I moved out of state a few years ago, but I use to belong to BAC. I moved back temporarily due to a family emergency. I was able to get a pass at BAC. This gym used to be packed with people and classes use to fill up pretty fast. In 2024, BAC is pretty much empty. Plus, now there are cameras literally around EVERY corner of this place. Creepy. Anyway, it seems like everyone moved to Blink. Probably won't re-sign up if I come back home permanently, but won't join Blink either. Friendly employees at BAC, but too few members and too many cameras. Joining Blink is joining A.I. No thanks to both. read more

LOVE the BAC! Fantastic array of classes offered; tons of equipment to use on your own outside of formal classes; saltwater pool; knowledgeable, friendly, helpful staff; trainers out of this world! They host seasonal activities like "Fitness in the Park" where anyone can attend for free at the lovely Lynch park. They are also an incredible community partner. When much of the city was without electricity, they opened to allow residents to come shower, work and recharge phones and devices. read more

I have attended classes and otherwise had a pleasant experience with the instructors. However, recently I have had issues registering for programs and the person in charge of the department was a bit of an air head. Tried several times to contact the GM and never heard back which is unprofessional. Great facility but if you need help with anything or have any issues with membership then good luck finding someone to help you or return calls. read more

This is a fantastic gym. Staff is helpful and kind, especially Jill. I have been coming hear almost continuously since 1994. They have everything you could want. My only complaint is members often on their cell phones and having loud conversations. Need signs up telling people cell phones should be locked up when in the gym. Great pool and steam room and sauna. read more

2 months this machine in picture has been broken, so many tvs on machines don't work. hand grips on many machines worn for years. anyone doing maintenance on these? read more

YMCA Soul Center - Gyms Near Me - Beverly, Massachusetts

I've been a member if the BAC for almost a decade, and it continues to be an awesome place for me to go to for health, fitness m, classes & up-to-date information! If you have children (which I do), they have awesome facilities for youth activity and swimming. If you live or work on the N. Shore, and are considering joining a gym or fitness center, check out the BAC and what they have to offer! read more

YMCA Soul Center - BAC launched the Amazing Race competition during their open house this week! - Gyms Near Me - Beverly, Massachusetts

I joined the BAC mainly due to their salt-water pool. I had been using the YMCA in Salem, but after swimming laps I'd go home feeling like I needed one shower to wash off the chlorine and another to get clean. I've been a member of BAC since the end of 2011. Due to "life circumstances" one of which is being lazy, I haven't utilized my membership as much as I should, at least not until recently. This place has pros and cons. Pros: Saltwater Pool - always warm, definitely feels nicer to swim in than a "regular" pool, usually pretty quiet/not a ton of swimmers, at least the hours I have gone or go. The classes they offer. They seem to offer classes that you can't find at the Y. Another factor in my joining was to try BodyPump and TRX type classes. I've only gotten to bodypump at this point. Oh, they also offer Boxing on Thursday nights which I'm excited to try soon. Scheduling is a con, however,which I'll get to. Staff - all of the staff I've interacted with thus far have been really nice and/or helpful. Hours - are fairly decent. not that I'm t here at 5am, but if I wanted to go super early or stay late, I'd be able. Cons: Price - this is not a cheap place; I pay close to 60 a month for my membership. They require a contract for a year as well. Schedule of classes - they offer awesome classes but, in all honesty, the times SUCK. It really seems geared towards the moms that don't have to work. A "certain demographic' if you know what I mean. I need to be to work between 830-530, which means any classes I'd take would have to end by 8 at the latest. All of the classes I want to take either end at 930, start at 5, or are from noon to one. Not sure who can make those, but i can't and it bums me out! They do offer a few classes not in those time frames but unfortunately, they're not ones I'm interested in. the woman's locker room . I just wish there were a few more bathroom stalls. It gets a little crowded in there at times. Overall, i do like this place and the money I spend is motivation enough to go. Not sure if I'll renew my membership when the year's up, though. read more

I have been a member at the BAC for many years and can honestly say that the BAC is a standout facility. The facility itself has something for everyone. I especially appreciate the variety of up to date equipment and various workout areas that accommodate to all training types, abilities, and goals. All of their personal trainers are highly qualified and extremely passionate about getting you to your goals. I have been training with one of their trainers, Alex Johnson, for many years and I leave every session feeling stronger and more excited to work towards my goals. One of the best parts of being a member at the BAC is feeling welcome every time I go by not only the staff, but by the community they have built. read more

pretty okay gym. the staff are friendly. the yoga classes have been pretty good in the past. the pool is ok.

I've been training here for 10 years and it's excelllent. They have recently put a ton of money into improvements and the weight area is as good as any Div. I college facility. Ed the owner is a class act and both Jason the fitness guru and Jill in membership are tremendous people and have become good friends. I've been working out since 1977 and this is one of the nicest facilities, including good people, that I have ever been in. I sincerely recommend giving BAC a try. read more

(score 1-100) -70. When you go to so many gyms or belong to multiple at once they all seem to be the same. Well, this place definitely is completely different from the rest. The best way to describe BAC is that it is a all-in-one health club. You have the same feel, the kids, the family atmosphere only a little nicer than the typical gyn. One of the unique things that you won't find anywhere is that they have a HEATED SALTWATER Pool!! Very unique and cool! It is 40,000 sq ft, so it is super large by suburban gym standards. I think this is the ideal gym for families or if your Y doesn't offer services such as massage....yes they have a SPA here as well. The vibe here is FAMILIES... If you are married and have two kids, THIS IS YOUR PLACE. Give it a try, you can request a free guest pass, which sadly in the gym industry is disappearing... what happened to try before you buy?! Overall a solid gym with ok equipment. read more

Now that I've been here a while, I want to update my review...again. I love this place. It's so much different than I recalled from my very first review in which I more of less judged it from memory of several years ago. It's a lot of younger clientele, but still very respectful. No heroes, no one getting in your way or following those tired stereotypes of the grunting/weight throwing/invisible lat having/meatheads. The pool is excellent, especially without all that chlorine in there. The locker room is super clean, but my favorite thing has got to be the sauna. It's usually pretty empty in there, so it's good for pre and post workouts to loosen up and decompress. Machines are quickly serviced when/if they break down. The boxing equipment and 100lb heavy bag are back, which I dig. There is just so much equipment to work with sometimes I'm a little overwhelmed. Referral program kicks ass. I just referred my third member, so I've knocked $15 off my membership, making it more than reasonable. I've looked around and compared the prices, I'm getting the best deal when you consider what it included. And the staff is great. I prefer a hands off approach. I know what I'm there to do and I get in and do it. But it's also great to know that they're approachable if you need something. I don't feel like just another person there, I actually feel like I belong to a club. I haven't done the classes yet, but it's something I've been thinking about, especially since most of them are for the price of FREE. So if it isn't my thing, no big deal. Overall, I'm thrilled to be there and plan on being a member for a long time. It's a completely different places from what I experienced several years ago. If you're on the fence, just join. read more

I joined at the beginning of this year after the North Shore Athletic club went under. It has been a pleasant change. BAC keeps their equipment working and up to date and the environment well maintained. I enjoy the steam room steamy, the hot tub hot and the sauna warm and dry. The staff are enthusiastic and friendly. I've really enjoyed working out over the past several months. Update: I've erased my comments about their pricing. Apparently they are consistent about it, though I wish they would post their rates on their site. I've also added another star, as my experience has only improved over the last several months. read more

We've been members here for several years and the pool and weight equipment are clean and well maintained. The locker rooms are ok. Recently redecorated but I wonder if the decorators have ever tried to shower and get dressed for work in there? Staff aren't particularly friendly or helpful, and often make going to the BAC more tiring than the actual work out. For the money, it would be great if the employees weren't mean to the 'members' -- the only interactions seem to be unpleasant. read more

Quality. This gym taught what to expect from a premium experience. This place is the benchmark I use to measure any fitness center I use. Great options for classes, great instructors, trainers, and it's always clean. Top notch Athletic club. read more

I really like the Express club, it's clean, I use the free weights and they are in good shape, the other members are courteous, and having the 24 hour access is great WHEN IT WORKS! Today at 5:20am, the 3rd time in 2016, the automatic entry scanner DID NOT WORK! Fortunately the was a member who had been in the club since 3am and after walking around to the windows (fortunately there wasn't any snow this time) and banging on them I was able to get his attention and he let me in. 3 strikes and they should be out, but I like this club and I will give them one more attempt to get this right, before I look for another club I can use on my early Sunday morning work days. read more

BAC is a wonderful gym. It is very welcoming, friendly and the professionals there are amazing. I never saw myself as a candidate for a personal trainer! However, at age 50, I knew that I needed to work out in order to stay energized. I feel very lucky to have been paired up with one of their physical trainers, Natalie Nix. Natalie is very open to hearing about concerns and needs. She is a great person to take swimming lessons with. Extremely knowledgeable about anatomy and fitness, she pays close attention to past injuries and goes out of her way to prioritize posture and form to prevent new ones. Nonjudgmental and encouraging, she is reassuring when something is hard. Natalie is also very fun! I appreciate our funny conversations, and she tells good stories to entertain me as I struggle to hold planks! Brandon LaVack is also an exceptional massage therapist there. He is amazing at helping alleviate past injuries and offers incredibly effective stretching and strengthening exercises to do between sessions. Overall, BAC - along with its trainers, massage therapists, and overall staff is a really great place to work out! read more

The people here are awesome... I had a knee problem and they help me out.. Andy and Dan ( I think) was very friendly and knowledgeable. And the awesome lady at the front desk is funny as hell and friendly this place is very warming.. highly recommend this place if you have some kind of body injury read more

Lots of amenities, continually updating too, monthly is a little pricey and doesn't include access to other locations- that costs more.

Thanks for the info, Ed. I'll be more comfortable using the whirlpool now ;-) And thanks for the added amenities. I appreciate the owner of a company responding to a review. Mike read more

Some improvements have been made and they are mostly useful, but I've had a difficult time getting a response from management regarding the state of the weight room, which is the main reason I go to BAC. I have yet to see an employee go in to reorganize weight racks or straighten the weight room up, I shouldn't have to spend my time digging through weight racks to find the plates I need for the money I spend on a membership. Save your money and go to one of the other gyms in town. read more

Nice club - clean and I enjoy the members. The personal trainers, group class instructors, and the Physical Therapy (SoulPT) staff are wonderful. Big lockers to store your stuff during your workout, which is great. Never too crowded, there are always machines available and they have a women's only workout room, which is a thoughtful touch. read more

I started at this gym because I was tired of going to $20 a month gyms. You get what you pay for has never been so clear with those gyms. I pay $60 a month with a two year agreement. While I think the agreement is lengthy, the cost is quite high, I do love this gym. The staff is super friendly, and the fitness instructors are the best! They made me feel very comfortable trying out new classes, like Barre, and I feel their instructions are clear and the classes are fun! The gym is always clean, including the bathrooms and their smoothie bar was created by a nutritionist which I appreciate. They offer so much more that I haven't even explored yet! I would highly recommend this gym. read more

I've been a member here for about 5 months and I think this place is wonderful. The membership price is reasonable for what you get (I pay $49 a month). They offer a great variety of group fitness classes (which is very important to me!). I take yoga, Pilates, yogalates, and RPM weekly. The group fitness instructors are fabulous (especially Kiki, the Pilates instructor...you have to love her!). They're all very nice and welcoming to new people. I also like that they have a women's only room with a good variety of weights and weight machines (not too many cardio machines, but I do my cardio in the main room). My only complaint would be that the locker rooms are a bit small and can get crowded. But this is certainly a small inconvenience compared to all the wonderful things about this place! I'm so glad I found this gym! read more

I was in the area for a few days and wanted a place to work out. For a DAY pass they charged me about $30 (even though the girl at the front counter initially said the first week was free) - that seemed really steep to me, and I only paid because I was desperate. It was a fine facility, but the weights were seriously lacking (these weird little barbells with weights welded on - bizarre), all the lockers were ones where you have to bring your own lock (inconvenient), and now i get endless email promotions from BAC. read more

This gym has great potential for the amount of space it takes up. Originally, I joined to take Kiki's pilates classes ( who is AMAZING BTW). I've tried to contact someone at this gym several times to cancel or freeze my membership and never heard back or received any feedback. Since Kiki opened up her new studio, I thought I would give the gym another try and still take Kiki's classes. The bathroom facilities are clean, but the workout areas are dirty and a bit disgusting. The studio where classes (some poorly taught) are held has a filthy floor (dirt, gum, sweat, etc.), and I'm not sure anyone cleans the mats. It's gross when you think about the sweat and dirt accumulations rubbing over your body. Also, the "cardio room" is OK if you can get a machine to work properly. I feel the weights and medicine balls should have their own space. The weight machine room is too crowded. Having towels available to members would help too. I'm not sure how I feel about the spa/hair salon. Come to think of it, I didn't get an orientation or tour, and I'm not quite sure where most of the facilities are located. I thought there was a room solely for women to use, but I didn't see it today. It is impossible to find staff aside from the front desk person. There's no staff circulating the gym or making themselves available. Overall, I would not recommend this gym to my friends or family. Paying my membership fee is pretty disappointing at this time. I'm going to continue to try and break my contract (if i can get a response from someone in their office) before it is up in July of this year. I feel this was a waste of money. read more

We can work out anywhere. There are a number of gyms in any vicinity at various price ranges. The thing that sets gyms apart is the customer service before, during and after becoming a member. After joining this gym because it is close to work, got laid off and tried to cancel the membership. No problem canceling the membership. But trying to get them to STOP charging the credit card monthly? Nearly impossible. Got laid off in October. Canceled in November. Charges kept coming so we thought maybe they will catch up. Called to cancel again. This time they sent a form which we filled out and we requested a refund for the back months they charged us when they should not have. So, this month, there is another charge! It has now been 7 months. We called member services. It goes to voice mail. Now, waiting to see if they call back. Short of suing them and taking them to small claims court, what do you do? We canceled our card which means we have to go through the hassle of redoing all the cards on our autopay accounts. This is ridiculous. $387 may not be much to some people, but for us who are laid off, it is not chump change. I will post an update as soon as someone talks to us and we finally get the refund. read more

I've been a member of the BAC for 2 years. The facility itself is nice. All of the machines (at least the ones I use) are up to par. I like that the treadmills and ellypticals each have their own TV screen and headphone plug-in for individual viewing. The ladies' locker room is kept pretty clean. Soap dispensers are never without soap, as far as I've seen. The showers are clean, and soap and shampoo are provided in each stall (though it's athletic club soap...if you're particular, you should bring your own). The whirlpool, sauna and steam room all seem to be tidy and well-maintained. The trainers are great. They use your hour-long sessions very well and work you to your greatest fitness level. The classes are fun and challenging. I especially enjoy GroupRide with Jacqui, and Dynamic Core with Kiki. (Actually, any class with Kiki will kick your butt....she's awesome). Best of all: Nary a meathead in sight. read more

I have a pretty simple gym routine and am low-maintenance as far as needs go at the gym, but I have always been pleased with my experiences at the BAC. They keep up on their equipment, and are always making changes, renovations, etc. to keep up with the times. There's always new programs that they are promoting in order to help members stay fit. The classes are great, although I haven't tried a ton of them, the ones I have attended have been upbeat and energetic. The staff is friendly, and accommodating. This gym has a heavy emphasis on personal training, and the personal trainers all seem very committed to helping the members achieve their fitness goals. I use this gym for the convenience and proximity but will continue to use it for the consistency and predictability of good equipment and service. read more

I recently joined the BAC and overall I enjoy the location. The club offers some great classes but the times offered have not matched my schedule. As an example: The spinning room is often empty, with many members wishing more classes were held consecutively. Such as three or four classes in a row in the morning, mid-day and again in the evening. The locker room could also use an update. The facility is clean and well kept. The staff is professional and friendly. The preventative maintenance to the equipment is top notch. read more

My husband and I loved this place when we lived in downtown Salem - and yes, it was absolutely worth the drive. Their pool is AWESOME and I've never had to share a lane with more than one person (and even that is rare). The sauna is fantastic. The gym equipment is great. It's extremely rare to have to wait for a piece of cardio equipment ever. I loved the plug-in iPod feature on the TVs on the treadmills. My husband used the weight room extensively and has yet to find another that tops it. Additionally, I had some great customer service from Lisa S. and others when suffering a membership complication along the way. I can't say thank you enough to them for their help, extremely rapid response to my issue, and their thoroughness in resolving it. Definitely a different level of customer service than what you would get at a big chain gym. Oh - and their smoothies are fantastic! Try one today! read more

My husband & I have been members at BAC for a couple of years, and it's really a great gym. Friendly staff, good equipment, really nice pool, and group fitness classes are included in the membership. A great value for our $89 monthly fee (set up for autopayment; so no hassle). I do wish they'd have some of the classes a little later for those of us who commute in/out of Boston, but besides that it's GREAT. read more

Love this gym. Just moved to the area and have tried every gym around before finally landing at BAC. This gym is the best value around. The facility is huge, has plenty to offer as far as weights-cardio-classes-etc, and the staff is extremely friendly. As someone who has been burned in the past with bad gym experiences, I am glad I found BAC. read more

I worked out here on a visitor's pass and really liked the gym. I started out using a new piece of cardio equipment which combines a treadmill and elliptical (something I've always wanted to try) and moved on to the treadmill with my personal tv next. The ladies locker room was nice. I base this on the following, the lockers were large and plentiful. There were seats where you can sit to dry your hair (hair dryers supplied) & apply makeup. The steam room was great. This is all I tried out on this visit but enough for me to want to join. Minus one star due to the huge yucky mildew buildup on the shower curtain. Otherwise, an average gym that supplied all I look for. This is the opposite of my experience at Lynnfield's Boston Sports Club -- a very pricey fitness club that I didn't care for (overcrowded, way too many kids running around and the steamroom was horrible). read more

If you are looking for an over priced gym where you pay for random add-ons you don't even use, this is the place for you. Cancel your account if traveling. Never freeze your account as it is written in fine print, it will be unfrozen within a month with or without your authorization and changes will be taken from your card. Imagine freezing your charge card then out of nowhere it's switched on without your permission and people start taking money out of it. I haven't been to this gym since the summer of 2017 and they still won't refund me for the 23 months I haven't even logged in with my ID. Complete rip off and terrible customer service since I've yet to get any compensation. I am completely dissatisfied with my membership that lasted only 3 months. read more

Actually its now called the Beverly Athletic Club (BAC) but close enough. Myself and my better half joined this gym a little over a month ago and must say that we're very happy with the decision. In this day and age gyms are a dime a dozen but this gym definitely ranks near the top of all we've tried and been to. Amenities: Two floors with many, many amenities. Indoor pool, full court b-ball court, several raquet ball courts, separate women's only gym, spin gym, stretching area, mini-shop, smoothie bar, whirlpool, dry and wet sauna in each locker room, free weight area, machine area so you can cycle through all of your muscle groups quickly, huge area with tons of ellipse trainers, tread mills, stair climbers, tread climbers, bicycles oh my~! Physical therapy office, full service salon, kids day care area, physical trainers, boxing area, geez I think thats close to being it. Parking is plentiful. Oh almost forgot TV's on every machine~! Staff: Always friendly and willing to help out. At almost all hours you'll see one of the trainers working out on their personal time and are usually approachable for quick questions. Machine repair forms are available should you find problems, i.e. a tread climber was broken as the right tread wouldn't come up as high as the left. I submitted a sheet and the very next day the machine was labeled off to be serviced and prevent anyone from being injured with its use. Greg, our membership coordinator, was also very helpful and took the time to explain everything as we took the introductory tour. He's always chatting with members and greets everyone warmly. Value: I'd say for everything you get its a steal at $99 bucks a month for the both of us with a year's commitment. NO enrollment fee~! Waived since we signed up after our first trial day, we were that impressed. Kid tolerance: You don't have to worry about young teenies running a muck as everyone is usually very courteous to one another. Time slots are set out and kids are welcome to the pool as well as basketball courts. Often times I'll see a mother or father with their kids having a great time in the pool. 2 lanes are always marked off for lane swimming and we really rarely have a problem with crowding. Overall: An excellent place to go. We've got a 15 minute commute and don't mind since the gym is that great. Friendly staff and tons of amenities you really can't go wrong. Worse comes to worse you just finish out your trial and never go back. We've gone to the gym at different times and have never had a problem with crowding. A couple of times you'd have to work in on sets but thats to be expected. Theres plenty of options so you can just move on to another machine to work that muscle group or just head over to the free weights. No real waiting for this or that. I usually work out after work during 6:30 to 9 pm I usually never have a problem with crowding. Though be willing to hit the ellipse trainer if a treadmill is taken. As long as you can put up with little things like that and this is the prefect gym to go to. read more

Joining the BAC has been one of the best moves i have made for my health. The staff is friendly and helpful. I love the yoga classes and the exercise bikes. The salt water pool is amazing. Thanks! read more

This is a nice, smaller gym I like to use when visiting the area. Good selection of aerobic machines and the view overlooking the pond and fountain is great for ticking away the minutes. The weight equipment selection is a bit sparse, but certainly there's enough stuff here to get in a good workout. If this was my full-time gym, I might be going to the sister facility on Reservoir Road, which is quite a bit bigger. The locker and shower facilities are clean and well maintained. read more

My trainer Mike Donnellan is excellent. He is always challenging me to do more. The Group Ex classes are great. All of the staff is professional and friendly. read more

They have the equipment I need and I usually don't need to wait. A good experience except the locker room is pretty bad (at the smaller location). read more