A great no-frills gym with friendly staff and everything you need for a solid workout. I usually come here as a guest under my boyfriend's membership and have never run into any issues. The equipment selection is pretty decent and while they do not have a pool or a bunch of fancy machines, they definitely have enough to get the job done. The space itself is simple and clean, which I appreciate. The only downside for me is the hours. They are closed on Sundays and close fairly early on Saturdays, which can feel a bit limiting. Other than that though, it is a reliable and straightforward gym. read more

The people who work here are so helpful, the utilities are clean and there's decent airflow throughout. read more

University Family YMCA - Feet, duh. - Child Care & Day Care Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I cannot rave about this place enough! The staff is unlike any YMCA I have ever been to. You want staff? You get a FAMILY! They are so willing to help out and give assistance and sometimes even do it without asking. The equipment is top of the line and the group classes are so fun! Not only are they fun, but they are structured in a way where you are still getting an incredible workout. I would give my left arm for this gym. It is a bright light in the overcasted and cloudy Seattle. Look no further because this place is the place you've been looking for. They also offer financial assistance for prices! read more

UPDATE: Gym is still crowded as ever. The monthly fee seems to have increased as well. This may have had to do with the remodel, which consisted of a rearrangement of the facility's equipment, a new coat of paint, the removal of one bench, and the replacement of one squatting rack. Modest improvements to say the least. Sanitary conditions seem to be degrading. The soap dispenser was still out of soap in the basement bathroom when I went on a weeknight this past week. Today, the sink was flooded and had facial hair (from someone shaving in the sink). Brown residue was found around the sink as well. read more

University Family YMCA - Absolutely disgusting. - Child Care & Day Care Near Me - Seattle, Washington

91 a month for seniors , it's discrimination Pricing us out. Ada is on its way. Every one else pays much less

Terrible communication and service, got scammed to pay another joining fee after visiting the first thme

I have never been a member of a YMCA before, but after my experience here I am forever a YMCA fan. I look forward to coming to this YMCA every day, even when I don't look forward to working out. Once I get there the staff is so nice and friendly that it immediately boosts my mood! I cannot express enough that this YMCA has the BEST STAFF EVER. And even recently, they've decorated the entry way- how fun! If you come to this Y in a rut you'll definitely leave with a smile on your face and feeling like a better version of yourself. The classes are taught by great, uplifting, and knowledgeable instructors. The workouts themselves are top tier and are never boring. You're definitely in for both a good sweat and a good laugh at the same time. Thank you to this Y for being a little safe haven in the middle of Seattle! I am always excited to come back here after I spend time away from the city. This Y definitely holds a special place in my heart now. read more

KEEP LOOKING A few weeks ago, after being a member here for 10 years, I quit. Since then, my blood pressure has gone down and my ability to get to sleep at night has gone up. We all know that there is a pandemic that has been hard on gyms. But the problems at this facility are not ones that we can blame on covid. It's weak management over time that led to the problems and only a fix for that can right the course. Let me be specific about the problems: a. No soap in the men's showers or sinks. A nurse who was my friend there said there were times of no hygiene in the ladies' room. There is no excuse for this. Also, running out of towels at times. b. On each of several occasions over the years I asked the desk staff to have the manager (absent at the time -- a common problem) call me, and NEVER did this occur. c. The cycling room lacks a reliable sound system. It's hard to have that class without reliable sound. The instructor spends a lot of class time trying to get it to work. d. Homeless people camping out in the showers (in a manner of speaking). Compassion is a great thing, but not when it is misguided, or in this case, not guided at all. e. They post on line that the locker room has reopened. The truth was that that had occurred in other branches but not in this one. Then there is the hard reality that this neighborhood is mixed. You will have college professors who wouldn't hurt a fly, right next to street tough people who have their own code of conduct that does not mix. Which leads to... 1. A guy grabs the bench press weights out of my hand, stating that "everyone knows" that that machine is his during that time of the day, so I must leave it immediately. 2. I asked the manager on duty (not the regular manager) about our class teacher being absent, and he responds by shouting me down in front of everyone present. 3. While I was waiting silently in the small social room for a class to start, 2 people there try to goad me into conversation, and when I don't respond, they state that I am a racist. (one of them was black, one was white) When these things happen, management takes weak action in too many cases. People who cause problems like this need to be booted out permanently, but the action taken was far less than that. Then there is the mysterious case of the funny money. For years before covid, this branch collected money from members for a "new/renovated branch" to replace the current facility that we all know is crummy. But it has been a very long time since any of us have heard what happened with that plan or seen any sign of a new or renovated branch. This has a funny smell. The YMCA Executive Director publishes a lot of statements that those of us with progressive politics might like. But there is no credibility without effective management. If she spent half the time strengthening her management team that she spends sounding off with her philosophies, this branch might get onto the road to recovery. Until then, you owe it to yourself to find a gym more worthy of your business. Keep looking. read more

UPDATE: The YMCA updated their website to reflect the closure, and staff reached out to offer me a full refund for that month, although I was happy with a partial refund to reflect the closed week. They were quick and professional throughout the process. ---- I started a membership a week ago, and came by today to see that they are closed this entire week for 'Annual Improvements.' I have never heard of a gym doing this. I have seen gyms close of sectionally to make improvements, or make improvements incrementally at off-hours or holidays. This facility is not even a 24 hour gym, so it seems making changes when the gym is CLOSED would be a better option. This is especially frustrating because I got a membership for one month before I leave town, and it seems like pretty important information to know that the branch is closed for 1 out of the 4 weeks I need the membership. I would hope that they would try and make this closure transparent, but there is ZERO mention of it on their website. In fact, going to their schedule page shows that today, May 10, the branch hours are 5:30am - 10pm, and even goes on to list all the classes. I would think that updating your website to reflect a week long closure would be a priority for any gym. read more

Friendly smiles and warm greetings, this place is full of amiable people. The University District YMCA is located on 12th and 50th. It's not the biggest center but it does offer what it can with it's capacity. There are quite a few programs here for adults and older. The YMCA encourages people of all ages to have a healthy and active lifestyle. From morning, afternoon and evening programs, you can find one that you feel most comfortable in. If not, you can also take advantage of their gym. The gym has a basic cardio room with a line of treadmills, adaptive motion control machines, ellipticals, cycling machines and stair masters. It also has the rowing machine and the rope pulling machine. Most of the treadmills have a touch/TV screen but unfortunately TV does not work here. On the bright side, most of their machines aren't of super old quality. The cardio room also has a lot of fans that rotate. You can turn them on as you please and you can feel that amazing, cool breeze as you sweat. There are stations of body towels for anyone to use and an additional basket where dirty ones can go. Paper towels are used to clean off the machines with some sanitizing spray provided. There is also a weigh room on the lower floor that offers a variety of machine weights as well as a set of free weights. Full sized mirrors are placed on the walls. The weight room is not as big as most gyms or the IMA from the UW, but it is enough to get you through most of the major muscle groups. Near the cardio room is a stretching room provided just for pre/post workout stretching. This is a nice addition that most gyms do not provide. It has a full size mirror along with yoga mats, exercise balls, free weights and resistance bands. The locker rooms do have saunas. I have heard these lockers rooms are a bit on the smaller size though. There are other large rooms used for select programs and get togethers. The staff here are always so friendly and they do their best to make sure you are enjoying your time here. They always check on the towels, make sure things are restocked and that machines are kept sanitary. There is also a child daycare for parents who would like to workout while their child is supervised. Asides from the gym, the YMCA has many programs for youth and adolescents, especially during the summer. It's a great place to volunteer and/or work if you're interested in helping the community/work with kids. Healthy & happy, that's what the YMCA loves to see. read more

This is not the West Seattle YMCA, so people expecting high class and tons of amenities will be disappointed. That being said, I very much like it here! I managed to be late, walk into the wrong class, SET THE FIRE ALARM OFF, and lose my keys all in a row and everyone was still SO nice to me!! The women's locker room is small, but people are more demure than other gyms. BYOL. The cycling class only has 5 bikes, so show up early or you'll end up looking around the giant room with a small cluster of bikes all in use and be sad like me. The cardio kickboxing class will murder you. But if you like sweating a ton while listening to Brittney at 60 decibels before death than this class is for you! I love it, it's a great way to improve coordination! The private lot is super sweet, but sometimes crowded - and make sure you get a parking pass! read more

University Family YMCA - Child Care & Day Care Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I was hesitant about joining at this location. It is small, the equipment not new and shiny. However, there's new stuff coming in.I decided to go this route as I have immune disorders ;I needed to be away from the mobs at LA fitness. I also know most members wipe clean equipment. I'm taking a boxing class; it is really doing wonders for me including reversing diabetes. I've scheduled a few private sessions with Trainer Jon Bolden. He has boosted my confidence, my balance and strength It's better than any ski conditioning class I have taken in the last 30 + years as well! Oh, they have free coffee it would be better if they had cream instead of powdery stuff. Parking hasn't been an issue. I do believe that the YMCA corporate should give a discount to members of this place because we don't have the same amenities as others and many people in this community do not have cars or $$ to drive to Newcastle or West Seattle after paying the exorbitant membership costs: I'm leaving the five star review because I believe people who are trying really hard. But I would give Y corporate a 3 because I think it's wrong to expect people with more limited incomes to support newer, nicer YMCA's they will never be able to use. read more

This is kind of a weird Y. The one that has no pool, and also no hairdryers. Probably because it has no pool. But, having tampons in the women's room is a nice perk. And, extra large showers. And all the important stuff that I use, like the treadmills, weight room, foam roller, and kettlebells, which really should be called kettle balls since they are balls with handles like teapots. But, maybe there are sexual innuendos I'm not aware of, transitions from bells to balls and pots to bags. Tea bags, that is. What a strange world we live in. The classes are good, too, as good as any other Y, although I'm partial to Mill Creek and Mukilteo for yoga. So, it does the job. Plus, if you are lucky, you might just find a parking spot in their lot. Bottom line: I love the Y. I am getting used to hairdryers though. read more

Great location, seriously some if the nicest staff members I've come across. Great volunteer crew, well kept facility, gender neutral bathrooms, all new equipment! No pool yet but they said they are working on it for the future. Great spot! read more

University Family YMCA - Word! - Child Care & Day Care Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I very much enjoy coming here it makes me dill good and enjoy the group of people positive and I wish to make more nice things and paintings to rebuild a community a person ill commit there are people in this world that need help or asstance for family long as there nice why judge the next person read more

My young son and I look forward to coming here every weekend. The staff is so genuinely nice that it makes me wonder what their secret to happiness is. The class instructors inspire me and I appreciate the all-around positive vibe. read more

Our family recently joined the University YMCA, and we're perfectly happy with it. --Facilities are just fine - you won't ever confuse it with a fancy gym, but it turns out that the exercise bikes don't burn more calories at the Pro Club. I go weekday and weekend mornings and never wait for equipment. --The classes I've taken have been generally good: in particular, the group cycling classes remind me of first-generation Spinning classes - i.e. they're intense in a good way. Of course I wish the times better met my schedule, but everyone always wants that. --One highlight is the kid-watching programs, in particular the Kid's Gym, where they take a large room and cover it in mats, slides, jumping areas, etc., is a great way to make sure toddlers/preschoolers get exercise as well. It's like taking your kid to Little Gym free time. There's always a number of volunteers to watch the kids, they provide snack, etc. Kid's Corner is more of a small day-care room, it's fine but nothing spectacular. Overall, it's a great place to have around the corner, and I'm glad that my money goes to a community organization. read more

For the price, I'm a happy camper. The majority of their classes are free if you are a member. They have a wide assortment ranging from cycling classes, yoga, kickboxing, pilates, etc. I've taken their kickboxing class, which is more like a tai-bo class and woken up the next day unable to move. I've placed my account on hold throughout the summer but my accounts get reactivated on Thursday! I'm excited to take the Zumba class which is now being offered at 6pm instead of 6am. :) Good move, YMCA! read more

I absolutely love this place! As a front desk staff member of the University Y, I could not be happier working for any other organization. The members are amazing, the staff are amazing, and even though the facility is not the most glamorous place you will ever see, it has everything I need for a full workout. I also take advantage of the group exercise classes that are included with the membership, including cycling (spinning) classes and turbo-kick (kick boxing type class). I love coming here because at this facility it's no "fashion show" or "dress-up contest," the folks that come here to work hard and change their lives by excercising and living a healthy lifestyle, regardless of what they look like. read more

Here's why I love this YMCA: It's the first gym I've ever belonged to that just feels good. Everyone is so friendly and down to earth. It's small, family friendly, community oriented... can you tell I love it? Other things - lots of classes to choose from that are included in your membership - Zumba, Step, Spinning, Pilates, Yoga, Kickboxing and more. The instructors are warm and welcoming and really care about you! They are fun and energetic and encouraging. There's nothing intimidating about these classes, but you WILL get a good workout! Really, I go for the classes. Every now and then I go to different gyms to try out different classes and instructors, and it just makes me more grateful for my University Family Y! The cardio room is great - lots of elipticals, stationary bikes and treadmills. You'll always find something available there. Childcare - Okay, the childcare here is FABULOUS!!! Really, it's downright magic. The people that work there are fun and engaging and get to know each kid really well. My kids LOVE going to this Y. My 2.5-yr-old cried today because she didn't want to leave! There's no TV dominating the space, turning the kids into zombies. Instead, it's a huge room with tumbling mats and equipment for kids to run around and play on, an art table for coloring, lots of books that the caregivers are always happy to read, snack time while stories are being read. I can't say enough good things about this. Finally, over the past four years that I've been a member here, I've lost 22 pounds (my goal was to lose 16!), and I've lost it steadily over time, which is the best way to lose weight. I look forward to coming here and seeing all the friendly faces, getting a great workout to start my day, and feeling confident that my kids are being well taken care of. I just haven't had that experience to the same degree at any other gym. So that's why I give it 5 stars. If you're looking for a bigger, fancier gym, this isn't the place for you. But it's definitely the right place for me. read more

The University Y offers many different workouts to fit your mood, needs and fitness goals. You want to show up and conduct your weights workout? Check. You feeling Zen and looking for your yoga fix? Jubilee and Bev are there for you. Maybe you need a run or a climb but not feeling the world outside? Hop on an elliptical, treadmill, rower or bike. The space may be small but it's packed with equipment and machines to fit your exercise choices. The class selection covers all age groups and fitness levels. I wish the place had a pool and easier parking, especially during the busy times but it's a city venue with a community feel. read more

Oh Y...I do love you...u-dist Y, it's kind of a love hate thing. I LOVE the Y and the peeps that use the Y, there's all kinds of us there unlike some fancy shmancy places where everyone has matching outfits to their H20 bottles and heart rate monitors but unfortunately the u-dist Y is rather tiny. I continue to go because it's close to home but I miss the downtown Y days...so much bigger and the hot tub...oh, but ya, the whole downtown thing/no parking/tons of people is kind of nice to avoid at the u-dist Y. Not to mention as always the staff are super warm and welcoming and there is parking if ya need it. read more

All they need to do to make this place nice is bulldoze it and build a nice new facility there. The only good part of this gym is the cardio area which has some decent modern equipment. The weight room equipment is all ancient, and the men's locker room is just old and gross looking. It is also the only YMCA around that does not provide bath towels. The only reason I go there is because my family belongs to a different one and this one is closest to my work. read more

I love this Y, the staff is amazing. Its not a high end gym, but the classes are very good and the teachers are helpful. I spend my time in cardio room and i love it. Another good thing, is that they have free daycare for your kid. My son loves it there, the teachers are very involved! read more

University Family YMCA - Cardio time! - Child Care & Day Care Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This is a nice gym that is close to my house! Location is great - next to some restaurants so you can eat after your workout. However, the place seems a bit old and can get smelly at times. If you are looking for a standard gym this is your place. PROS: Good equipment (standard treadmills, ellipticals, bikes, urgs, stretching room, locker rooms, weights, also classes), really nice staff CONS: Gets smelly, looks old, charges initial fee read more

They let homeless people in to use the only private restroom/shower. The homeless spend forever in there, and the staff doesn't seem to care that paying members are left waiting to use the restroom. I'm rethinking my membership. read more

This Y has a very friendly and professional staff which tries its best to honor class commitments by supplying substitutes when regular teachers don't show up. Larry, who works the desk and runs marathons (not at the same time) is a HILARIOUS and excellent teacher and occasional sub. You can talk to him about anything from base 2 math to Chinese. (His latest joke: "How do you keep a turkey in suspense? ...I'll get back to you on that!" Is that a great joke or what?) This dependability results in people taking classes who are more committed and who form bonds with instructors and other students. My wife and I attend classes every day of the week and now feel that we're part of a supportive network of similarly-aged members. Yes, we sorta lean on each other. And our monthly pot-lucks are outrageous. The small cardio room is full to capacity with working equipment, but there's almost always a vacant machine of some type available for a workout. Step carefully around that guy going 30MPH on the rowing machine. Kid's Gym childcare for the young ones is well supervised and includes rest, snack (who doesn't love goldfish crackers?) and story time breaks from tearing around on the mats. read more

I feel comfortable at the University Family YMCA as it's not overcrowded by loud, muscly people, just regular folks who want to get a good work out. The cardio room is small, but they cram a whole lot of machines in there; I almost question if I'm going to bump into someone on a treadmill and take them down with me. Hasn't happened yet so I must be doing something right. I wish they had a few TVs on the walls to help me bide time while I get bored on the elliptical but I guess the high(ish) membership fees don't quite cover that sort of thing? read more

I read everyone's positive remarks but I am not as fond of this gym. I have been to many gyms and this gym lacks a lot of structure. First, I agree with the person that said that it is smelly. The staff doesn't do anything about that. Also, the place is a gym and a business, however, they don't invest in their business. They are against buying new equipment and maintaining broken ones in due time. Its really a shame. For example, the water fountain broke at one time in the weightlifting area and it took them over 3 weeks to fix it. Now, I would think if you have people working out water is necessary but they clearly didn't think so. Also, the building is old, built in the 1950's I think, and the weightlifting area is technically in the basement. Now, if you look at the structure of the building there are only two exits coming out of that area but they don't control the number of people who are there. Sometimes there are 40 plus people down in the weightlifting/basement area and in the case of an emergency it would make a quick evacuation very difficult. I would assume that if they truly cared about their members they would account for all this. Instead, they tend to worry about social service issues, that actually make them money. I only go there for now since its very close to my home but I am trying to find a new place. read more

As far as no-frill gyms go, this one is pretty good. It's got plenty of weights & equipment in the basement, and aerobic machines on the main level. I believe it has 1 or 2 rooms for classes. The staff there are friendly, the parking lot is out back (can get a little crowded) and the fees are pretty good. read more

Small, crowded, dingey equipment, closes too early, and is extremely expensive unless you qualify for low-income or family discount. If you're paying solo, YMCA doesn't actually want you here and uses your dues to subsidize everyone else (low-income, families, after care for children) rather than reinvesting to improve the experience. Only thing going for it is location. Classes are at odd-ball hours where no one but retired or unemployed people can go to. This business model is upside down and YMCA is surviving on its past legacy and acquired real estate prior to property price inflation. read more

I live in the neighborhood and am a YMCA member, but after trying to use this Y, I've found myself starting to drive up to the fancy Shoreline one instead. I don't expect them to magically transform this old, small building into a new state of the art Y like Shoreline, but... it does seem like they're not trying. The room with cardio machines seems fine, if a bit crowded. But I personally go to the weight room, and here that is where the problems lie. It's in the basement, and was decorated on the theme of 'low-budget David Lynch'. Just sort of grimy and creepy, low ceilings, odd cramped arrangements, antiquated equipment. I'm pretty sure the squat rack was built from scrap metal by a guy who *kind of* knew how to weld. And some evil person positioned the bench press bench perfectly so that if you use it in the late afternoon, the window above sends a terrible concentrated glare right where you head and eyes have to lay. The clientele is not the Y's fault exactly, but the weight room is a small space to share with some pretty annoying regulars. Gnarled-looking guys in their early 50s who always lift weights in their jeans and normal clothes and just leave their backpack on the floor next to the machine where you can trip over it; loud-talkers bothering people around them; one particular rude older guy who incorrectly believes he can lay exclusive claim to multiple machines simultaneously for the entire time he is present. There's irritating oddballs in every gym, but with a small cramped space like this Y's weight room, you really feel it. This is not to say I'm bothered by the occasional presence of homeless folks on the days this Y offers meals to them. On the contrary; that I like. A gym that also serves it's community, doing difficult work like helping the homeless of this corner of town, makes me feel good about my membership fees. There's a reason I choose to belong to the Y instead of some globo-gym, and their orientation towards serving the entire community, is a big part of it. I still occasionally hit this Y when I need the convenience. The exercise programs seem decent and I really appreciate the childcare offered. I don't know how the greater Seattle area's YMCAs structure their finances, but if you use a few locations it starts to seem like the University one is not getting the same support as the others, and could use some help. read more

I like this place. I have only been a member for about a month, but it is close to my house and affordable. The perks of membership are good -- you can get a full health consultation, attend a lot of classes, and there is good childcare during limited hours of the day. The staff is friendly and I have never had a problem with having to wait for a machine. They have a wide variety of cardio machines and a pretty good weight room. The sometimes-crowded parking lot has caused me to swear in front of my daughter a couple of times, which I regret of course, since she now says "f***ing CARS" when we enter the parking lot. And I have only myself to blame! There is also a "Parent's Night Out" twice a month, on Fridays. They will watch your children for 3 hours and feed them pizza dinner for a nominal price ($15 for one child but I don't know how much it is for more kids). This is actually helping my relationship with my man, believe it or not! Yay, YMCA! read more

Love this place. Haven't taken any classes or used of any of their special features (personal trainers, massage, etc), but for a simple place to work out at a really affordable price the Y is great. Staff is nice, workout equipment is well-maintained and there's a good selection of it, and it generally just feels comfortable. Plus, I can drop my kid off for an hour while I work out. read more

The University YMCA is totally unpretentious, which is great. The cardio room is small, but is packed with equipment. It's the sort of place that you go to exercise, not to have a sauna and latte like some silly gyms. The staff are friendly, and the childcare, especially the "Parents' night out," is wonderful. Great for people with young families who want the chance to exercise. Best of all, the place is great value. I don't know how they can run it for this price. For a slightly greater monthly fee, you get to go to any one of the YMCA's in the great Seattle region, which is cool. read more

I belong to all the YMCA's in Washington because I get bored easily and it is nice to have a change of scenery and people. Of all the gyms, this is the one I go to the most because it is closest to my house and they have a parking lot. Pros: The front staff are ALL nice, young, old, in between..doesn't matter..they all seem to have kind hearts. The parking, although it can get full quickly since it is not that big. The cardio room because it seems to always have an elliptical available just for me. The weights room, it is kind of small but I favor the lay out. ** (Let me indulge on this one since I spend most my time here, you wouldn't think so by looking at me but trust me. I'd say people are for the most part good at putting weights and other equipment but I don't always see them spray cleaner after they get their sweat on..It has a comfy temp, more so errs on the warm side, especially in the summer but I cannot stand freezing in a weight room. Most the fellas and ladies here are cool and don't make a lot of crazy noise while pumping. There is one older asian fella who sang (badly) loudly during my whole work out once...ugh.) The kids room is great for younger kids, like babies to about 5. My son is 7 and always complains before we get there but seemingly always has a good time jumping around when I pick him up. They have a room for older kids to draw, play board games but I seldom am there when it is open. Classes! I think 97% free to members and I have only taken a few yoga classes. The instructors are pretty good. Cons: I see a sign for men's sauna...what about us ladies? It's small, not a lot of frills. The ladies dressing room/bathroom is tiny! No swimming pool, that would be most awesome if they did! read more

This is where I work out regularly and I have to say, it's one of the better equipped gyms in the area for its price. Yes, the weight room smells like armpit and teen spirit, but it gets the job done. Of course, certain equipment is going to be less easily accessible (like the squat rack and the bench, considering there is only one of each and they are often occupied) but overall, I enjoy working out here. read more

I really wanted to like the U-District YMCA, as it seemed like a cheap, unpretentious, no-frills gym, which is exactly what I was looking for. But after 6 months of minor annoyances, I finally canceled my membership after an extremely uncomfortable experience last week. I was accused of "harassment" by a man using the elliptical next to me because he thought I was "looking at him." I'm going to assume he has some mental health issues, so I have some sympathy for him. I wasn't looking at him, because I would have had to turn my head 90 degrees to do that. I was looking aimlessly out the window. I told him I wasn't looking at him, but he didn't believe me and got more and more agitated. I asked him to leave me alone and he started saying, "This is harassment! You're harassing me!" At that point I ignored him. Still, it was an extremely awkward and embarrassing experience for me. Unfortunately, this isn't the only crazy guy at the YMCA. There are a lot of people whose behavior ranges from eccentric and socially awkward to (seemingly) mentally ill. The YMCA has a policy of being welcoming to everybody and being accepting of people who are different, which is obviously a great goal, but there are times that people's odd behavior is interfering with other people being able to use the gym. Here's a partial list of weird stuff I've witnessed at the YMCA: - A woman riding a stationary bike while holding a chihuahua - A person talking about the unusual "energy" they're sensing in the corner of the room and asking if other people can feel it too - An employee who goes into the yoga classes and lies down on the floor to sleep for the duration of the class - Old man boobs. One middle-aged man was wearing a "tank top" that essentially had strings for straps down to about his belly button. Another older man had his breasts hanging out the armholes of his shirt, plus one leg of his shorts tucked into his butt crack and what appeared to be a jockstrap dangling out of his shorts. I'm not sure if it's exhibitionism or cluelessness, but either way, the staff needs to create (or enforce) a rule that everyone, men and women, needs to cover their nipples. I'm not a prude about the human body, but the YMCA is very big on being "family friendly," and besides, that's how staph infections spread. Maybe this all wouldn't be such a big deal if the staff were better, but they're part of the problem too. I've had several staff members make such a big effort to "get to know me" that it felt creepy. One man who works behind the front desk had memorized my schedule and commented when I came in at a different time of day, and another man, a janitor, called me by name when we'd never had a conversation before. I realize that maybe some people would like this personalized customer service, but given that they're men and I'm a woman in my 20s, it felt more like flirting, which I don't want from employees (or anyone) at the gym. I realize they probably didn't mean any harm, but I think they need to be more sensitive about how they come across. I did talk to another employee, who witnessed my interaction with the guy who knew my schedule, and let him know that it made me uncomfortable. The second employee said it was normal, that "we're all family here" and they know everyone that well. That may be true, but I feel they could work on how to come across as friendly and family-like rather than flirtatious or stalker-ish. The female employees, on the other hand, were never so "friendly" as to remember my name or comment on what time of day I came in. It seems like the YMCA is big on pressuring people to be a part of their so-called "family." Although it would have been great if I happened to make friends at the gym, I'm mostly there to work out. It also just didn't feel genuine. There was one employee who always tried to involve me in a long conversation about how my day was going, what I did earlier in the day, what type of workout I was going to do, etc. While he was asking me seemingly polite questions, his tone of voice was always rude and and sarcastic. He was someone who clearly did not want to be doing customer service, and it would have been better for everyone if he stuck to a simple "Hello" rather than trying to make conversation when clearly his heart wasn't in it. There are a few employees who are genuinely friendly without being nosy, but they're the exception rather than the rule. Between the gym members and the staff, it was often a pretty frustrating and stressful experience to go to the gym. But it's cheap, so I tried to be more accepting of the "eccentric" people and just ignore them. But, as I realized with the guy who believed I was "harassing" him, sometimes ignoring them doesn't solve the problem. It's a good bargain if you can put up with the quirks I've described, but there are better, cheaper gyms in Seattle, so unless you live really close and this is convenient for you, I suggest going somewhere else. read more

I love this gym! Really friendly staff, good cardio room, and amazing childcare. All for a very reasonable cost. It's not fancy, but it has everything I need to get started back with an exercise routine after a several year post-child hiatus. read more

I've never felt more comfortable in a gym than I do at the University Family YMCA and I've been a member at many different gyms. The staff is all wonderful and extremely helpful, as are the other members. I feel like I meet new friendly people daily. The classes are fun and challenging no matter your athletic ability. The financial assistance is amazing and I am so grateful for it! My most favorite thing about this gym is the child care. I started dropping my son off at 6 months of age and the staff was so inviting, caring, and entertaining. Often I go to the gym just to give my son time to be in the child care surrounded by tons of other kids having fun and I know that he's in good hands. Don't let the small size, lack of pool, or old building trick you into not using this facility. The community of staff and members plus services offered make up for all of that. read more