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    Somerville YMCA

    2.9 (41 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Services - Somerville YMCA

    Multiple children care

    Single child care

    Somerville YMCA Gyms Photos

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    Equipment room one
    Becca M.

    Extremely afforable. Equipment is very basic and extremely old. Set up is a little strange you have to go down stairs to check in but then back up to get to the gym itself and the back down and up again to get to one of the other equipment rooms. The really only good things are the price and it never seems too crowded especially if you go earlier in the day. Really you get what you pay for.

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    11 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Visiting from out of town...got to use their weights & fitness room...they had all u need for a terrific workout away from home!

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    4 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Really old school man locker room was not organized cleaning questionable I do not recommend

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    17 years ago

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    4 years ago

    It's really not the best. Old equipment. Weird floor plan. It's sub par but has a pool and is close enough to me...

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    9 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    18 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    18 years ago

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    15 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    15 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Somerville YMCA

    Review Highlights - Somerville YMCA

    This review comes a little late - I just resigned my 10-plus-year membership at the Somerville Y.

    Mentioned in 4 reviews

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    Retro Fitness

    Retro Fitness

    (10 reviews)

    Porter Square

    I signed up for basic membership in Feb 2025 (19.99) but they have been charging me for the core…read moremembership (29.99). I went in to get this resolved, they told me I would be able to downgrade back to basic but I would have to pay a fee. On top of that, they said I would not be eligible for a refund or compensation for the extra amount charged. The gym manager (name is Drew) also told me, word for word, that basic members are able to utilize the benefits that are open to core and ultimate members only, because they have no mechanism in place to see whether each individual is a basic member or an ultimate member. So you can go in and use their massage chairs, tanning machine, red light therapy, all for the charge of a basic membership! Gym manager: Drew

    I feel like I don't ask for much when it comes to a gym. I use to go to Crunch for years and be…read moreable to achieve my goals, hit my workouts the way I expect, etc. So moving here to Somerville, I was expecting Retro Fitness to fit my needs well as it says it is "inexpensive, offering new and modern equipment" when this gym has doubled its prices over the past year (Been a member since March 2025) and its equipment is standard and insignificant. There are certain machines that have been broken for long periods of times and very little air filtration which doesn't help with the lack of hygiene a lot of the members have. There is never any room to have a successful workout without struggling to find any parking nearby, waiting 20+ mins for machines to open up, staff that seem to barely ever leave their front desk to clean up the gym or replace cleaning wipes. I have always been a simple gym goer who feels accomplished from a good workout routine and seeing the results on myself. I have never been so unenthusiastic about going to a gym before until Retro Fitness. I have no motivation prior to going or any sense of happiness when I am there or leaving. This gym will suck the soul out of your body.

    Healthworks Fitness Centers - Cambridge - Comfy robes at Restore Spa

    Healthworks Fitness Centers - Cambridge

    (244 reviews)

    Porter Square

    I can't believe I have not written a review so far! My favorite gym by far! Amazing classes, a…read morelovely spa area, friendly and accommodative staff and inclusive/judgement free environment. I didn't know I needed to be in an all-women environment to feel comfortable and judgement-free, but here we are! The membership is worth every penny. The Cambridge location is conveniently within the porter square plaza so the er is plenty of parking. Just try it - you'll remember me!

    I visited HealthWorks in Cambridge because I am interested in finding a gym while I'm in the area…read more I was able to schedule a tour pretty easily and the front desk was accommodating when I needed to switch my time. This is my review from attending the club during one visit. LOCATION The location is pretty accessible by train and there is parking at the Porter Square parking lot. CLEANLINESS When considering a gym, the cleanliness is of high priority to me. The facility was relatively clean and they had places to use wipes in different locations on the floor. EQUIPMENT The equipment is pretty updated. I went in the middle of the day and there was plenty of equipment available for use. PRICE The price is on par with other health clubs of similar status? I have paid more for gyms but this certainly isn't cheap even with my corporate discount. I could see how you can get a lot of value because they have different classes and is someone that takes many group classes, it's nice to see that they have a number of classes to choose from. I like that you can choose to forgo a contract because I'm not able to lock into a year-long contract at this time. I will say the locker room has a lot of different things that you would need to get ready such as blow dryer, flat iron, feminine hygiene products Q-tips. The showers are standard not very spacious and they have soap or body wash shampoo and conditioner. The lotion isn't the best quality. Despite slathering plenty on my skin, I was was dry soon after. My main gripe was that the bathroom or changing area definitely smell like corn chips. I haven't decided if I'd become a member yet but this is a pretty solid health club.

    Get In Shape For Women - An updated view of our studio

    Get In Shape For Women

    (30 reviews)

    Porter Square

    I been going here maybe three years? The model really works for me! Between the pre-set appointment…read moretimes and getting used to the other people you see when you're there, going to the gym becomes a welcome, semi-social commitment instead of something you can blow off with no one but your own sense of shame noticing. Was also really impressed how the place was run during the worst of the pre-vaccine pandemic; not a single case of transmission on site. It offered me some structure and somewhere "safe" to go during dark times. Thank you, gym! When I was first googling women's gyms in Camberville after parting ways with the healthyworks a few years ago, I was skeptical of this place because I thought the staff would be trying to tell me to lose weight. That's not something I ever want to hear from anyone, and luckily no staffer has ever said anything to me about it! I know some members ask to be weighed sometimes, but it seems the staff only go there if you do. I started with a complimentary session, and I wasn't completely convinced because the audio track announcing sets and keeping time freaked me out. After a second complimentary session I decided the audio was not a dealbreaker, and I have been a paying member ever since with no end in sight. If you want gym to be part of your life but can't self motivate, but CAN keep your appointments, this might be the place for you.

    Get in Shape for Women in Cambridge is one of the best places to work. John is a great boss and the…read moreclients are amazing. I worked there for 3.5 years and only left to work at a gym full time. I call it the Get In Shape family because it is and was my second home. I have nothing bad to say about this place:

    Cambridge YMCA - Brand-new state of the art $11K LifeFitness treadmills!

    Cambridge YMCA

    (77 reviews)

    Central Square

    This gym continues to improve---they've just recently upgraded all their Life Fitness cardio…read moremachines (treadmills, ellipticals, & stationary bikes) to the latest "Club Series+ SE4" version which come with beautiful 24" touchscreen monitors. These monitors feature something like two dozen different "virtual terrain" selections where you can choose different places in the world where someone runs or bikes while wearing a GoPro camera, providing you with their POV experience of moving through scenic urban areas (Paris, San Francisco, Buenos Aires, etc) as well as stunning natural landscapes (tropical island jungles, desert trails, volcanic beaches, etc). This pretty much takes care of the #1 problem with cardio machines: soul-crushing BOREDOM from being stuck indoors huffing and puffing while going nowhere...in this case, a somewhat claustrophobic-feeling, fluorescent-lit basement gym. But with New England weather being what it is, especially those long dark winters when the sun sets at 4pm on icy/slushy sidewalks, what are you gonna do? Coupled with 5 separate free weight areas, a boxing gym with lots of free hanging bags including two Thai bags, and the highest-temperature sauna I've ever set foot in, this remains the best Y in the greater Boston area. Yeah it's in an old old non-pristine building (the Celtics used to practice in the upstairs basketball court during the 1960s, I've been told) that could use some massive sprucing up, but to be honest I'd rather they just invest in the actual fitness gear like they just did with these $11K treadmills! 4 and 1/2 stars (Deducting 1/2 star only because they continue to refuse to restore their pre-pandemic hours, when they closed at 10pm weeknights and 6pm on weekends.) Wish list of further upgrades: matched pairs of 20/24/28kg kettlebells, a Perform Better Glute-Bridge-Roller, and NON-eco showerheads so we don't waste so much TIME waiting for the soap to wash off.

    Kind of conflicted on the 4 or 5 - for the price point this place is a 5. It's surprising how few…read moregood gyms that aren't a billion dollars or jam packed with sweaty students exist in the area. But by a general gym metric, this is more of a 4. The equipment isn't in the best shape, the basement is kind of dingy and sometimes the staff just doesn't have time to deal with you. But most of the time it's just a quality place. Decent classes, all the equipment you could need and it even has a sauna. Fair, the sauna is essentially a converted broom closet, but we're talking about a Y here, I'm just surprised it's not just actually a broom closet. I really found it impossible to find a place that had so much resources in one place, even at a higher price point. I'd imagine Cambridge would be chock full of uppity gym, but it isn't and the ones that are out there don't really hold a candle to what the Y has.

    Cambridge War Memorial Recreation Center

    Cambridge War Memorial Recreation Center

    (9 reviews)

    Harvard Square

    Clean 25 yd pool that wasn't too crowded. I went after work and didn't have to share with more…read morethan one person. Also, there's a very large diving well and separate kiddy pool so the lanes don't get full of aqua-joggers or families. Compared to some other local (non-university) pools, it's not quite as over-chlorinated or quite as warm, and definitely cleaner. Cheap entry by day, multiple-session card (I did the 10 entries for $40 which I think is budget-friendly) or gym membership - although I haven't checked out the gym yet. Only complaint is limited hours of lap availability and no AM lap swim during the winter session.

    I am trying out several different masters swim programs in the Boston area and this is my second…read moreone I've tried. (See my other review for Quincy masters). So, I have to say, this one is just okay. You get a decent workout, but it's not HARD. And the reason why is not because of the workout itself, but it's because there are no SEND OFF times. Basically, the workout is, you do X amount of sets, but resting wise, you just do 10 or 20 second rests after each set. And so personally I'm not motivated to swim faster because I'm not trying to do anything on a specific time constraint. I find myself a little less focused to go faster without sendoffs. Also, the workout is pretty much the same each time- you start with a warmup, then 2 underwaters, and then the main set, and then an IM set, and the same kind of sprints where you try and do each 25 with zero breath or one, or whatever it is. It's not a bad workout, but I'm incredibly bored because I know it's the same each time. The main set changes each time, of course, but the sameness of structure makes it kinda boring. We get a decent amount of yardage in- anywhere between 2400-3200 per hour and 15 minute workout time. Practices are twice a week. As for the coach, Elyssa, she is a lovely woman. However, she doesn't quite have the enthusiasm I'm personally looking for. I want somebody to yell at me and give me critique. However, in her defense, she does have to coach 6 lanes of people so I understand it's not easy to give personal attention, so I don't blame her. But personality wise, I like a little more spunk in my coach. But everyone is there for different reasons so it's hard for a coach to be everything. The one thing that really bugs me is the staff that works there at the front desk- they are SO unfriendly, rude, impatient and clearly underpaid. They are CRANKY and they are the first people I see when I walk into that building so it makes me want to not be there. The pool is about a 10 minute walk to Harvard T stop (cut off across Harvard campus will save you ample time), so it's not terrible in terms of location. Oh, the pool itself really sucks. First of all, there are bulk heads that's separating the different sections of the pool so there's nothing to GRAB onto when you're doing two hand touches; it's completely awkward and irritating. Imagine finishing and doing two hand touches on a wall. Also, when you get into the pool, they have these blocks that are covered by orange covers that sorta get in the way and make it hard for you to get in- not to mention it is IMPOSSIBLE to get out because of the depth. You have to swim to the ladder to get out of the pool, because there is no way you can get out from the pool otherwise. It's kinda ridiculous. Cost wise, it's $105 for 20 sessions, so that's $5.25 per session, which is pretty cheap. I've looked into many other programs and this is probably the cheapest one. So pros: -Pretty good location if you're in Cambridge -Decent yardage of workout -Nice coach -Inexpensive Cons: -Sucky pool -Unfriendly front desk staff -No real send off times, just go at your own pace (which can be a pro if that's what you are looking for) - A bit dull (atmosphere, people, some of the workouts) If you are in Cambridge and are looking for twice a week workout for fitness, this is probably a good option for you.

    New York Sports Club

    New York Sports Club

    (15 reviews)

    Davis Square

    I have been taking Angelica Teixeira's classes whenever I can. She is such a motivational…read moreinstructor and makes even hard exercises fun. Her classes are always varied and interesting.

    If the gym would take greater care to tell members not to drop weights, or if the gym would add…read morebetter vibration isolation, then the CVS employees and customers downstairs wouldn't have to hear the booming noise at odd intervals. The noise is disturbing. A few days ago I asked a CVS employee about the noise, and the person said the noise happens all day. I've been going to that CVS for years, and I've heard the noise plenty, and I figured it was time to complain to the gym. I don't know of anyone who likes the noise, or who wants to hear the noise while standing in line to pick up a prescription--do you? At the time I visited the gym and complained about the noise, I was told the manager wasn't in. What I was told by the person at the front desk was a series of standard deflections, which didn't sit well. To paraphrase: 1. The gym tells people not to drop weights. I'm not sure I believe this. It's not hard to monitor. The gum should make it a policy to kick someone out (for the day) if they drop weights. -- 2. The gym can't do much about it. Sure the gym can! It can warn people or tell them to leave for the day. There is no right to disturb the peace because a gym member can't handle the weight they're lifting. Members who won't learn to handle weights properly could have their memberships cancelled. They can find somewhere else to work out. Imagine a gym that showed greater concern for other tenants of the same building--that gym could have a better reputation. 3. No one else has complained. Go down to the CVs during normal gym hours, and ask yourself whether you would prefer no noise, or whether you would prefer noise (with no benefit to you). Not many people will complain even if something bothers them. That's too bad. But when noise is loud enough to be noticeable, it shouldn't require a complaint. It should just be fixed. CVS employees (like other people in retail) might be concerned about possible reprisal. I would be. --- It's not uncommon to encounter people in gyms who like the thud of weights dropping. They may even be in good shape, and they may only drop weight during some exercises, but when they drop weights they're not acting as good community members. For many exercises, if someone in a gym drops a weight, then the person isn't actually *doing* the weight. It's an incomplete rep. I've been in gyms where more people understood this: if the weight is barely under controllable, consider reducing the weight until your form improves. Here's to hoping the gym will do something about the noise problem.

    Somerville YMCA - gyms - Updated May 2026

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