South Bay Family YMCA

I have my son enrolled in the YMCA’s swim lessons, pike class for April/​May 2016. With today being his last class I felt the desire to rate our experience with this programs swim curriculum. My son is always super excited to come to class, he’s definitely become more comfortable in the water and becoming a little fish! The only negative concern that I have as a parent and ex swim instructor myself is that over an 8 class/​4 week program my son had 3 different teachers (Mr. Liam, Miss Monica & the last didn’t introduce herself) I feel that consistency is key, especially for these ⁴⁄₅ year olds and the instructors were repetitive with their lessons, the same routine every class. I would have hoped for him to get even more guidance, to form a trusting bond with one instructor or at least be notified that multiple instructors would be teaching my son. Just wanted to express some constructive criticism for this facility.

I have always had nothing but good experiences at the South Bay YMCA! It is so great that I can work out while my daughter takes swim class at the same time. The upgraded facilities are amazing! Some of the complaints I read about have been since solved. For example, they now have a «family» locker room so mothers do not have to be separated from their young sons. Furthermore, I have consistently had great customer service and found the «rules» around the pool and facility safety to be fair and reasonable. I am very thankful that such a nice, well-​organized family organization is available to me and the families of Chula Vista!

Customer service still sucks!!! The new renovations at this facility are amazing and I couldn’t be more happier that they actually listen and made changes. Not only did they meet what I expect from a family gym, but they went beyond those expectations. La fitness is the best gym in Eastlake but it’s extremely crowded. My family and I will be members of this ymca for a very long time.

Worked out here while I went to high school and for a bit after I graduated and the best way I can describe it is ‘functional’ in other words it will get the job done. It has all your essential weight room equipment that you need to get a good workout even though it lacks higher weighted dumbells. It is a relaxed family atmosphere and usually very quiet when working out. Honestly sometimes it can be quite boring and the music they play is terrible radio hits nothing to get you pumped up so bring your own earphones. Recently they raised their prices and honestly I don’t consider it worth the money when you can go to a much more well designed gym for just a bit more money however I can see why some people would enjoy this atmosphere.

I will never return to this YMCA. My daughter took a swim class here and the «lifeguards» who are about 18 years old are constantly harassing customers. We were standing by the edge watching our 2-​year old and they would tell us «you can’t stand there» or «you have to stand over here.» They constantly harass you about rules. There are rules for locker rooms, rules for the pool, to the point where no one can even figure out the point of the rules, other than to harass us. The lifeguards are like robots, regurgitating rules left and right. So over it. Lighten up guys!

I’m trying to get volunteer jobs here but they haven’t contacted me back yet. Do u know if u have preschool volunteering?

This is super disappointing. I guess we’re going to have to cancel our membership when my son turns 6. I would never allow him to go into the men’s locker room alone at such a young age, he doesn’t even wipe his own butt yet! We always liked it here because it seemed to be a very family oriented place. If a boy isn’t comfortable going into a whole different locker room he shouldn’t be made to do so. He takes swim classes and do you really think he’s gonna shower himself in a room full of strange men? I don’t. So ridiculous. I think this policy needs to be changed immediately. No exceptions? What about children with special needs? Are they just out of luck?

It’s a great Y for me but not really for the family. I go to the yoga classes (both Patricia and Linda are awesome). It’s extremely affordable considering you get unlimited yoga classes for the monthly fee. Granted, at the Eastlake location, there is the Zumba music pounding, gymnastics door opening/​closing and crying kids at the Kidzone right next to the studio but the class is so great you eventually tune it all out (usually). I wanted to take advantage of the touted kid activities for members (fitness, arts, etc) but with my young children, I can’t seem to get it work. I have a 3 and 6 year old and I get told that my 3 year can’t go to the classes with my 6 year old and my 6 year old can’t attend the classes that my 3 year old goes too. Anyone with young kids will understand you really can’t take one and not the other (driving there so one child goes to the child care area and the other gets a fun activity) without some type of ongoing disappointment. Also there is no child care during the Bouncin Buddies class (geared toward toddlers 3 – 5) so there are a lot of moms outside with their younger kids just hanging out while the older sibling gets some physical activity, rather than being able to go work out during the time. I don’t go to that class anymore because I can’t go work out as my 6 year can’t go to the child care and making my 6 year sit outside with me while my 3 year old is inside having a ball at a PE-​like class feels wrong to me. We stay members because of the location, the quality of yoga instructors and occasional equipment use. As far as family use, think more rules and regulations for the South Bay YMCA than flexibility.

Be forewarned — The website will overcharge you for the summer camps no matter how early you sign up. I paid up in full for all camps I reserved for my son and noticed on the flyer that you receive a $ 25 discount if you register early — IT DOES NOT give you the discount if you sign up on the website. But that’s not why I gave this place 1 star. I just got off the phone with someone named Leticia who I was referred to in order to resolve the issue.
She was not only talking down to me, but seemed to blame me for overpaying. She said, she’s not in IT and she is not in charge of the website. Fine. I understand that, but what she didn’t do, is listen to the customer. She spoke over me and immediately started pushing blame instead of resolving the problem.
Point blank, I had to bring her back to my question, «Am I getting my money back for the programs I signed up early for?» The fact that I had to repeat myself and direct the conversation myself in order to get my answer, was the most frustrating experience I have ever had.
NO one else at this YMCA has ever interacted with me in this way. I am disappointed that this person is allowed to treat customers this way.
Please resolve.

This Y is a LIFE SAVER for anyone with young kids! My 4 and 1 year old enjoy their time in Kid Zone (my oldest asks if we can go to THIS «kid zone» because they have a great outdoor play area and all of the workers know my kids pretty well). Kids can stay in Kid Zone for up to 2 hours — which is great if you want a solid workout and a shower (that’s right, mother’s of young children must have childcare to shower!). The machines are rarely busy. The staff is great, very friendly and helpful. I LOVE the classes — especially the strength/​cardio classes with either Mike or Kevin. It’s also a nice place to meet the mom’s in a similar situation.
Price — I have the single parent family pass (my husband wouldn’t utilize it enough to make it work the two-​parent pass). It’s more than I was spending at 24 as a DINK. But 24 doesn’t offer quality childcare and they charge for it every time you go. In a way it’s a bit of a sacrifice, but not when you figure how good it is for EVERYONE’S mental health when mommy gets out some energy in a good workout AND how wonderful the childcare is for our babies! The other perk is that after you go regularly for a while, you start feeling like a part of this Y community. It’s a way different vibe than you get when going to 24 (crowded meat-​market vibe. No offense — 24 was great for me during that stage of my life).

Mr. David. He’s a best teacher for swimming on earth. If you want to get a private swimming lesson, you should try to request Mr.David.You’ll not waste your time and your money to be there. He’s great swimming teacher. You will know how to swim quick if you go to him.

This is still an awesome place to work out! I would say more but I stand by my last review of this place. They still do kids zone so you can work out while your child is being supervised. That’s awesome, the facilities are still very well maintained and the staff is just as friendly and helpful as before

This YMCA is great! I used to come here when I was younger for a youth gym membership. I had switched to 24 Hour fitness but now that my membership ended, am now back at YMCA. As a college student, they offer great student discounts and financial assistance to work with you so you can work out! They have an awesome facility, which is well maintained and has pretty much everything you have in a full size gym. I’d recommended the YMCA to anybody looking for a place to work out. Also they have lots of kids programs like swimming lessons, and exercise classes.

I Came to drop off my sister to work ! And decided to get a day pass ! This is a great place to work out its not Busy and the equipment is fairly new !! The have a beautiful swimming pool ! And the staff is really friendly ! They have plenty of parking !!

I brought my sister in law to the YMCA she works here and I was given the privilege to check it out, this place is great for kids and even adults they have a huge swimming pool. They also give swimming lessons and they have gym equipment to work out. The staff including my sister is awesome they take care of kid while there in the facility and help them with there homework if needed. They try to give them a comfortable place to be, so that there not out in the streets. great job YMCA

Coming from someone who use to work out daily at Crunch Fitness down on Plaza Bonita, the YMCA is a great facility.
They’ve got classes available (Zumba, Boot Camp, etc.), a lap pool, kids pool and slide, cardio room, and free weights room. They’ve got it all.
After coming here for a good month now, I have come to know that this place will never be busy enough to where you’re waiting for a machine (as opposed to Crunch).
Currently, we’re paying about $ 50 month between my husband and I; we totally are okay with that rate when we know we have access to multiple pools and other YMCA’s in the Southbay area.
The other side that makes this place great is the attitude of the associates. They truly make the energy here happy and welcoming.
Overall, if you’re looking for a less busy, great workout faculty, this YMCA is the place to be.

I love kid zone. As a member, the best perk is free childcare while you work out up to 2 hours. The staff are super friendly and always acknowledge you when you come in. I love all the Zumba instructors. I like that even though they opened Eastlake they work both centers! One of the best investments we have made for our family!
Locker rooms, bathrooms, shower stalls etc. are always clean!!!

Just moved to the area from Virginia. I had a Y membership there and loved it. So far so good here too. Lots of cardio equipment, plenty of free weight machines, and the kid zone (free child car while you work out) is great. I haven’t attended any of the group fitness classes because the process is a little strange. You have to show up an hour before the class starts to sign up. Which really eats into the 2 hour time limit on childcare.
Friendly Staff and a well kept facilities.

I have been going to this YMCA since 2002.
First and most importantly, Robbin is the best trainer on earth. She is inspirational, detail oriented and dedicated. Everyone that works with her believes that she has made a huge impact on their lives. She knows everything there is to know about exercise.
They have added many Zumba classes at the YMCA. Michelle is a fantastic Zumba instructor and dancer. My mom hits Zumba almost every night of the week. People of all ages, shapes and types are welcome here. I love the diversity.
I am not a fan of step classes because stepping hurts my knee. But I agree with previous reviewers that Janice’s class is fun and a good workout.
Everyone of all ages and shapes in the body pump class look pretty buff. It must be effective.
Despite the economic downturn, this YMCA keeps constructing new rooms and buying economic equipment which to means that they are dedicated to their clientele and doing a great job raising funds.
My one concern is that cars get broken into in the parking lot from time to time, but I am sure that that happens in all gym parking lots. The lot is well lit.
Wendy at the front desk is wonderful and helpful. Chris and Braulio are also very nice and friendly.
I do not agree with the previous reviewer that there are kids all over the equipment. Children are not allowed on the equipment and the rules are enforced.
I always run into very kind family-​oriented people here.
It costs $ 50 for my boyfriend and I together.
Overall, it is a low-​cost gym with nice facilities, but nothing high-​end like a spa or a juice bar.

I love the YMCA! Last year I was training for an Ironman race. I used the facilities at the South Bay YMCA to my advantage.
I used the pool for a lot of my swim workouts. They usually have 1 – 3 lanes open depending on what other classes are going on. During the Summer it can get pretty crowded and splitting a lane is inevitable. Most of the time I have a lane all to myself. During the Winter time I have the pool to myself :)
I would take the spin classes if the outdoor conditions make it impossible to ride my bike on the road. The classes are pretty popular. I make sure to get there 15 minutes early to secure my spot since space is limited. The classes are just OK and I have been to better spin classes elsewhere. It serves it purpose and I get a good workout out of it.
I’ve hit the treadmill every so often. I prefer running outdoors but when it’s cold and rainy outside I prefer the indoors. Their treadmills have TV screens on them and have a pretty decent channel selection. Word of advice… don’t turn to the Food Network while running. It’ll just make you want to get off the treadmill and eat at the Taco Bell down the street.
I have the family membership and I have two young kids. Kid Zone has been my saving grace. Included with the membership is two free hours at the childcare center on site. Whenever I need to swim, bike, or run at the facility, I can always drop off the kids. The kids love going to Kid Zone and the staff are always lovely with the kids.
What can I say… the South Bay YMCA is a great place and I highly recommend it!!!