from my child's hands- again aggressively making statements about how "they can't use that". How is a 3 year old not going to be curious about a pool noodle on the side of a pool... This was supposed to be a positive experience, but instead I felt harassed, watched, and completely unwelcome. I will not be returning. I understand facilities have rules, but the ways they are communicated matter. The lack of professionalism and kindness from staff made this a very negative experience. The lifeguard I spoke with was the only kind person and listened to everything I had to say. She also informed me "the older population can be kind of cliquey". Which I proceeded to ask... how it is okay for a clique of older people to bully new potential clients because were "in their space". read more

My family and I were longstanding members, my children coached and counseled as they grew up, we paid our membership during covid and donated as well, because we believed in the Y's mission. Unfortunately, the Y itself doesn't seem to. After 58 years the Y summarily cancelled the Judo club, initially refusing to meet or explain why. Eventually they cited revenue but were totally uninterested in working with us to find to a mutual solution and treated our teachers demeaningly. The next time you see a big Y banner trumpeting "community," ask yourself if their commitment runs as deeper than the paper it is printed on. read more

I don't know why Ann doesn't like me, but I have noticed that Ann Arbors negative feelings towards me. Not cool. And I'm not sure why MCA, but it just is, so if you want to work out in Ann Arbor, this is definitely the perfect spot for you. The Ann Arbor YMCA let me in straight away without any sort of delay and I absolutely enjoyed their facilities. It's a little bit tight in terms of space (like your mother) but they have most of everything and their machines work quite well - and even when it gets busy you can still get your workout done. Definitely one of the better locations I've been to. Parking can be a bit of a problem here but I came on the weekend so it wasn't. Maybe on a weekday I would have ended up giving it a lower rating. Who knows. But this is one of those rare and special 5 star YMCA locations. read more

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The gym has plenty of equipment that is kept clean. I have not used the pool much, but from the time I have I thought it was good. They also have basketball courts, but they are not always open. Overall would recommend. read more

Everyone's super super nice. The gym is very well organized and meets all the requirements for a perfect gym. Plenty of empty rooms for your own workouts too! read more

Good value for family membership. Convenient hours and location. I go early and enjoy the facilities easy vibe. Equipment is good, locker room and overall facility is kept clean. My daughter loves going to summer camp and plans to be a camp counselor eventually upon completion of YMCA leader in training program. read more

They won't let me wear crocks and got pissed at someone for making noise deadlifting 315 they also have no music so it's silent which can be nice but it means you can hear everyone breathing. read more

The YMCA offers one of the best gym experiences in Ann Arbor, and it's a real shame that the existing Yelp reviews don't properly capture that sentiment. 1. For those that complain there aren't enough treadmills, stationary bikes, and ellipticals, there are 10 of each that sit in the massive cardio section. It does get busy from 5-7pm, but that's a real testament to just how popular the Y is. I personally have never had a problem accessing any of the cardio equipment. 2. There is now a squat rack, which was a recent addition last month accompanying the pre-existing Smith rack. There are also four flat benches, two flat bench presses, two decline benches, and one incline bench. While it may get crowded at times, I've never had to wait longer than 5 minutes to use a bench. 3. Other amenities include a wide selection of free weights, many weight machines, mats, free towels, several studios that offer a variety of classes, a gymnasium on the third floor to play basketball or run around the track, several pools, a waiting area and locker rooms complete with showers and a sauna. 4. Cleanliness is a big thing at the YMCA as friendly employees are constantly emptying out towel bins, picking up loose weights and offering their help. This is definitely one of the cleanest gyms I've ever been to. 5. Parking is a tough thing in downtown Ann Arbor but the Y has multiple parking options for members. The parking lot located right underneath the Y is quite pricey but there is a cheaper option ($5/month) that gives you access to a city parking lot only a few minutes walk away. 6. Cost - there's a really good deal for young adults (age less than 30) that costs $33 a month but there's an even better scholarship for people who have a limited income or are saddled with student loans (i.e. college and graduate students). All you have to do is fill out a form and submit a W2 form and a copy of your class schedule, and you'll be approved for a scholarship where you essentially pay $7/month for membership. I challenge you to find a cheaper membership for such a nice gym facility in Ann Arbor or even in all of Michigan. Alternatively, you could pay the $99/month for Anytime Fitness or even the $20/month for Planet Fitness, but for the location, price, and equipment, you'll find that the YMCA is really the best that Ann Arbor can offer. Disclosure - I am in no way affiliated with the Ann Arbor YMCA, I am just a very happy regular. read more

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I love taking my son here for swim. That being said, the family locker room is too small and very cold. I can't take him into other locker rooms, because it's not allowed even though he's only 18 months, so I usually have to wait with him freezing waiting for a cabana to open up so we can shower before we go home. Also, I use their gym to lift and they have unnecessary rules without checking facts. I use bumper plates for deadlifts and they've asked me to use these deadlifts deadeners to soften the sound, because it hurts the equipment. I was also scolded for using chalk, because it damages equipment and was told to use liquid grip. Bumper plates are small plates incased in a large quantity of rubber. They're made to take the impact of the lift. Same with the bars, that's why they spin. They both can be dropped at a high height. I understand the logic for dumbbells, but not weightlifting equipment. Liquid grip is the same material as chalk. Chalk doesn't damage equipment, it's made for grip and its perfectly safe for stainless steel. The problem they should consider is using a liquid cleaner to clean stainless steel equipment. They're just meant to be wiped down, cleaners damage the equipment, not chalk. So they would rather you get hurt instead of clean their equipment... Sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen. Please educate your staff on proper care and safety for gyms. I should point out that they're in violation of safety regulations based on the layout of the gym floor. Equipment is supposed to be spaced out 6 feet from one another. Consider the safety of your patrons, not needless control over cleaning equipment. Want to know why I know all these things? Because my background is in fitness and I've worked as an Operations Manager for many gyms. I only use the Y, because of my son, it's the closest option for us, and I do appreciate what they do for the community and I want to continue going to the Y, but if this stupid crap keeps happening, I will consider my business elsewhere. read more

Shrimp and Kipper is a class offered at the YMCA to help teach your infant how to get used to the water. My partner and I had great expectations of this class after going on You Tube and watching these insane videos of parents throwing their babies into the water and having their babies swim away on impact! We also saw videos of self-rescue! It is really quite amazing. So we signed up for this swim class and it really was not what we were expecting. We sing Hokey Pokey every week and splash with our son. It's really cute, but I found out our son is not going to be able to float on his back after class is over. I was expecting at least that. I think that my partner and I are overachieving parents, however. read more

This YMCA, with thousands of square feet and millions of dollars of equipment, is unusable for any person serious about getting fit. I'm an away member and my visit was exceedingly short; my review is about a single segment of the facility. I came here while on a business trip. Today happens to be leg day. I walked to the enormous second floor and was confronted by cardio machines as far as my little eyes could see. I went around the corner to the weight training area; I saw rows of machines. Tucked at the far end of the floor was a crowded free-weight area. There was (if memory serves me) One flat bench, one decline bench, one incline bench and one smith rack. ZERO bar bell squat racks. Millions of dollars of equipment and no squat rack! Cardio is not fitness, it is a fleeting solution to a calorie imbalance. If you need to stare mindlessly in to space while flailing your limbs about, your problem is in your kitchen. A middle-aged woman would lose far more fat by performing compound movements with maximum resistance. Further, anyone would see greater benefit from doing 3 sets of squats than pounding it out on an elliptical for an hour. That is not an option at this YMCA. Instead of encouraging people to seek real fitness, they inadvertently perpetuate the myth that lifting is for meat-heads and machines and cardio are all the average person needs. After 5 minutes of searching for some hidden racks, I returned to my Holiday Inn 10x10 after-thought of a work out room. The weight was limited but even it had a barbell squat rack. read more

Visiting from out of town. I dropped in to swim laps. Great pool. Convenient morning hours. Clean locker room. Friendly staff. What more can you want. Will definitely use again next time in Ann Arbor. read more

The Y was my first gym, and I'm very glad its where I started out. Pros: -In addition to convenience of location during grad school, I appreciated their young adult pricing and the availability of some free classes. -Being a community health center type of place instead of a "power gym", it was much less intimidating to me when I was getting started. A lot of families, older people, etc., alongside the young and fit made me feel less like a chubby loser and more like someone just trying to make some healthy life changes. This really made a difference when I was just getting started, and having a hard time with motivation. -SAUNA! -Magazines and towels. My new gym doesn't offer these, and I'm realizing how nice it is to have them available. -It is always very clean. Through the AWAY program (limited reciprocal use in other cities) I've visited some other Ys and seen that they're not always as nice. -A good variety of fitness equipment and props -I loved how a few times a year they would issue a fitness challenge (500 minutes of cardio in 30 days, 25 workouts in 2 months) and there would be some small prize (a water bottle, a bag, etc.). I didn't always make it, but it helped to break up my routine to add that extra challenge every once in a while. -Super friendly staff. Even though you can can check in without interacting with the staff, I was always greeted with a smile when I walked in. Things like this made the Y a place that really seemed to be doing good work, and that I wanted to support. I would still be there if I hadn't moved too far away to visit often. Cons: -I wish they were open a little earlier/later on the weekends. -Sometimes in January it would get kind of full as people got into their NY resolutions, but by March it would usually slow back down. -Once I hit my late 20s it became a bit pricey, but I definitely felt I was getting a lot for my money (see above), and the "family" definition and pricing made it possible for my roommate and I to share a membership and save some cash. read more

It seems as though most of the reviewers are people with families, so I wanted to chime in on behalf of the sans-children crowd for a different perspective. Pros: This is a really, really beautiful facility. One of the nicer YMCAs I've ever seen. Everything is clean and relatively new and well-kept. It does have a friendly, community-centered atmosphere. The class selection is incredible. Cons: It is super freaking expensive if you're single but too old for the student membership. I'm a graduate student in my 30s, so no income, but no student membership either. Once I've paid a membership fee and $40+ a month . . . well, nevermind, because that's already beyond my budget. After you get beyond the high cost of membership, you have to pay extra for the classes! Every other YMCA I've belonged to included classes in the cost of membership. It gets crowded at peak times (but then again, what gym doesn't?). The entire law administration and a good chunk of the faculty works out there. This isn't a problem, per se - I like those people just fine, but I'm a big believer in compartmentalization. As with many things in life, you get what you pay for. This gym is wonderful but I think it's a shame that there aren't better options for those of us living on peanuts. read more

PROS: I pay $28 for a great gym that is very close to my apartment. The crowd is not snooty, the staff is kind, and the price is definitely right. I've been to other gyms in the vicinity and I still appreciate the Y more than them all. The mornings are my personal favorite time to go. I say this because you can get on/off all of the machinery very quickly and there are also not a lot of children running around the gym. There's no loud music blaring unlike other gyms, so don't forget to bring your headphones/iPod. CON: My only criticism would be the TV's at the Y. Although they usually have OK channels turned on, you cannot listen to the TV unless you have a radio connection/walkman...Who even has one of those anymore (besides the new iPod nanos). My suggestion would be to have little plugs where you can put your headphones in & choose the station that you want to listen to. read more

I have been a member since the "New" bldg on W. Washington opened, and I absolutely love it! The gym is great, and they have recently added a lot of fancy new equipment that anyone (even a relative novice) can use. They have also added more treadmills, steppers, etc. Facilities are kept scrupulously clean. The teachers for the classes are well qualified and do a fabulous job. I have yet to take a class that I didn't love. There are a lot of free classes for seniors (like tai chi, gently fitness, etc.) as well as for new parents and their babies. The child care center is nationally accredited. I am not a swimmer (according to Dick Gregory, "it's something to do so you don't drown!") but the pools (adult and children's) look great. They also have programs for teenagers dealing with leadership and government. All around, a great addition to the community! Leslie deP read more

NOT A MEMBER: But what I find really distrubing is that they wouldn't even allow a guest-pass or free workout to try out the facility. All the lucky ones that are paying $28 -- wow! It's $100 initiation fee and $44 a month!!! That seems outrageous for the Y (I'm curious if they get tax breaks too?) At that rate you still have to pay for classes? I guess it's great if you have a family, need to swim, play basketball, or prefer running on an indoor track. Seems like the 'new' YMCA has gone quite yuppie-scale. read more

This Y is fantastic. I am still very, very new to this facility, so I've only used some of the cardio machines so far. However, the staff has been super helpful, welcoming, and friendly. This is important for someone like me who hasn't worked out besides at home or in a yoga studio setting in about a year and a half (hotel gyms don't count!). Don't tease me. I have my reasons. I love that while you're on some of the ellipticals, you can watch kids (with their parents and grand parents) playing in the children's pool area below. It's better than television, by far! Much more charming! The class schedule looks awesome. I am a little late in the game, so my selection may be somewhat limited, but I'm excited to sign up for at least one or two. The location's super convenient. I imagine parking can be a pain (I didn't pat for the extra parking option), but I live close enough that once it's warm, I'll be able to walk or bike over, thus improving my workout by another 20-30 minutes! read more

Pros: - Sauna is so relaxing after (or sometimes instead of) a workout. - Generally not crowded except for after work, which is unavoidable and has been the case at every gym I've ever been to. - Facilites have everything I need, including pool, tons of free weights, medicine balls, spin bikes, treadmills, a running track that I've never used, etc. - Towel service for free. - Prices are very reasonable. Cons: - Crowded after work (but everywhere is). - Showers are out of soap 90% of the time. - Towel service only gives you one small bath towel. - Classes aren't the greatest and have an additional cost over membership. - Closes rather early on the weekends (6 or 7PM). read more

The pros have been recognized by several reviews: big pool, clean facilities, good customer service and childcare services (etc.) get my respect. My biggest gripe is the $100 sign-fee. If you let your membership lapse for more than 90 days you have to pay $100 again. That does seem like a punitive thing, and a money-grab. read more

Great, diverse, affordable gym and camp offering in the Ann Arbor area. I have been a member for several years and really appreciate and enjoy the YMCA. read more

Coming from a big chain gym (ahem, 24-Hour Fitness), you'd think I'd have a chip on my shoulder about joining the good old YMCA in my new city. No-ho. No chips here. Only gold stars. Where my old gym was teeny, overcrowded at any time of day, smelly, and nowhere near clean, the Ann Arbor Y is new and spacious, sparkling clean, and though busy never overcrowded. I usually work out between 5 and 6pm, and haven't had to wait for a cardio machine once. There's always something open. Plus, they have lots o' magazines, who-hoo! And if you're bored of that, you can look down on the lap swimmers and adorable kiddies splashing around in the pool (so happy!) Decent weight room, tons of classes, a huge gym upstairs for shooting hoops, and a running track above that if you need a change from the cardio machines or can't run outside in the dead of winter. Also, they have separate locker rooms for kids which is kind of nice. Oh and one more thing: clean, fresh towels at the front desk for free. 24-Hr. used to charge for those, lame. I would totally give 5 stars if not for the classes. They have a lot of them but many I want to take are filled before I even find out about them and most of them cost extra for members. Still, it's usually only around $20 for members (up to $70 for non-members). Price is also on your side if you're under 27 or 28 (sorry I forgot); my membership is 28 bucks a month. I'm going to the gym more than I ever used to in San Francisco because now I actually like being there. What a concept! read more

The good: Mostly friendly staff, good hours, good vibe, nice mix of people, impressive facility, easy member's guest pass system, great price The disappointing: In my experience, it's elbow-to-elbow at almost all times of day in the weight training area. There are more weights than space and benches to use them. Kinda bizarre. People are working out in the entryways of studio classrooms. Also, there aren't enough mirrors to check form. If you're not interested in weights, then you've got nothing to worry about. There is a sea of cardio equipment, pool, and track. read more

I am a member and have been for 3 years. I really like it. The desk people have always been nice and helpful when needed. I do think it is a little pricier than i would expect to pay for a Y, but they offer scholarships to help offset the cost for some, so that can help. The initiation fee is nuts. My partner and I have a family plan--not married, but they offer it. It helps save some dough. They have a lot of classes included for members, but not all. the free ones fill up fast too. I have taken my first one this term. I did pay for it, but i loved it. the trainer was great, and she really put thought into the program every week. I could tell, and really thought she was into her job and knowledgeable. January thru March is tough because it gets really busy, as most gyms do. There are kids there sometimes, but rarely do i ever see anyone young in the cardio/weights area. They sometimes pass through when getting out of classes, and there is an exception here and there, but otherwise, the kids are in the pool ( there are wading and lap), the lobby/daycare area, or on the basketball court. My only peeve when there, other than the occasional large crowd, is that the TVs are only on a few channels. There are, i think, of them, but they have them split between 3 channels. No Fox, which i guess is expected in liberal AA, but I could not watch baseball! read more

Currently a member at the Y, and although not it's not along the lines of say, an Anytime Fitness it's certainly not in the same genre as a Lifetime Fitness. While the gym satisfies my usual needs at a decent price ($33 a month for adult under 30) I can't say it's the best gym I've ever belonged to. Parking is a pain if you don't come when they open or right before they close. There's street parking and a lot you can use if you pay the Y for the privileges. Very limited amount of equipment. Come at peak time, and you're waiting around for a treadmill because they have so few. They seem to have a ton of ellipticals and stair climbers though. Weight area is fairly small. 45 min limit on cardio equipment. This does not bode well for runners who need to run anything more than 4-5 miles; you have to leave your treadmill mid-run to re sign up for your spot. I get it's supposed to make it so everyone has a chance to grab the machine they want, but it's a serious damper sometimes. I've yet to use the pool as the lap pool seems crowded always. I'm talking you won't even get a lane to yourself at 5:30 am. However, it's a fairly clean facility and family friendly. I'm not a huge fan of kids/teens running around the cardio room, but to each their own. read more

This is a great YMCA. I moved from a neighborhood with a horrible Y, so I know of what I speak. As in: ancient building, tiny pool in the dim, windowless basement, asbestos-wrapped steam pipes snaking everywhere, rusty lockers, grotty old fitness equipment. So, be grateful, Ann Arbor! Your YMCA is awesome! The pool area is bright and sunny, with a soaring ceiling. The kiddie pool is zero entry, with some fun fountains for the kids to splash in. There are five or six lap lanes in the very large pool. The fitness area overlooks the pool; I sometimes work out and watch my little darlings as they take their swim lessons. Tons of machines (ellipticals, treadmills, stairmasters, bikes) and I never have had to wait. Nice weight area. Lots of studios where they have yoga, martial arts and various aerobics classes; I have not tried those yet. We have a family membership for $70 a month. That is less than what I paid for an individual membership at a club in Boston, so I am happy. The kids take swim lessons and play in the pool a couple of times a week, my husband works out there every weekday morning, and I get there at least once a week. We are definitely getting our money's worth. There are coed family locker rooms, as well as separate locker rooms for women, men, boys and girls. Several people have mentioned that parking is a drag, but we have never had a problem. For a $10 deposit we got a card that lets us into the lot, where we pay 50 cents an hour. read more

For gyms this is pretty good. I really enjoy the pool and the weight room its just that if you don't pick the right time to go you will be stuck playing the waiting game. The pool can be very nice but again if you go at the wrong time you will have at least 2 others in your lane and its very annoying when you are swimming timed sets and 2 people are just doing kick boarding, or some larger person doing some form of water aerobics. Still for the price and everything its pretty solid. Good luck with parking read more

I love the Y because it answers most of my fitness needs and has a low number of tools and gym bunnies. It's also reasonably priced, conveniently located, and it has a sauna! This is a great place to get fit no matter your age, fitness level, or knowledge. A few tips: go early in the morning or middle of the day. It can be quite crowded at peak times. Also, it's missing some of the more serious free-weight oriented gym equipment....such as a squat rack. I wish they'd get a kettlebell class. read more

great place, but the complete absence from management of any systematic mask enforcement protocol and the prevalence of flouting the mask rules (especially among teenagers) is the only reason this isn't a five star review. read more

I love the Y! When I first moved to Ann Arbor, I was desperate to find a place to work out. I checked out Gold's and Bally's and this is by far the biggest and cheapest gym! Even when it is crowded (early morning and after work), I've never had to wait for a machine. But make sure you do use the sign up board so you don't hop on an elliptical someone already reserved. The thing I love the most is the indoor track, something a lot of gyms simply don't have room for. The panoramic view of Ann Arbor is beautiful, it's rarely crowded and it's so much better for your knees than a treadmill! I'm also a big fan of the classes - spinning, yoga, pilates, martial arts, even fencing - and they're super reasonably priced. Between $15 and $25 for members for an 8-week session. They offer some free drop-in classes as well. So glad I discovered this place! P.S. There was one bad thing, when I went to become a member, the guy at the counter asked if I wanted the teen membership (ages 12-17), yeah... I'm 22. read more

I was a member of the YMCA 2009-2011 or so, and have since given up my membership. It is a beautiful facility- a beautiful facility, that the Y agonized over when planning the replacement of the old building... So, they threw out all the near homeless folks, and built a shiny new monument to low-priced daycare for harried parents. And yet for all this planning- it is way too damn small. The pool is impossibly crowded at peak times- and the available open swims were not a good for my schedule. Cardio machines also in short supply at peak times. And the weight room is crowded. The parking situation is, of course, dreadful, as if they assumed that the only Y in the county would only serve a select few on Ann Arbor's West Side and that nobody would want to drive to the YMCA... As well as being too small, they skimped on some amenities. No steam room, so dimwitted clients would constantly dump quarts of water on the pitiful dry sauna, nearly destroying it, frequently breaking it and rendering the DRY sauna a disgusting unsanitary nightmare. But a deeper problem with the Y is the oppressive "family friendliness." "Family friendly" is not interpreted to mean "...a welcoming place for families", but rather "...an environment hostile to anyone who does not have children." They have four or five locker rooms- one for men, one for women, one for boys, one for girls and, I think even a *family* locker room. And YET with all of this accommodation- thoughtless men would bring their 4 or 5 year old sons and daughters into the men's sauna. Fun. Does the staff do anything about this? No. Two kids decided they need to play in the deep end of the pool during lap swim monopolizing two lanes? That's swell. Does the staff care? No. I like the diversity of people at the Y. But you can be welcoming and not allow the children tyrannize the entire experience. One way? Later hours or longer hours on the weekends. The management took a very dim view of such suggestions. The staff was- meh, mostly disengaged college age types. read more

I want to preface this by saying that I understand that this is a family-oriented YMCA, open to all ages an dall fitness levels/goals. That being said- The fitness center is horrendous. They have an abundance of cardio equipment which dominates the space. Unfortauntely, that means that the freeweights are crammed into a tiny area. Not only is the free weight area crowded, but the lines that form for classes outside of the fitness studios spill into the limited workout space. Also, the layout is cramped, as there is little room for dumbbell exercises and little room to move around stationary areas like the bench presses, cable machines, and smith machine. Also, there are a lot of members who do exercises requiring a lot of space (like barbell cleans/jerks) in open areas where others try to walk- though its not their fault that there isn't ample space/equipment for such exercises. On top of the layout, and probably my biggest gripe about the place, are the number of inconsiderate and unsafe users. During peak hours, its is not uncommon to see one person using two becnhes and 4 sets of dumbbells. The lack of equipment/space is bad enough, but the lack of consideration just adds to the frustration. Another problem that is actually frightening is the number of folks using the facitlity in an unsafe manner. Take a look around and you'll see someone using too much weight without a spotter or using poor form while wildly throwing weights into the air. I've almost been clipped several times by folks not paying attention and using too much weight. I've also had people not paying attention literally run into the bar as I was using the bench press. The most frustrating part of the whole situation is the total lack of involvement of the staff. Weights are left strewn about the free weight area and young kids (early teens) are left to their own devices with little to no staff supervision. I've actually watched as a parent brought their child (no older than 12) into the free weight area while they were working out and left him to "play" with the weights and benches- again ZERO reaction from the staff...but there were towels to be folded, so I guess they were busy. All in all- the facilities are in good shape- just poorly laid out and completely mismanaged my the staff. The memberships are cheap enuogh, but VERY comparable to other gyms in the area who are run much better than the Y. read more

Stupid freeweight setup. They have 3 bench presses, but no squat racks. They have a crappy Smith machine and the manager seems to think that is better than a free weight squat rack. When asked if they would put in a squat rack, they said "sorry, we're out of space". Maybe you should look at how your equipment is actually used? The weight area is packed, but of course nobody is using the Smith machine... read more

For gyms in Ann Arbor, this place is pretty awesome. It's cheap compared to a lot of places at $30/mo for a young adult individual and a modest start-up fee ($35). There are tons of amenities and things to do, from lots of cardio machines (elliptical, treadmills, AMT, stair stepper, ArcTrainer, stationary bikes, etc), free weights, and weight machines. There are also numerous studios which provide a variety of classes (some free for members, some at reduced-cost for members) including common classes such as yoga (both Iyengar and Vinyasa), pilates, and spinning, but also fun classes such as cardio karate, adult dance classes, and boot camp. They have multiple courts for basketball, soccer, or gymnastics and an indoor track that's wonderful in the wintertime. The atmosphere is great for people, like me, who are just aiming to be fit and healthy; I've never felt judged, uncomfortable, or "out-of-place" in any part. There are a few drawbacks, though. Since it is a "family-based" gym, the two pools are a lap pool (5-6 lanes, usually full and rotating swimmers) or a smaller pool which is usually full of families and children. There really isn't a pool for those who want to do slow laps or other water exercises. In relation to kids and families, though, they do have separate locker rooms for women with children and a women's only locker room (and similar for men). When it comes down to it: PROS: Awesome/helpful staff, always clean, reservation system for cardio machines during busy times, ample magazines/TVs, new equipment and facilities, clean/stocked locker rooms with a sauna, class offerings, parking CONS: Small pool, weekend hours (7a-7p), can be busy at times read more

It is really crowded and the way the exercise area is set up is really complicated. Also they only have a family pool and a lap pool and the family pool is tiny and shallow and it is filled with little kids. So if you want spend time in the water for something other than laps then you are out of luck. read more

Such a turn off the moment you walk in, very unfriendly staff which makes them unprofessional. most gyms someone will show you around, here you are not greeted with a welcome or anything except to sign something before you can have a look around. Due to the unfriendliness here, we will not be joining. I would not want to use the child care facilities here for our little one with the displeasing attitude they have. They need to replace all if not most of the employees and put in those who care about their jobs and the people coming in. This truly is NOT a family friendly place as it is meant to be! read more

I have been going to the Y for about a year now, maybe a little longer. While it's the first gym I have spent a lot of time at, and I have learned a lot in my fitness journey here, I am at the point of looking to join another gym. To get the good things out there, because there are some good things: The gym is very clean, the staff is friendly and helpful, and I'm sure this gym is great for those that have families and take classes. That being said, I have gotten into powerlifting and wanting to use weights 5x a week. This is where the Y falls short. While I know the cardio section is also a problem for people because they have to sign up for time slots and the machines are always taken, the weight section is basically a joke. This is probably the busiest gym in Ann Arbor, with hundreds, if not thousands of large, male athletes coming in and out on a daily basis. There is one squat rack, one smith machine, one cable machine (with an important component broken and has not been fixed for weeks), and very limited free weight space. More than ten people in the weight section and you are waiting for machines. There is no chance of doing sets because you'll never be able to get the machine back. I tend to go when it isn't peak time, 10am-4pm, and it's hard for me to use the machines I want. I can't imagine what it's like before work and after 5pm. I'm sure this gym serves the purpose of many. It has a pool, classes, lots of activities for kids, a basketball court and track, etc. But for someone just looking to work out hard with weights, dead lift, squat, and not have to be there for 2 hours, the Y is not ideal. This is unfortunate because most gyms that are focused on lifting and have more equipment range $100-150/month. Oh well. read more

The dirtiest lap pool I've ever swum in. There were swirling dust devils of dark crap at the bottom of the pool. Those are skin cells and oil. They do give you towels which is great but the lap pool is too warm, too chlorinated, and strangely filthy. I came as a guest from champaign y and since I use the gym for swimming I will never become a member here read more

They don't offer a one day option for visitors. First YMCA I've encountered while traveling which doesn't