Chinatown YMCA

The best thing about the YMCA that sets it apart from the other gyms is their dedication back into the community whether it be through funding youth programs, bilingual programs, or helping members with financial aid costs. It’s very unique and I personally rather have my money circulate and help out these programs.
The best thing about this Y’s gym is that it’s spacious, well-​ventilated, clean, and nice– looking. On the other hand, the locker room smells like a gym locker room; not the best, a hint of old socks and chlorine pool water smell but I never went to a gym that didn’t smell a little like that. Also the front desk and staff usually don’t greet me when I enter the Y. I think that’s because the front desk faces away from the entrance so it’s hard to greet members. Upon entering, there’s a short wall and info stands that prevent immediate contact with the front desk too.

Super clean & a terrific value!
Pluses:
2 personal orientation sessions with membership;
Available machines;
A saline pool (!);
Modern fitness room;
Variety of classes;
An outside patio;
Community & family oriented environment!!!
Lots of space…

I mostly use the free weights and treadmills here. I like that there’s little contention for weights and machines at lunchtime. Treadmills are modern and have built in fans. Free weights are all new and in good shape. Weight machines are marked in kg only. Locker area is functional nothing fancy. Front desk staff are friendly and helpful.

My boyfriend and I are traveling trough america fom australia and came across chinatown YMCA. being YMCA gym members in australia we learnt that we could use the gym and facilities for $ 5 a day (casual day pass). the gym is very clean, spacious and modern, the staff are really kind aswell. although it is dead silent in the gym and they are really lacking music i would train here again!

stinky and dirty women’s locker rooms. Towels are stained, scratchy and old. They don’t have paper towels in the restroom (would be fine if they had good hand dryers, but they don’t). Their class schedules are sparce and not scheduled to meet the needs of people working 9 – 5 jobs. My skin was really itchy after using the pool. I felt treated like a contract rather than a valued guest at their facility when I approached the subject of canceling my membership. I give this place two stars for a semi-​decent yoga class that I had taken and for some machines that were good.

I’m a big fan of the Y. During the day, its calm and quiet, and each one is a little different and special in it’s own way.
This Y. when you walk in there’s a lap /​recreational pool. The locker room is modern and doesn’t reek of mildew and sweat. showers have curtains.
I went upstairs and they have a Youth Activity area, ping-​pong, basketball court, bbq pit and sort of a courtyard.
The gym is up on the 3^rd floor, fewer machines than what I’m used to, but the equipments are new have more than one purpose.
ie. There’s fly cables, squat racks, deadlift padding, free weights, adjustable benches, mats, treadmills/​ellipticals, and everything else.
I’d go here more often if I didn’t have to walk so far from Downtown.

I went there for a year to swim, it was great. The soft water is very nice.
Everything is clean and new, you have cardio/​workout room upstairs that is never too packed.

Visited this Y while in town for work using the AWAY program.
Pros:
–Nice, clean 5 lane lap pool with a good cool temperature
–Chinatown influenced architecture and decore
–Small but functional Y with all the needed machines and weights
–Second story outdoor seating area
Cons:
–Had to pay a $ 5 per day fee even though I was a visiting member from another Y using the AWAY program. This never happens, not cool.
–Super busy pool, read other reviews of same Y, enough said.
Overall, good for a single visit if in the area, but small with limited facilities and overcrowded pool. I wouldn’t be a member here.

Love the Chinatown Y! The staff is very friendly and helpful. The pool is great and the equipment is terrific. It’s everything I need in a gym and then some!

I was sad when I moved away from this gym. The classes are well organized, the workout equipment is in good condition (new-​ish), the pool is bright, the locker rooms are clean, and the zen garden is calming. I especially liked the staff at this location who went out of their way to make members happy. I could pop in and not feel overcrowded or worry about competing with too many people. They have a healthy snack vending machine and lots of activities for young people/​families.

For all the money they spent to rehab this place, why in the world did they not put in a hot tub, or a sauna, or a steam room? The pool is nice but after a good swim it’s a reward to relax in a hot tub, and/​or sauna. Also, the locker rooms are tiny. Way too much space was wasted on game rooms, etc. I’m willing to bet that someone pocketed some of the money that was supposed to be spent on facilities.

My wife and I just ran the Chinese New Years 5k run this morning. We just loved how well this event was planned out… great people and excellent event! We’ll be back next year and we plan on brining more of our friends with us!!!

Nice location from downtown location. When I was there at about 3pm on a Tuesday, there were 3 lap lanes separated by ‘slow’, ‘medium’ and ‘fast’. The other two lanes were being used for instruction/​water polo. Since I’m clearly no Michael Phelps, I chose the medium lane. That was a mistake since I was sharing it with two ladies slowly doing the breast stroke. After switching to the fast lane, there were about 3 of us. Congested but manageable. The locker room is small and remember a lock (although I think they may have some). The showers are great and clean. The staff is very nice and thorough. Towels are available and it’s $ 5 for a Y member. Not my hometown pool but I got my swimming fix while in SF.

It’s a shame that this Y, with it’s fabulous poo, can’t figure out a way to offer offer aqua fitness classes that work for working people, especially those in the financial district for whom it would be so convenient if they did.
There are NO evening or lunchtime aqua classes, and weekdays are at 9 – 10 am, which obviously only works for non-​9-​to-​5 ers, and Sunday at 8 am — UGH. How horrible is that?
Other group ex class times are not much more convenient for regular workers, which is likewise a shame because the facilities are great.
I understand that they are more community, and kid, focused than some other Y’s, but think it would profit them all the way around to find some creative ways to accommodate more kinds of clients. I became a city-​wide Y member specifically to take aqua classes there, but there are none for me.

I tried it out for a few months and found it pretty frustrating. I came in for a tour and consultation and told them that I was signing up for the group classes, namely yoga. They asked about my schedule. The thing is I work about a 10 minute walk away. So I would rush over at noon but not get into the class until 12:10 and the instructor had this policy of not allowing you to join the class if you’re more than 10 minutes late. It happened 3 times in a row where I was rejected from the class. I got so frustrated I just cancelled membership, but I was 3 days too late to get a refund on the membership. AND on top of that there’s a 30 day notice period so they charged me $ 65 for another month because they had to, for whatever reason. What a waste :(
The staff at the desk were really nice otherwise. That’s about all I can say about this YMCA. The locker rooms are a little horrid. it’s all carpet and people come in wet from the pool so it smells moldy in there.

I work downtown and really scoped out my gym-​with-​pool options before choosing the Chinatown YMCA. I’ve been there for 1.5 years now, and have concluded that it’s pretty good with a few drawbacks.
The Good:
–Financial assistance for those who qualify. My membership is $ 50.00 per month, and for a gym with a pool that’s not too shabby. I also like that my money is going to a deserving organization.
–The place is high tech! All the cardio machines have tv screens built in, which means gym time is essentially watch Bravo time.
–The staff. They are so friendly and always remember my name. It really feels like a community here.
–Lack of crowds in the cardio room. I usually go during non-​peak hours, but even when I do there are always machines available. I’ve never waited for a treadmill.
The Not-​So-​Good:
–The pool can get really crowded after work. Like I-​dont-​want-​to-​swim-​anymore crowded. This is especially annoying during the summer, when they cut off two sometimes THREE lanes for kids swim classes. I basically stopped swimming during the summer because it was so aggravating to circle swim all the time.
–The locker room isn’t the best. I don’t know why, but attendees of this gym have some really gross habits (i.e. cutting toenails onto the carpet and eating smelly food in the locker room). It’s tolerable, but could be improved upon.
To sum, the Chinatown YMCA is a really great organization and pretty good gym. If you can swim during non-​peak hours, you should have a fantastic experience at this Y. If you can’t, you’ll get in the habit of watching cable during your cardio like I have. Join!

During my stay in SF, the YMCA became my second home. Everyone there is so nice, I made friendships that I’m sure will last a lifetime.
All the trainers there were amazing, kind hearted, super helpful people, I learned a lot from them in their consultation classes. It was perfect.
Simon, Ken, Scott, Ray, staff at the reception, everyone, it was a pleasure to meet and learn from all of you. This has been one of my best experiences in SF.
Thank you.
Oh, also, the facilities are great, they are always super clean, you get as many free towels as you want. The pool is always impecable, they have an indoor basketball court, ping pong table, great gym equipment for cardio and weight lifting… need I say more?

Lately I’ve been feeling happy yet stuck in my head with outside worldly rubbish.
I need a nice peaceful affordable place to go Swim and take some dance or yoga classes. I’m not cheap but I have to be wise.
Wow…the Chinatown YMCA is sooo affordable and has the Greatiest pool in the city. They have much variety of classes and my son has friends that go too.
The pool is such a good way to unwind.
If you are wanting a great community outlet come check it out.
I feel this spot has a wonderful vibe.
Yea hey… Cheers

I was a member at the Chinatown YMCA for just over a year. I found their staff to be young and unprofessional mostly concerned with chatting with their coworkers.
When I signed up I was promised they weren’t one of those gyms who raises your membership rates like 24 Hour Fitness. Six months into my membership my rate went up. Sure it only went up $ 2 a month, but that’s still annoying.
Their schedule might work for you if you like to work out during the middle of the day. They have much shorter hours than most gyms I’ve belonged to. They are closed for more holidays than a freaking bank. Not only do they close for holidays but they shorten their hours on the day before a holiday and the day after. I swear they were never open. They also close for an entire week every September. So you get a nice 3 weeks for the price of 4 deal.
I did not care for this gym and am no longer a member. The two stars are for John’s pop dance class. It was awesome… until they cut his class to add another damn yoga or zumba class. Not that there is anything wrong with yoga or zumba. The Embarcadero location offers a greater variety of classes.
I’m really not as cheap as I sound, I was just extremely dissapointed with my experience at this location.

Love this gym. Since my 24 hour fitness contract ended I had been looking for a gym with a decent pool.
My high end options were Club One, Equinox etc. I was not about to pay $ 100+ a month for the privilege of swimming at someone’s facility.
On the lower end Crunch has no pools. 24 hour fitness has terribly chlorinated pools that are too far from my house.
Chinatown Y is a brand new facility with a saline pool that doesn’t irritate my eyes. The staff are über-​friendly and as of yet has not been too crowded.
The crowd is decidedly asian and I love that. Has a community center feel to it.
I love the Y becauese it’s not about profits. I work in education and i feel great having my $ 60 a month going to programs for students and elders as opposed to line someone’s pockets.
I love my spin instructor Amanda and the lifeguards for master’s swim have been really nice.
I definitely recommend this place.