Limited parking. I go every day after work and I can say that if you plan to workout between 4:30 and 6:30pm, you will very likely have to wait in a line of cars all waiting for a spot to open up. If the parking lot was bigger, this would be a 5/5 review. It's a great facility, I just wish I was able to actually use it. I can't count the number of times I've shown up and waited in a line of cars for a very long time just to give up and go home. read more

We left an item at the Y in the locker room. When we came back the next morning to retrieve the item the receptionist was not very helpful and told us it was probably thrown out. I reached out to the Directors via email and received no response. Terrible customer service. read more

Guys do great work. The girls up front n dudes in the back, maintenance All you guys are great! Yo what up Justin. Blond girl on front desk so cute, new tall dude is good addition,he say hi to everybody. read more

So I have been a member for 5 months. Initially got this gym for two reasons, one basketball court which is fine and well maintained and second reason was a steam room. I use the steam room 3 times a week but the steam room has been broken for the last 5 weeks and have been getting the same excuse tht it will be fixed soon. I just have stopped going and ended the membership. read more

Going downhill. Used to love the place and the swim lessons for our kids. We now have sent literally ten messages and voicemails about swimming lessons for our kids none are returned. The last lesson we did get the instructor literally did nothing but watch the kids swim, no actual teaching. Beyond that the staff is great other than letting some kids and teens sneak in without ID and facilities are clean. read more

super over crowded. All the equipment is old and very poorly maintained . The pool is always closed for maintenance. The looker room is tiny and the floor is always wet. I am pretty sure i saw a few bed bugs in the locker room. If you go in the morning just before lunch there is nowhere to park. worst gym i have seen in 10 years. read more

I loooovvveeee this place!!! I could spend all day here if my schedule allowed. I do wish the childcare time allowance was 2-3 hours. I'd love to take 2 classes and lift for a few. Either way, this place is perfect for my family. I've been coming 3-4x a week. I'm hoping to try a water exercise or family swim soon!! The staff in the childcare are incredible!!!! My 2 year old son loves it there! I'm a very happy Member of the Oak Square YMCA!!! Update: 11/15/17 Unfortunately, my views on this location has changed quite a bit since last review. Don't get me wrong, I do love the Y but not this location anymore. The ONLY reason I continued here was because the Childcare is awesome!!! I love the staff in the children's room. However, the upstairs machine area has really gone downhill. 1. There are about 20 treadmills, 7 were NOT working. 2. The machines are disgustingly dirty with anything you can imagine. 3. No signs telling members to wipe down machine after use (I do it anyway). 4. The temperature is always so dang hot!!! We are working out, let's turn the temp down a bit. Just seems like there's no air circulation. 5. The fans barely work, same as the 12" TVs. In my opinion, workout facilities are a dime a dozen these days. I really don't want to see dirt and hair on machines and all over floor near stretching area. I want to love this place again but I refuse to touch machines that are loaded with nastiness. On a positive note, the staff here is fantastic, friendly and seem to like their job. Let's start with signs to wipe down machines!!! Please read more

Oak Square Family Branch YMCA - Gyms Near Me - Brighton, Massachusetts

I like the YMCA in Oak Square. It has a lot of parking. They do a good job plowing the parking lot out too. They plow it right down to the asphalt so you can see the black of the pavement and the paint of the pavement markings. There is also plenty of street parking as well. I haven't ever had to resort to street parking, but it's nice to know that the option is available. Most of the time, I'll just walk to the location, as I live only but a block away, but it's good to know that the parking lot is sufficient if I needed it. The basketball courts are nice. My wife likes the pool. I wish it opened earlier. Sometimes I have to leave earlier than I want to in order to make it to practice in time... - Scarnecchia read more

Pro: *its a gym *just got new cardio equipment upstairs *seems like a good place if you have kids/ use the daycare facility Con: * unusable free weight section( overcrowded) * rude staff (not all, but enough to notice) * dirty/ old locker room. (Rusted, dented and hard to open) If you live in Brighton this is sadly your only option. Gym overall isn't bad if you do cardio and don't talk to the staff. Please do not inconvenience some of the staff by asking them to do any type of work. The staff treats paying adult members as if they are high school kids and have no respect(not that they should be rude to them either). I'm sorry if you have to deal with unruly kids/ members but please have respect for members and treat them more as a paying customer and less of an inconvenient aspect of your job. read more

Perfect location, specially since I'm in the neighborhood right next to it. Has a great gym to play basketball, a nice pool, (kinda small) weight room, (again, kinda small) room with the machines, and a great room for stretching/yoga. I seen they have a ton of programs for kids. It's a good deal for the memberships, hard to beat the entire package! read more

Great location. Friendly staff. Attentive pool staff. I like checkin process on app and availability and COVID protocols. This location is in a great area of Brighton. read more

I recently joined this gym and I absolutely love it! There is a huge parking lot so I've never struggled to find a spot. Inside there are plenty of machines so I never feel cramped or that I'm taking too long at a certain spot in the gym. Everyone is very friendly and I don't feel pressured or watched like I have felt at other gyms. Everyone is very respectful of each other as well as the equipment. I have tried the aquatic aspect of this gym yet but that'll be my next adventure to "dive into" (trying to make a pun in my gym review has really been weighing on me) read more

I've been a member of the Oak Square YMCA for a number of years, and I love it! I learned how to swim at YMCA in Connecticut, and as young teenager, went to another YMCA in Connecticut as a teenager, so I have always had the warm and fuzzies for the Y. When I moved back to Boston after college, and heard stories about the great new YMCA down the street from me in Brighton, signing up was a no brainer. I pay $50.00 a month in membership fees, which normally would be pretty competitive for an urban fitness facility, but considering that you get a pool with it, the price is a good deal. Being a community organization with Christian beginnings, they offer lower rates for those of more modest means. Pros: -The facility is new and clean -Great pool, that has enough chlorine in it to reassure anyone that you are not going to get anything from the water -Separate locker rooms for children/families and adults...spared the very uncomfortable experience of being naked in the locker room and realizing that the person next to you is 12 -well equipped cardio room with new (or newish) equipment that overlooks ball fields or the pool -machines are located in the cardio room, free weights are in a sperate room in the basement...this means the casual member and the muscle bros generally don't have to cross paths if they don't want to -clean locker room with a bathing suit spinner (who ever invented that should have won the Noble Prize) -ample parking (for urban standards) -friendly and helpful staff -low key, respectful, and friendly fellow members Cons: -I love the Oak Square Y, a LOT of other people seem to share my feelings, and the place gets packed (a lot of other reviewers have commented on this) -they close on Saturdays and Sundays at 7pm -a lot of their classes are only offered at times which are not convenient to people who a traditional 9-5 shift Bonus: -not only do you have home access to every gym in the YMCA of Greater Boston, but all of the New England YMCA's offer reciprocal privileges, so there is an unbeatable network of locations almost anywhere you travel in New England. The YMCA is a community organization, so not everything is sparkling and new, but the Oak Square YMCA is anything but cut rate. And yes, there are a lot of children about, it's a Y after all. But the clientele is a microcosm of Brighton itself: meatheads, preppy bros, foreign students, young professionals, families, and seniors; black, white, Hispanic, Asian; old timey Brighton born and bred, new immigrants and newcomers. It's a gym for real people, and it is what it is. If you want beautiful people and beautiful new machines, go to BSC and spend a lot more. If you want a clean, well run, pool and athletic facility; and to get to know your neighbors, come join me at the Oak Square YMCA. read more

Until I joined the Boston YMCA in 2012, I hadn't been a member of a YMCA since I was 4 years old and took swimming lessons at one. I'd always thought them to be dirty, disorganized, and just a generally cheap-o gym. How wrong I was! The Oak Square YMCA is a full-fledged gym with the bells and whistles, although the bells and whistles may not be completely shiny. I haven't used the gym equipment, but I peeked into the gym and saw some pretty outdated stuff as compared to the equipment I used to use at my old mega-gym. But, there are so many great features of the Oak Square Y that are just like any other mega-gym: personal training, rock wall, basketball courts, pool, hot tub, sauna in the locker rooms, fitness classes, yoga, a day care, and wellness activities. Like any YMCA there are also CPR and other certification classes for an extra fee. Also, there are bootcamp, kettlebell, adult swim team, triathlon training, and other more intense fitness classes for an extra fee. I primarily go for the pool and the fitness classes. The pool is great -- there are 8 lanes (I think), one is always for open swim, and the others rotate between swim classes, swim team, and lap swimming. Sometimes you really have to pay attention to the calendar so you don't end up going when there are only two lanes open for lap swimming, but if you go on non-peak hours (8pm onward, or before 7am), you will be just fine! The fitness classes are plentiful, and the instructors are very very good. I've had three different spinning instructors and although each have a different style, they are all very skilled in what they do and lead a very good, motivational class! They have great couples and family deals, and if you have kids there are always lots of activities, summer camps, lessons, etc. that you can have them do. Overall, I'm glad to have joined the YMCA! Support your local community! read more

Lots of equipment in good shape, a pool, and the fact that it's clean, and has nice staff is a good thing. However! it is, I agree with Anya F., it is too kid-friendly; kids are running everywhere! Second, it's too crowded. Third, you have to be manually-signed in rather than scanning your ID card, which sometimes can take up to 10-15 minutes, depending on how busy you are, and you can't work out until you do that! The system is archaic. Fourth, you have to sign out on a machine, and if you go over that time, you're often asked to get off the machine you're using by another patron, if it's busy, which it is on weekdays after 4, and weekends. Fifth, it's pricey for what it is, unless you're a student. It was not worth it for me. read more

I'm not a regular, but came to try a workout class (Interval Training). Really unimpressed because: 1. It was so packed, there was hardly any space to move. Other branches have sign-ups to avoid this. 2. The instructor put up a sign with the exercises, but participants were confused by the sign (even after an explanation) so everyone was doing something different. 3. At the end, there were no wipes anywhere, so the mats went back on the wall, sweaty and dirty. Gross and unorganized. Bad day maybe, but not willing to risk it again... read more

Updated review: it's been 18 months here and it's time to leave. The Y is a victim of its own success. It's far too crowded now and parking is nigh impossible at this point. I tried going late at night, but even then the cardio machines are packed. Same goes with the weight room, you are basically bumping into members most hours of the day. In addition, because so many people end up using the gym, some of the equipment is getting worn down earlier than it should. Locker rooms are cramped with too many people and it's sort of gross with dirty hot water everywhere from the high Useage. It's really disheartening when you motivate yourself to go to the gym and you have to turn around and go home because there is no where to park. :( I cancelled this month and joined the New Balance gym for $10 a month more. It is worlds better and has a huge free garage next to it and is immaculate and empty. I couldn't be happier. read more

I would first like to acknowledge I am writing from the perspective of a mid 20s working professional. The family programs, summer camps, and other activities may be great do not use this post to base a decision about joining on those. I would advise any working singles or couples without kids who have transportation to try one of the many gyms in Watertown, or to walk up the street to North Beacon Athletic. My reasons why include: The locker room will remind you of Yoda's home planet. I know there is a pool and a lot of traffice from there but does the entire place have to be drenched? The lockers are old and rusty. Im not trying to bulk up to make a team and I dont need cutting edge equipment but the free weight room would remind you of black and white training footage of 1950s high school athletes. The music provided in this room is usually provided by somebody's ipod plugged into a speaker. One day is classical music the next is death metal followed by top 40 with varying volume levels. The free weight room is tiny and crowded. Which brings me to my next point: Dont dream of going anywhere from 5-8 if you want to get a decent work out, lines for everything from the urinal to the treadmills. That is of course if you can find a parking spot. I play basketball so the court there was a big draw for me. I never joined the leagues so I cant comment on those but unless you enjoy pick up games with a random 60 year old, a few 12-14 year olds, a gang member, and maybe one other person that knows how to play this is not the place for you. On top of that all its not even that cheap. I really wouldnt have felt the urge to be so negative if the few times I had questions for the 14-20 year old staff members I was met with complete indifference if not rudeness. There are kids running around everywhere and to get from the weight room to the treadmills you have to go up a flight of stairs that is not heated so enjoy doing those stairs while catching pneumonia. If you couldnt already tell, my one year was highly unenjoyable. I am really not that hard to please, as hard as that is to believe, but to sum it up, I like to go to the gym to get rid of stress after a hard days work and this place did nothing but add to it. Take a tour and see what you think. If you look out for what I typed above you will notice. read more

Great gym with brand new machines and its very clean as well. I've read a few reviews and they say that the machines are old, but they updated all of them about a year ago. They brought in all new machines, treadmills, elypticals, steppers, etc. the weights are all new downstairs as well. This gym is immaculate as far as cleanliness especially for a gym with as many patrons as this one has. The sauna room is also terrific. This gym has a terrific pool (that I never use since I can't swim), basketball court, and a work out studio. Baby sitting is also available (don't have any babies so I'm not sure about their policies). I usually don't have to wait for a machine but I also go before 6am and after 7pm. The parking seems tough, I live around the corner so I just walk to the gym, but the lot is always full. I still think that this gym is very nice. read more

Oak Square Family Branch YMCA - Oak Square YMCA - Gyms Near Me - Brighton, Massachusetts

See all

This is the YMCA? WHATEVER!! the facility is just as good as a BSC plus it had a decent pool. This facility is new and well maintained with a decent sized free parking lot. It completely changed my stereotyped views on what a YMCA was. I canceled my too expensive Fitness First memberhip and then said Pluh-leeze sign me up! Seriously at Fitness Unlimited in Brookline I paid about $54 for one person. Here the membership is $97 (charged monthly to my cc) for my entire family. So now I can work out with my hubby. But wait it gets better. After checking out Equinox and expecting to pay $9 or $18 per workout for babysitting I nearly fainted when they told me that babysitting at the Y is FREE for members. Come again? For free you say? Woo-hoo!! Insert victory dance here. Each Y has different babysitting hours, so if you need that service just give them a call to confirm hours. Here is the layout. Basement houses the "meat room". This is where the heavy weight equip is. Lots of guys in there with some background music playing. I've never been bothered by anyone there, but it does get a little crowded at times. There is a group exercise room on the Basement floor as well with a posting of all their classess. Kickboxing class was challenging and pretty full. Yoga and pilates classes are fun but not too challenging. Babysitting room is in the basement along with two big bathrooms for women/kids and men/kids. Ok, now the main level: This is where the gymnasium and pool is. The gym has a schedule posted so you know when the kids activities are versus free play. There is a rock climbing wall there. The pool is lovely and has a hot tub. Pool is separated into a lap area and a more shallow free play area. There are certain times when families may use the free play area so expect some kids there during these times. Lifeguards are always around and kids are NOT allowed in the hot tubs. The family changing rooms are on this floor as well as a strictly adults Women and Men locker room. So for those of you that want to avoid the tiny tots, just use these locker rooms instead. Locker rooms are decent sized and relatively clean. Not as luxurious as Equinox, so I don't shower there :P Sorry I am fussy like that. This location charges $1 per towel if you forget one and want to shower/swim. Now up a level to the top floor. This is where the lighter weights and aerobics are. Amazing floor. Some treadmills overlook the pool through glass windows and others overlook the outside. Nicely airconditioned with free papertowels and disinfectant spray all around. Free magazine to borrow too! Not to mention........ many of the aerobic machines have a personal TV on it!!! GET OUT OF TOWN!!! Even Equinox and my old Fitness First didn't have this. Just plug in your headphones and watch TV or listen to the music channel they have. They also have a "circuit" which is a bunch of excersize machines with instructions on which ones to use and in which order to get a quick workout or a longer full body workout. Staff is sweet and the people are decent. I'll see you there after work gets out! ^_^ read more

As a cross-border YMCA aficionado, this one stacks up as the biggest and most well-equipped gym I've ever been to. One whole floor of machines and cardio, one whole basement of weights, ropes, and classrooms. The only downfall to this particular location is the surging crosswind of the massive Brightonite population that tends to converge for a solid 5 hours towards the later afternoon/night. Get here during the day if at all possible or you may be waiting quite a while in between sets. read more

I just looked over many of these reviews and felt the need to write as it seems that some things have changed there. First, I am writing as a married, 40 yo new mom of an 8month old. I can say, if I didn't have kids, this would not be the place to be. Kids are all over, but I believe it's due to the pool and they have a number of kids actives PLUS a separate teen center building. FYI, YMCAs are for the community so usually there are a lot of kids. I'm not sure why people were complaining about kids there seeing this is a Y. If you want a non-kid place, I would try BSC or Planet Fitness where it's a bit cheaper anyway. If you are still reading this and have kids or don't mind them, the place is great. There's tons of aerobics, yoga, etc that is FREE, the upstairs workout area is top notch and they have a FitLinks program that keeps track of your workouts, weights, etc. You get 3 FREE meetings with one of the trainers to set it up and I love it. I love technology and this actually gets me to the gym to work the circuit.. treadmills and elliptical seem new to me and some have small TVs to watch and listen to. The pool is WARM and I take my 8 month old to swimming lessons there. The lessons were not what I expected, but she has learned about kicking, etc and can do that on cue. I still feel the lessons are expensive, but it's much cheaper than some of the lessons in and around Brighton, Newton and Brookline. Getting the 50% off as a new member makes it worth it for me. All in all, I have been happy with the staff and they have been very helpful when I have a problem. Not to mention, they also host the RAD program, which is a woman's self defense course that is FREE and put on by the Boston Police Department. Basically you are paying for all the amenities they have there (pool, basketball court, large workout area, large aerobic room, child care, etc.), so if you don't want all that, I would check out one of the other local gyms. If not, it's totally worth it! read more

The Oak Square Y has a lot of neat stuff, including a pool, a basketball court, a climbing wall, and a group exercise room. I don't use any of those things so I can't technically vouch for them, but they're definitely there if you're interested. Well actually I went in early a few Saturdays ago thinking I'd try to "shoot hoops" for the first time in like 15 years... and I almost decided to take a star off of my review for how pathetic it was, but then that wasn't really the Y's fault. It has some less neat stuff like huge crowds at the evening rush, and if I only exercised between 5:30 and 7:00 pm on weekdays I'd probably take a star off, even though that technically wouldn't be their fault either. But back to the good things: if you're like me and you get up early and go to the gym you'll probably dig it, especially if you like spinning (great instructors), or bodyweight exercises, plyometrics, and boxing stuff (cool newish annex), or watching cool older people who are taking care of themselves and who don't give a hoot that you're probably secretly amused that they're doing so in jeans, polo shirts, and docksiders instead of the more standard exercise garb you see people wearing these days. read more

I can only compare this YMCA to the one in cambridge. In that sense, this place is hands down far far nicer. There is a pool, a nice weight room with new equipment, a basketball court, parking etc. There are no racquetball courts, which is the real downside and the reason to use another location. You can use any of the YMCAs in the area for the $50/month rate. Some have said the lockers are small, but I don't bother using them as I am not going to/from work. For the price, compared to fancy gyms, this place is solid. There are also a ton of classes, like spinning that are part of the membership. Overall, having a parking lot and being pretty empty during the afternoon give this place two barbells up read more

If the Y wasn't the most convenient gym for me, I would have left a long time ago. It's pricy considering so many gyms are now only 20 dollars a month and it's always crowded and barely any parking in the lot. On some days, the temperature of the cardio floor is really hot and stuffy and half the channels on the Tvs don't work. It's unpredictable which channels will work and how hot it will be. To top it off, some machines are taken over by kids and pre teens, which gets annoying when it's crowded. You can also hear kids screaming and yelling on the first floor when you're trying to work out in peace. This is probably a good place for families with kids but not the best choice for someone who just wants to work out. read more

I belong to the Huntington Y and had to come here as they were refurbishing. Been here three times. Really poor gym. Toilets clogged, equipment not maintained, tight poor layout. Two rowing machines only and one was broken for two weeks. Would not come here again. Three strikes and your out. Pales in comparison to the other Ys. read more

Gone downhill. 2 of their 4 precor elliptical trainers are out of commission.. One for 6 months! Reported it to mutiple staff members many times and nothing is done. Other cardio machines out too. Go to another Y. Many people complaining. Where is Management? read more

I just renewed my membership for another year. I love this place for many, many reasons. -I get a discounted membership because of my typical low income from working in a creative field.... -I've made friends with one of the staff members who is great guy -I've never felt awkward, which is rare for me in a gym -The facilities are nice, clean, and new. -The pool is great, hot tub and saunas are even better -Good parking Cons? Good luck getting a good workout after 5pm. It's swamped. The best time to go is early morning or around 11am when the older crowd is there. It feels homey and I feel comfortable. I have gotten two people to join and they love it as well. I'm glad I haven't joined any of the more upscale gyms. read more

I just started, so of course I'm a fan. Isn't that how "going to the gym" works? But it is great, the staff is really friendly. I have weird job hours so I never wait for a machine. Locker room is clean and not sketchy, as is the pool. The facility feels new, which is really nice. Machines are new, and you get introductory personal training when you join. I would like to see more classes. For example, there is only one Pilates class right now, and that's great, but for what you pay I think having the option of a few would be a big plus. And there are none in the afternoon. And aerobics doesn't appeal to 20 somethings. Or at least any I know? Anyway, if aerobics is your thing, they've got that! They have a program to admit people of lower income, for a reduced fee. This is seriously great. With the local gyms I looked at it was hard to find a place this nice, with this good equipment and ANY classes at all for the rate I now have. Rephrase: when I say "hard" I mean, that didn't exist. So, Yay! A reviewer mentioned that the Y here is family friendly, and that is true, there's kids pretty much all over in the afternoon/evening. If that is a concern for you, you might go elsewhere. Me, I kind of really like it. I work nearby and see all of my two year old friends and their adults when I go. And, when you think of what your dues money goes to at the Y, you know that they're actually helping people in your community. You get a work out, they get funding for special programs, and you get the warm fuzzies. That's much better than throwing your cash at some person who just really really liked getting sweaty every day so much that they opened a gym. Eww. read more

This place is fine if you want a gym with a variety of equipment/facilities (ie, pool, rock climbing gym, weights, machines, classes) for a reasonable monthly rate. It's probably the cheapest you can pay for the quality and variety. However, the overall clientele can be a bit sketch.... I used this gym as an in-between, after ending my last year-long membership and shopping around for a new gym. Pros: - Pool/rock climbing wall/machines/weights/spare exersize rooms - Cheap (about $40/month, easy to cancel) - A few machines have TVs - Friendly staff - Plenty of free parking Cons - Machines with TVs have very few channels (mainly CNN and ESPN-- no channels for the ladies ie Bravo/E!/Style etc.) - Only a handful of ellipticals-- fine at off times but bad during peak hours - Weird layout/cramped space. The second floor weights area is quite small, so it can be hard to squeeze in if 1 person is there, particularly since they put the rowing machines in that area. There's almost no space to do weights which means you have to walk down two floors to the more hardcore weight lifting floor. Stretching area is similarly cramped and can only fit 2 people. Unless you're coming in at a total off-time, it'll feel cramped. - Limited nautilus/weight machines--- I can barely do leg weights because there is only 1 of each and someone is always on them - Gross ladies locker room and bathrooms are not always clean - Interesting clientele--- ie, gym-goers regularly conducting cell phone convos on ellipticals, runners panting (loudly) on treadmills, older men working out in white tank undershirts and denim shorts, and sometimes sketchy older dudes checking you out (gross). Also, there are a lot of kids and teenagers that seem to wander around unsupervised, being loud and disrespectful (ie, almost stepping on me while doing crunches). It's so out of control it's consistently distracting during a workout, and it would be nice if there were more YMCA staffers enforcing basic rules of respect. Overall an okay gym, but the cramped space/lack of machines can make it tough to do a full workout, and the locker room is kinda gross so I'd rather shower/change at home/elsewhere. read more

My boyfriend and I just joined the Oak Square Y. For my purposes, it is perfect. Great location, affordable, plenty of band new cardio machines to use (at least I haven't had a problem finding one yet), friendly staff members, and classes are included with your membership. My boyfriend says that he is a little bit disappointed in the weight room due to a lack of variety in equipment but is otherwise satisfied with the gym. For the value, I think it is great. read more

I love the YMCA. Great programs for children. The staff are wonderful and very caring.

This is a good gym the atmosphere is great ! I went with a friend and enjoyed my workout and time at this location .

The Brighton YMCA has decent equipment, lots of cardio machines and free weights and is for the most part clean. Classes offered for free are numerous but the rooms are small and some of the teachers are awful. Locker rooms need help and the steam/sauna is kind of gross. I've never really used the pool because there always seems to be some kind of class going on. Parking lot, though free, is too small for the number of memberships. All in all for the price it's a nice community gym. read more

The Oak Square branch is included with my membership. The cardio floor is ok, weight room is often very crowded. Having a parking lot is great, but during peak hours is hard to find a space. Front desk is super friendly and helpful. No towels, but I think almost all the Y's have phased out towel service at this point. I would give the facilities a 3 out of 5. My review is mostly to give a huge shoutout to classes I've taken here. My love for dance fitness is what leads me here because some of my favorite instructors taught/teach here. A couple of years ago, I would rush here after work for Emily's Zumba class after I discovered her at PO Sq fitness. When Emily moved on to other opportunities, it took me a while to come back. Recently, I happened upon Shamila's BollyX and her class is so awesome! I already have a longstanding love affair with BollyX after the Dance Complex, so I am ecstatic that it is so widespread all over Boston. Shamila is incredibly encouraging, energetic, and enthusiastic as an instructor. Seamless and clear pre-cues with impressive integration of new choreo every couple of weeks. Her song list is always on point with just enough past choreo from previous weeks that you feel like you're a seasoned rockstar, interspersed with brand new choreo so you're challenging yourself and continuously adding to your Bollywood dance repertoire. Class pacing from warm-up to cooldown is also top-notch as intensity varies from song to song, so there's a good mix of moderate-high intensity. Overall, I always leave super sweaty and incredibly happy with catchy songs stuck in my head for the rest of the week. FIVE STARS FOR THE INSTRUCTORS! read more

Best gym ever!! Great facility, plenty of space, people are friendly and welcoming, tons of things to do when you enroll and become a member. I love this place, it's clean, they have a pool, gym and aerobic room. They open early and close late on weekdays. read more

This Y is a reprieve from the more expensive gyms, requiring crazy unbreakable contracts, which are common in the area. It isn't the cleanest and shiniest, but it gets the job done. The staff is very friendly and helpful, recommending classes and asking about my training. There are plenty of classes offered and those that charge a fee are very reasonably priced. I took a swimming class to improve my endurance and the coach was very knowledgable and encouraging. I recommend avoiding the busiest hour (6-7:30ish) if possible as it's tougher to get a machine, but it's never so busy that it's impossible to workout. read more

The Oak Square Y reminds me of my youngers years on the local Y Swimteam. Yes, this place is VERY family-friendly, but fortunately, there are separate locker rooms for families and adults. I only go to the Y in the morning, so I never have any problems as far as the wait goes. The $58/month adult fee is a little pricey, but I look at it as though I am not only paying dues to go to the gym, but also supporting the community and giving low-income families the opportunity to stay fit. Plus, they allow you to put your membership on hold for up to 3 months at a time if you're going to be out of town, so you don't have to pay for those months. Embarrassingly, I lost my engagement ring at the Y last year, but the cleaning staff was honest enough to turn it in and get it back to me. I am a member for life! read more

I used to work for the YMCA in college so I've been to them all. This is hands down the best gym in Boston, and out of the Y's better than Central. I can't speak to membership as I was an employee for so long. I've been to Boston Sports Club in Kenmore, Emerson's private gym, FitCorp, Gold's, and the list goes on. I like it because it's not a meat market. I hate gyms that attract the women clad in lululemon and makeup. Girl please, we're here to sweat not find our next sugar daddy. The staff are super sweet if you have questions and let me in for free from time to time as I'm fam. Sure some equipment is broken periodically but generally everything is clean, and new- I mean have you seen those cool stationary bikes with the computer screens?! I also enjoy using the big room downstairs usually reserved for classes for some me time when it's not in use. I plug in my Iphone to the big system and have at it with the resistance bands. I checked membership out online as I'm in the Bean about one week a month and this gym is very close to my digs. But, I can't justify spending about what I do for NYSC up here ('round $80) for four days of workout time. They have great plans for low income individuals, couples, and families however. The day they start offering packages other than annuals I'm in! read more

[+] -nice facility -good equipment -nice staff -clean [-] -no towels -too kid friendly for a gym -too many yappy stay at home moms (they drive me nuts). especially all that nagging and gossip that comes with it. -way too crowded, you actually have to sign up for a machine, and then sit there or pretend to work for until the person who is using it leaves Dont go at pick times or on weekends. Other then that, its ok. read more