I've been to other branches of YMCA and so far every branch has a different swimming pool. All the pools are different in deepness and sizes. The swimming pool in Greenpoint has some strict staff that opens their doors at the time of the class otherwise the door is locked to the pool. The pool is very clean but very small. I did not expect the pool to be really deep when I got in. It seemed like it was 5 feet deep when the sign on the wall said 4 feet. Lockers are very clean. The only con I have is the entrance to this branch is it is not stroller and wheelchair accessible. Wish there was a ramp going up and down. read more

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I'm working on my review about this place, still. Check out my pictures in meantime. They're 100% LEGIT!!!! I saw/killed TWO ROACHES IN THE ROOM within first HOUR OF MY ARRIVAL!!!! (The roach in the door frame, I managed to photograph, I saw, LITERALLY, upon entering my room, initially.) This sort of thing has NEVER HAPPENED TO ME BEFORE - and I'm in my late fifties!!!! Due to above & the dirty bathroom, I definitely don't recommend this joint. Find something better! read more

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Not clean, old facilities, the hrs used to be great pre-Covid now they close toooo early. Other gyms in area stay open later, have better equipment and cost significantly less. My biggest complaint is the management and some of the staff. They are extremely rude and overall interacting with them is miserable. This place is antiquated and needs an over-hall. read more

Move aside, Equinox. The YMCA Greenpoint is truly a godsend for fitness. SAM at the front desk is an absolute rockstar and made it a perfect short-term gym for my vacation in BK. Can't speak more highly of her help and professionalism! read more

My child just completed the 2-3 year old separation enrichment camp and had an excellent experience. The teachers Ms. Sandra & Ms. Jessica came up with all kinds of activities for the kids. Highly Reccomended. read more

My guest room was infested with cockroaches and several other species of insects. They nested in my luggage and I have been unable to exterminate them. There were at least 25 cockroaches in my luggage that migrated from the walls and floor of my room (#309) into my belongings. It ruined my trip and caused me intense anxiety akin to living out a horror movie. I stayed at the YMCA once before and did not experienced anything like this. I spoke to Emma Isles, Membership and Guest Rooms Director, to request a refund but she accused me of making up this disgusting experience and denied a refund. Apparently it was recently renovated, good grief. Room Tip: Do not stay here read more

The YMCA Greenpoint Branch doesn't treat their employees equally, nor fairly. The head of the after school program passes the baton, as opposed to dealing with employee concerns. "Please talk to your supervisor; you do not have to email me (BCC)." ~ stated by the head, after a concerning email correspondence. They also don't follow through when important meetings are scheduled. What's needed for a successful After School program is not prioritized well. There are a lot of missing parts, as far as organization. We had to BEG for supplies off-site bc they didn't understand that the schedule asked for us to do Art Daily! Most of the counselors hired for the after program are not skilled enough to handle children, nor adhere to scheduling and project expectations. Ex. On their cell phones, live streaming with kids, inappropriate language used, laziness etc. Supervisors turn a blind eye on serious problems, rather than building this program up to meet the needs of the children and parents. In addition, Counselors are not given the correct title...they are in essence TEACHERS, due to having to provide STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) + daily art projects and exercise (gym or outdoor activities) The YMCA also pushes for all these certifications, in the lengthy hiring process but does not make sure that every "after school counselor" completes each. For example, I worked with kids for over 6 months and was never CPR certified. Every counselor was paid differently, some pulled aside to do outside hours or just hang out in the Y office. Tons of favoritism existed and their was a lack of accountability. I was told that I was over-qualified for this position AFTER I presented all my work with quality and a level of integrity (closing of program). I was super disappointed with the "concluding ceremony," where students weren't able to take home their art projects, the setting provided wasn't conducive (cafeteria), the students involved didn't get a chance to view each other's work nor socialize with one another collectively, waaaaaaaaaayyyyy TOO much food was asked for (from the parents) - the food was taken home by staff or completely wasted! I do NOT recommend this program to any parent, who wants QUALITY and ACCOUNTABILITY. This program is too relaxed and unaware. They hire KIDS to cater to the needs of kids and the "hierarchy" doesn't give a s*** about what's wrong with the program. They're literally on autopilot, from one program to the next: holiday camp (a joke/not equipped) to after school to summer. "We are in the midst of summer programming, we can set up a meeting, in order to finish talking about concerns." (our supervisor) - I replied to this email and there has been NO follow up. I wonder how the summer programs will be??? And on another note, the employees at the front desk are also unaware, most un-welcoming, and some don't know how to handle uncomfortable situations...they will legit ignore patrons. As an employee, I was ignored on many occasions and NEVER given the correct information that I needed. Failed promises and Blatant complacency. read more

I came on a day pass because I was considering joining, but after my experience that's not happening. First, the pool. The temperature is unbearably hot!! It was impossible to swim at a pace more than easy. Each time I tried to sprint I felt like I was going to overheat. Also the pool is so small. You barely get any strokes in before you have to turn around. Also the lifeguard was on his phone the entire time. If anything had happened I doubt he would have noticed. Second, after I got out of the pool and went to the locker room THERE WAS A GIRL VIDEO CHATTING ON HER PHONE WITH A MAN. I saw a couple employees come in and out of the locker room, they walked by the girl and said NOTHING. I waited to change before she left, but I had to wait for a while until that happened. It was unbelievable. Don't join here. read more

It's happened. I have bit the bullet and decided to take action. After a month of procrastinating and rubbing our potbellies with regret, the man and I strolled over to our local Y to see what was up. You can't really argue with no joining fee (the offer is now over), and when we signed up for the "Family Plan", we had even less to mull over. $79.50 for two people each month? Yes, please. We then learned that with my Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance, we'd get 20% off. It's nice to know that I'm paying the insurance company for something! I will admit, it took me a good week to put my id card into use, but once I did I asked myself why I had made such a big deal about working out. They've got a good number of machines, and I've never had to wait very long for a cross trainer. If there's a wait I'll start out on a bike and then hop on my desired machine when a spot frees up. There's a half hour limit for everything, and it works pretty well. I haven't checked out the weight rooms yet, because it's been a good or 6 years since I've utilized such machines. I'm waiting for my FREE PERSONAL TRAINER to give me some pointers. That's right. Free. Through the Y's 12 week fitness program, you get a free personal trainer to help you create a fitness plan and show you the ropes. Amazing. I'm so excited to get the most out of this gym! Things I have yet to try: - the sauna - the pool (it's pretty small, but I am probably never going to swim in it) - one of the many classes they offer: yoga, pilates, punk rope, bellydancing, tai chi, kickboxing....you get the picture. read more

It seems to me that the Greenpoint YCMA has quite an uphill battle on its hands. For one thing, it's housed in a very old building which is clearly showing its age. Second, there are more people using the facility than ever and congestion can really ruin a gym. Having frequented this gym off and on for a couple years, I can confidently say that they have done an excellent job keeping this facility in top shape despite all the changes. They frequently replace the hardware, making the somewhat dingy workout rooms seem fresh and modern. They even installed central air in the cardio room recently - a rather serious and important undertaking. The people who frequent this gym could not be more diverse and are quite friendly on the whole. Absent are the steroid filled muscle-men frowning at the skinny newcomers. The only group to watch out for is the Polish teenagers, who aren't malicious by any means, but will often waste time sitting around on the machines talking to one another. This can get frustrating, but as one employee once told me, there's not much they can do about it. Another potential drawback is that during certain hours (5pm-7pm on weekdays) the gym can become very, very crowded. I'm sure this is the case with many gyms, but at the Greenpoint Y it's become such a problem that I simply won't go during this time. I understand that they've made serious improvements to the layout of their facilities to accommodate the volume of traffic here, and it does make for a peaceful atmosphere most of the time. Again, what can they really do about this? The building isn't getting any bigger. When considering the drawbacks of the Greenpoint YCMA, it's useful to consider the alternatives. Let's face it: gyms usually suck. A lot. That being said, the Greenpoint YMCA really goes above and beyond in servicing a large and diverse community and I always look forward to working out there. read more

It pains me to write this as I have been an active member of the Greenpoint YMCA for close to 3 years. But sadly, I felt compelled to write this as there has been a steady and very noticeable deterioration in the quality of the gym over the past two years, particularly aspects which seem to be at an organizational and management level. I have always admired the YMCA's ethos and mission but sadly this YMCA does not live up to that standard whatsoever. There is a myriad of problems - classes are constantly cancelled at the last minute with no prior warning, classes are often shifted to the smaller SACC room with no notice, locker rooms seem to be a constant state of repair or disrepair, staff (particularly the more senior staff) are often rude, apathetic and unhelpful. For the third time in less than two months the Wednesday Zumba class has been disrupted. Today, there was no teacher organized to replace the lovely instructor Alissa (who had given us all prior notice of her holiday and assured us there would be a replacement organized by management). The staff simply shrugged when I inquired as to why there wasn't even a sign on the door 5 minutes before the class was due to start. The only positive aspect left at the Greenpoint YMCA is many of the teachers. Tim and Shana from Punk Rope have been an inspiration to so many people with their high-energy and fun Punk Rope class, Alli is a kick-ass instructor (and super supportive!) and Danielle's Total Body class is excellent (hence why it's always packed) These teachers are the only reason why I've stayed on this long. I joined the Greenpoint because at the time many of my friends in the area joined but in the past year all five of my original friends have left the YMCA due to the myriad of problems - and joined the many alternatives in the area, including the McCarren Rec Centre (which also offers classes), the RetroGym, Chalk, Crunch, HumanEase... Sadly, I shall be doing the same. I have made verbal complaints in the past, and they seemed to do nothing... so I had to put this is writing. read more

I would rather pay $80 a month for a decent gym in greenpoint with a pool. The options are slim here: polish bodybuilding, the Y, Maxim, the Metropolitan Pool down on Metropolitan, or boutique classes. I go to gyms for the great classes and for the pool/sauna/hot tubs. I was a member at the Berkeley YMCA, the Seattle YMCA, and the Upper West Side YMCA, all of which put this little hole-in-the-wall to shame. Why is it so hard to get right? The interval training is way too hard-core for someone with injuries. The pilates is boring. Overall the classes are few and not exciting. The weight room is still just for beefheads. The pool is open for something like 2 hours a day, and it's maybe 20 meters long. But the worst is this: I have had a worker chew me out for getting naked in the locker room, she said there were children around, and I should go behind the curtain. Also, she said the sauna is gross and she would never use it herself. When I go to exercise, I want to feel like I have choices. Here there is one choice, eliptical, or crap class. The workers aren't polite, the gym isn't clean, the pool is only open 1 out of 4 times I try to go. Take your money elsewhere folks. read more

Couldn't have been more disgusting. I'm not snobby when it comes to hostels. In fact, I have stayed in many of them, both good and bad, all over the world. The Greenpoint has the honor of being - by far- the worst ever. It was filthy, outdated, located in the only boring section of Brooklyn, and did I mention filthy? The kicker - I left with a 2 inch goiter on my face. No joke. This place must've had bugs in the bed, because I've never had such an enormous itchy bite on my face. I can't imagine what would've happened if we didn't come with our own sheets and pillowcases. The front desk attendant was also thoughtful enough to switch our one bed reservation to a room with two beds, when he saw that we were a gay couple. read more

I am the biggest fan of the Greenpoint Y. C. and I signed up for a family membership during their no-signup fee special that just ended this month, and we've been going about twice a week. We've already fallen into a routine. 20-30 minutes on the treadmills. 15 minutes on the bikes to cool down. Then the weight room -- not the free weights quite yet -- to go through as many of the machines as we feel like, three sets of 8-12 reps. They have a pool, a sauna, and you can join classes for free. We checked out a Tai Chi class last week, and while I might go again, right now it's not my thing. But the Y is my thing. I don't know why I've never joined a gym before. Oh yeah, because the gym scene sucks and they're hella expensive. The Greenpoint is neither. read more

This gym gets the job done. At $50-something a month and with the best hours in the neighborhood (not like you have a lot of gym choices anyway), it is a pretty good option. Everything is relatively modern (aside from the restrooms). Here's the rundown of the facilities: Cardio room - tons of machines, open 5am - midnight Strength training room - circuit training machines, but sadly only one per muscle (except legs, which have three for some reason) Free weight room - decent size, but very popular - new modern dumbbells as of recently. Closes earlier on the weekends. Locker rooms - decent, includes sauna - restrooms are not a fun experience, however (I can only speak for the men's of course) Pool - I have not gotten to use it as it has a bathing cap requirement and I can't find one that fits my head If you're looking to do cardio only, there's no reason to pay more for another gym. If you're into free weights, you'll probably be satisfied with this gym. If you're into weight machines you'll be a little disappointed. But at the end of the day, it's the hours and the price that give this gym a four-star rating. read more

Ever go to school with one of those kids who was the youngest of many children and his parents just couldn't be bothered with him and so he always looked like he needed a haircut and he wore short sleeve shirts in winter and down jackets in summer? Ever been in an abandoned, haunted building that was so dingy and neglected that every day felt like Halloween? Merge the two together and you have the Greenpoint YMCA. YES, it's cheap. And YES, it serves the purpose if you just want a weight room or some cardio equipment. And YES, it's open 24 hours and provides an alternative to the numerous meathead weightlifter gyms in the area. But this place seems like the seriously neglected, forgotten branch of the YMCA. The pool is really tiny. So small that even my cat probably wouldn't get much exercise doing laps in it. The machines will only let you set the timer for a half-an-hour, probably to combat the severe overcrowding that takes place during weekday evenings. Grime rules in the men's bathroom/locker room. Yes, they redid the bathrooms. But they apparently don't put soap in them anymore. And the shower room seems to be home to some weird species of small white fly. The other day, the showers had no hot water. I had to put my sweaty workout clothes back on, go to the reception desk and tell the two people working there about the situation. They radioed the maintenance man. I heard his response. An unenthusiastic grunt affirming that he'd take care of the problem whenever he had time. One of the desk workers helpfully suggested that I just let the water run for 15 minutes to see if it eventually got hot (brilliant). The maintenance man eventually showed up and tested the water temperature under every single shower. Never mind that they all feed from the same two pipes. I eventually settled for a lukewarm shower. Not the end of the world, but not particularly enjoyable, either. I'm a member of the McBurney YMCA and I pay the extra $2 per month so I can use any branch citywide. The Greenpoint YMCA is fine for when I don't feel like trekking into Manhattan during the weekends, but you'll never see Roger Moore working out there during a segment of "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous." read more

Its the worst hostel and place to live I ever had. There is nothing positive can be said about the place. Staff is not helpful, rooms are dirty, blanket are as thin as sheets. TV 15" size. No refrigerator in the room, no glasses, no water, no table, no chair, no phone, no dryer. Beds has bad mattresses, with hills and valleys. There was a thick plastic cover under thin sheet. Shared bathroom - there were two toilet cabins, one basket was broken with poops floating in the water, another had no paper. Bathroom checked and "cleaned" once day, on work day only. Shower has no hooks to hang your clothes. Very noisy street, we heard screams during all night. There is no breakfast in the hostel, you get $3 vouchers to eat outside in 1 block away cafeteria, so you have to pay adds for breakfast. I can't imagine someone who would like it. It i suitable for homeless people only yet it cost more than $100 a night. Its really 3 times more than it should. You have to pay $5 extra fee per day. Facility makes you to sign to acknowledge that they have no responsibility whatsoever, no for thieves And they don't have safe. Keep away as far as you could! read more

Towels? You wish! Gotta bring your own. I have a love/hate relationship with the Greenpoint YMCA. If you want a luxurious gym experience, this is not your place. Everything is a little worn down, the workout and locker rooms smell like feet, you have to sign up to use cardio machines (30 minute limit). A lot of people use this gym, and there are not always enough lockers to stash your stuff. In addition, there isn't much space to stretch, so occasionally there will be someone like the guy who splays himself out on the Swiss ball and plays air guitar and takes up the entire space, oblivious to the fact that others might also need to use that area. The Y is geared toward families, so keep in mind that sometimes the limited spaces are full of kids or groups of teenagers who are way more interested in hanging out than exercising. That said, the Greenpoint Y is a good gym for the price. The fitness classes are outstanding. The instructors and staff are friendly and approachable. The equipment is replaced regularly and kept in good working order. And the atmosphere is very, very casual - I like that I can wear old, crappy t-shirts and sweats and no one gives me snooty looks because it isn't Lululemon (like people tend to do in the Upper East Side, my former neighborhood). While I did previously mention that the rooms are smelly, I know that the staff keeps the facility as clean as possible; people have been sweating there for only about a century, go figure. read more

After being a member of the YMCA in Greenpoint for 6 months I have to quit. The frustrations it gives me are not worth it everytime I work out. YMCA is meant to be about community, one area of the community they are not considering or supporting is women. There is no cool down area, or space to do free standing exercises like squats, press ups etc. The cardio room is cramped with EQ and when it is busy in there, there is NO space to do any kind of stretch out. There is 1 small area for this that would fit 2 mats at awkward positions. There is 1 other smaller room upstairs again cramped with EQ and I only ever see 2 MAX people in there. I asked management so many times as to why some EQ from the smaller room couldn't be placed downstairs and they wouldn't move on it. Downstairs there is 1 large room weights room which seems to have a 'men only' vibe, (or more likely guys taking selfies of themselves in the mirrors with pumped arms and lifting weights which are too heavy for them so they drop them down on the ground that shakes the floor). The wifi does not work in that downstairs room either so you can't stream music. The Gym has no mirror in it and is more for kids activities/group games like basketball, so it's not worth going to a lot of the classes where you need to see your alinement in a mirror. I did a great kettle bells class which I will really miss but it's not worth being a member to go. They also constantly cancel classes, which I find very frustrating, especially for kids days. They also cancel with little/no notice for other reasons. I raised all these issues to several members of staff and ALL of them agreed with me, and said they understood my frustrations. When I spoke to management they didn't really know what to say as they know it's an issue and ultimately Emma ended up telling me they are the next YMCA in line to be moved to a new location in Greenpoint with better facilities. She said this would happen next year..... we will see, seems like a bit of a fob off. What happened to empowering women and giving them support!!! Rebecca read more

I'm a big fan of the Greenpoint Y, always trying to get friends to join. Several of my friends and I all go regularly. It's such a luxury to have a 24 hour gym so close to your apartment. I'm sure some gyms in Manhattan are nicer but the Y is friendly, convenient and affordable. The classes I've attended were well run. I even lived here for a month in 2000 when I first got to NYC, and it was a large part of why I moved to Greenpoint. It can get crowded after work and in the mornings but if you're smart about when you come you can always find a time to use whichever machines or weights you like. read more

Infused with the ghosts of Norman Mailer, Hunter S. Thompson and Jack Kerouac- The Greenpoint YMCA Basketball court is a place when poles and hipsters alike can fly through the air with Clyde Drexler like ease. This is where Raoul Duke trained for his famous 1 on 1 basketball scene, (it was later dropped in post production). LIke I said, the PH ratio here is supprisingly 1:1 - It made me proud to see the two groups intermingling- perhaps the only place in northern Brooklyn where the PBRZ phenomenon can occur. hint: The PBRZ (Pabst Blue Ribbon-Zywiec) phenomenon occurs in places where Poles and Hipster not only take up the same space, but actually acknowledge eachother, communicate and even though it may seem strange- perhaps even make slight physical contact, however so slight. The pick up games are 2's or 3's and are sporadic at best and usually consist of a very varied crowed- racially, skill and age wise. I once played with a 50 year old jewish man and a 12 year old kid.... we lost (insert emoticon here) Three point line is not a complete semi-circle and there are various obstacles to run into- ie, walls, a big fan, loose clothing, an electrical box with exposed wires.... read more

I was kind of scared off by all the opinions I'd heard from locals about how crowded this place gets, and while they're right to a certain extent, I'm glad I checked it out for myself and decided to join. I've been a member for about 4 months now, and while I can say that it is annoying having to sign up for equipment and wait at times, I've found that if you're not picky about which machine you use, you usually never have to wait more than 10 minutes, and once you're on, there's a 30 minute time limit. I tend to go and sign up for a treadmill or elliptical, and if there's a wait, I do some free weights or hop on one of the bikes that are almost always available to burn some more calories while I wait. Weekends are significantly less crowded; almost empty at times, in fact. Another option during busy week nights are their classes. I've been to a variety, and most are really awesome. The schedule changes every few months, but I've found that any classes taught by Aynsley or Amanda are sure to offer an ass-kicking workout and are a lot of fun. Personally, I don't think that the locker room's too nasty, but I also wouldn't go in there barefoot, which I see a lot of people do, and that's just wrong! Never tried the pool, but I'm sure I'll wade into those waters someday. For now, I'm pleased with what the Greenpoint Y has to offer. It's about a 1/3 of the cost of most gyms in the city, and definitely worth checking out. read more

I'm mostly a fan because this YMCA is a block away and its the cheapest place around for a student ($41 a month). I'm also a fan because it has great hours and has most everything you would need. I'm not a fan of the layout -- this place is a dungeon. I'm also not a fan of the ventilation system. I'm not a fan of the 3 lane pool (although its great they even have a pool). This place is bare bones, but if you want a place to work out for a reasonable price in Greenpoint this is pretty much it. Also, I always feel like I'm doing good for the community when I pay my dues. Not sure if that's really true or not, but I know its better than dumping $150 a month at Equinox. I can wash my own towels. read more

This place offers fantastic value for money, come here for a no-frills gym in a very convenient location for the right price. I will start with a quick disclaimer that I never need to shower or use the restrooms here as I live close by. The classes are always great, I take Cardio Kickboxing, Total Body Conditioning and Kettlebells classes. I think the YMCA's system of filling out regular evaluation reports is effective as the trainers get constant feedback from the class. I have paid much more for gyms with trainers that don't give a shit! Yes, sometimes I long for eucalyptus scented chilled towels and top of the range equipment but am I willing to travel/pay for it? Nope! read more

I rather have my money go to a worthy organization, such as Y, where it uses the money to create after school programs for children, as opposed to NYSC, Equinox, Bally Fitness, where it uses the money to enrich top executives, leaving their employees scraps. Other factors why I like Y: Reasonable price, not crowded if you go at a certain time, good and clean equipments, diverse groups of people, considerate people, nice staff. It must be annoying to be around negative Yelp writers because I could imagine that these people complain and whine often. read more

The Cheapest Gym except The public one On Metropolitan and Bedford ave. read more

Likely the most affordable accommodations in New York City! You get your own room in a quiet Brooklyn neighborhood that's just a short train ride to Manhattan. The rooms are clean and comfortable, if plain, with outdated decor. But really, you're in one of the best cities in the world, like you're going to be spending much time in the hotel? The bathrooms are clean and down the hall. The staff is friendly and helpful. They seems to have quite a few people living there, which is a neither terrible, nor good, but good to know. They should work on getting free wi-fi for their guests though as this has become standard in most hotels/ hostels. read more

Yes,I am the fan of the Y. First,if you want to be member without pay a tons of mulaar,your pocket would be glad! Second,it's convenient ,if you like to swim all year round,you in the right spot. Third,if you are all way complain,view the world with negative though,just pass it. Over all,I like this Y. read more

It works for what it is. What it is is a reasonably priced (esp if you have a company or insurance discount) not too many frills gym that caters to the entire middle section of the human race. You will occasionally see a bearded hipster doing shoulder presses next to you under instruction from an employee. You will probably never see that guy again. You may also see the occasional person who looks as though bench pressing cars is part of their morning routine. Again, don't expect to see this particular species of Homo Liftalotalus around too often. What you will see are a curiously large number of children who seem to always be going up or down the stairs, people who are just like you and I(meaning probably out of shape) , and a freeweight room that sometimes smells like an old cabbage that was found underneath a jockstrap. It's 24 hours though, so there is that. read more

Clean. Friendly staff. Not a ton of machines, but there's always something to do. I like it a lot. read more

Dirty pool! Very dirty!! I have been a member of the Y for a year and only use the pool facility. But it was the first time I visited this specific pool and will never go there again! It is tiny and can offer 3 lanes. And what put me off is it is the dirtiest pool- with hair floating, algae stuck to the walls and greenish water. Really dirty!! I feared stepping out with some infection. The showers are dirty and a broken sauna settings panel. One needs to carry their own towel which was also surprising compared to other Y. The pool timings are not adhered to. Very disappointed as was expecting the same level of cleanliness as the pool at Vanderbilt. Truly hope the management takes action to get the pool fixed and cleaned on priority. read more

My #1 criteria for a gym is convenience, which is why I joined the Greenpoint Y - I can see it from my apartment. I think the building is an elementary school, which is how I rationalize the narrow hallways. Anyway, it's a zero-frills gym but the machines always work and it's almost empty in the mornings, when I prefer to work out. The classes are really good: total body conditioning with Danielle is effective and ass-kicking, and the Punk Rope class is crowded but a lot of fun. If you're an after-work gym-goer, I would definitely recommend going to a class and staying away from the cardio room, unless you like to work out in a room as crowded as the L train you came home on. Also, it's CHEAP! Yeah, the Equinox near my office is nicer, but is it an extra hundred dollars a month nicer? It is not. read more

Wish I didn't have to do this, but this place has really gone down hill over the course of two years. Between the filthy men's locker room, the endless "renovation" projects that go on forever (can we have our showers back, please?) and the total lack of staff accountability for theft and damage to personal property, I am one more bad incident away from canceling my membership here (And I've already been robbed once in this place). I only stay for the Punk Rope -- Wednesday nights at 7:30 p.m. ET. read more

Where I learned to swim, five stars for that underpaid instructor whose hair I used to pull when she tried to let me go. They also had a phat kids zone with a net wall for climbing and a huge slide. It was the perfect place for a single mom to drop off her young charge for a few hours at a very low cost. This began my love affair with the YMCA that continued til I worked for one for 14 months. read more

I went to Maxim for 6 months, which was a great gym, but now on this time in New York I thought I'd try out a place in the neighborhood and my friend raves about the Y. OMFG, he was right. Sure, its not as swanky as Maxim.. you can't rent towels there (I think), but its like you got the big door prize of gyms when you sign up with them. For example, they have: A Pool! A Weight Room! A Pool! Classes galore! A Pool! Treadmills that are always full, even in the afternoon! A Pool! 24 hour access! Oh, and a pool! Plus, I like the OG (Original Greenpoint) neighborhood scene. Its like people have known each other for longer than 5 days here. read more

If you are on a budget, don't need the frills of posh, upscale gyms, like a strange mix of polish dudes and goofy hipsters to keep you entertained as you work off that chocolate bar you bought for the train ride home from Trader Joes, THIS IS YOUR PLACE! Decently clean, nice equipment, helpful staff, great rates (especially for families or city workers- I get a teacher discount!), and flexible with loyal customers. It isn't the fanciest gym in the world, but it does the job and is a great neighborhood resource! read more

I like it here. I like pain. I can play ball with the brothas or not swim with old people. I have made many friends here, at least two. Some guys look like they work out before they get here. I wonder what their problem is. But they're cool they say things like you need a spot bro And I'm like, nah I'm good I want to rest the bar on my neck. The staff are genuinely nice and helpful, but sometimes when I leave an hour after closing the guy at the front looks at me like what are you still doing here I want to go home and I'm like dude I had to take a shower after everybody left because I like taking showers alone and he's like k. then I realize we both had this conversation with just our eyes read more

Unless you are a male Polish body-builder, you'll want to steer clear of OTOM PHYSICAL CULTURE and head one block south to the YMCA, where there are plenty of normal women working out (and mostly normal dudes). I've been going here for years and they do a really great job with the resources at hand. That said, if you go at the wrong times, you'll be frustrated by any number of issues that come with a tiny and poorly ventilated community space: hoards of children being steered through narrow halls and stairways, a packed and musty locker room, a 20 minute wait for equipment. During non-peak hours, this gym is totally satisfactory and worth the savings when compared to the big chains you'd have to travel to and pay more for. Don't forget to look for the CODE OF CONDUCT signs posted around, they have important reminders such as don't bring WEAPONS to the gym.. read more

Great neighborhood gym. Cardio room is clean and the equipment is relatively new and in good shape. Lots of families and normal folks, not a gym rat type of gym. Love that they provide classes for people of all ages. Not especially cheap, but I feel like I'm supporting a good organization, and I've never felt like I was getting ripped off or locked in like at some other corporate gyms. read more

last time I stayed there was years ago and I had like a pack of roomates with legs and antenas. like that and it was insane. I filmed it.i think they renovated it. read more