[katbka]

Dearest Brooklynians,
With the economy being in crisis, I decided to quit the fancy Wall St Equinox, and join my local YMCA.
Do any of you belong to the Park Slope YMCA? What do you like/dislike about it?
Is it true that Food Coop members get a discount when joining?

Any feedback is appreciated!

[starsinjenseyes]

I'm a member! I like it a lot. They have a nice variety of classes and everyone on the staff that I've encountered is nice. They have plenty of cardio machines and I've never had a problem getting one right away (I go at off peak times though, so your mileage may vary...) I like the nice assortment of people at the Y- families, senior citizens, all shapes and sizes.

Some people dislike their track because its old, but I don't mind it because you can usually get it to yourself. I can't comment on the pool as I have never used it.

You may be able to get a discount, you should check at the Membership desk. They have a full list of organizations that receive discounts at the Y. I get a nice discount through the Freelancer's Union.

[Teckla]

I am a member and am currently having a love/hate moment. I love how close it is to my place, but I hate their member services.

I signed up for ten sessions with a personal trainer, which I paid for in advance (nothing new there). It took them over two weeks for a trainer to call me back, and even though I put on my sign up form that I wanted to work out at 6am, she said she could not come in that early. She said another trainer would call me. I finally got a call a week later.

I've had a few sessions with him, and he's been great, kicking my ass appropriately, etc. But he missed an appointment, and the front desk guy who found me waiting said that my trainer would call me. I waited a week, never heard. I've trained before, and I just feel that I'm not get the customer service I should, and since it's already paid for, they don't seem to care much.

I've only taken a few yoga classes, and they have been great, a nice cross-section of the community, so I don't feel like a total loser for not already knowing every pose. Yes, the track sucks, but in my estimation, all tracks suck.

[slopelisa]

although i don't go as often as i wish. i do the classes--yoga, pilates, etc--and find the teachers to be great. such a mix of folks and affordable. and a sauna if you wanna!

[Zebra]

I used to go for the pool but it got too crowded. When it's three or four swimmers per lane it stops being exercise.

[katbka]

How are their water aerobics classes? I am interested to join mostly for the pool.

[Teckla]

Re: water classes, mostly older adults, but you do get a work out! Take one taught by Aston!

[katbka]

thank you very much for your recommendations!
One more thing - is it safe to lock a bicycle outside? Or am I better off walking?

[MM]

I don't know about the classes or the bike locking (I just use the machines and walk there) but I do know that you get a discount for being a Food Coop member. If I recall correctly it's 20% off.

[ljnd]

I love the Y - I too go there during off hours, though. And I use a trainer - Stanley, who is purely awesome. However, the communication between staff and trainers is not great - frequently the trainers are not aware that people have signed up with them until a week or so later. You can approach the trainers directly. I never work through the office for my sessions with Stanley, except to pay. I do my scheduling directly with him.

They replace their equipment frequently, so it's all generally in good shape. They just got new free weights. The free weight room could stand to be a little bigger - and its rush hours are not the same as the rush hours in the cardio room.

Everyone is super-friendly, and I've almost never seen rude behavior or even self-centered behavior.

[starsinjenseyes]

I've never had a problem locking my bike outside there. There is a sign near the bike racks that says the bike racks are monitored by a video camera.

Any class (water aerobics or otherwise) taught by Aston are great. Without a doubt, he's my favorite teacher at the Y.

[katbka]

Wow, I didn't expect such great reviews! thank you all!

MM, do you have to tell them you are a coop member to get the discount? I checked out their list of discounts last week, and didn't see the coop on that list.

Also, when are peak hours at the gym? I will most likely go around 7 or 8 in the evening.

[starsinjenseyes]

When I signed up, I had to show proof of my membership to the Freelancer's Union in order to receive the discount. My guess is that this is the same for the Coop.

I also forgot to mention that the area around the bike racks at the Y is well lit. I've always felt comfortable locking my bike up there.

And to follow up on what someone else said, the communication between the trainers and the admin staff is not great. I paid for my sessions at the membership desk, but then dealt with my trainer, Aston (who I can't recommend enough) to schedule appointments.

I rarely use the cardio room during evening peak hours, but the few times I have gone around 7 or 8, I've not had any problem finding a cardio machine to use. I'm not very picky about which cardio machine I use, but if you are, you may have to wait to use your machine of choice at that time. The Y offers an off-peak hours membership which means you may use the facilities from 9 am - 3 pm (I think), so I would assume everything outside of those hours is considered peak hours.

[MM]

Hello again,

I've been a member of the Y for years and just joined the Coop a few months ago. I didn't know until the Y sent me membership renewal letter about a month ago. The letter named the Coop as one of the businesses/organizations whose members are eligible for a discount. You just need to show the Y's membership office your card. Note: The discount doesn't automatically carry over every year, so you need to request the discount annually.

That said, you may need to be a Y member for 2-3 months before the discount kicks in. Best to check directly with the Y.

[Drunken Revival]

Well.. I was there last night and the place was packed...

I can't wait till you all lose your motivation come mid January.

[katbka]

Motivation is key! Are instructors good-looking?

[BrooklynJack]

[starsinjenseyes]

[TyroneShoelaces]

I dig the Y for what it is. I've been there for almost 4 years and they've expanded and/or improved the cardio and weight room beyond expectations.

It gets a little kooky when the kids take over, but they're not allowed in the changing rooms or the main exercise areas. During the weekdays there's a sweet retired couple that likes to camp out in the machine room and eat lunch.

ANYWAY, the Freelancer's Union is a nice 20% discount. I'm near-positive that you can join and generate you proof-of-membership letter for free, same-day on the site. Nice work around for you regular job types trying to shortchange the system.

[Nuclear Redaction]

I get a 20% group discount through my work, which I have to renew each year by showing my work ID/business card.

I like the place -- I haven't taken any classes and haven't used the pool (usually full of kids whenever I'm there), but they've got plenty of machines, most of them new within the past couple of years. I never have to wait to get on a cardio machine; sometimes there's a wait for a strength-training machine, but usually not too bad, and people are pretty good about letting you work in with them if they're going to be there for a while. My only complaints are that the TVs on several of the treadmills don't work (I need TV to distract me from how miserable I feel when I'm running) and the uphill walk home.
_________________
To have ambition was my ambition -- Gof4

[filmlover44]

[katbka]

[BrooklynJack]

I theory you pay extra for a city wide membership. I don't know what happens if you just show up at one of the other clubs with your card.

I have gone to the YMCA while visiting family in Ohio and used the club there at no charge by just showing me membership card from the Y here

[starsinjenseyes]

[filmlover44]

[filmlover44]

[mersy]

i love the y for the most part, but i recently had and am having a bad situation with them! in july i paid for 5 sessions with a personal trainer, 185 bucks. you have to pay for all of the sessions up front. they told me it might take the trainer assigned to me a week or two to get in touch, and yes, he called me about a week later. when he finally called he left a message, and i called him back the next day. it took him a full week to get back to me. again i called him right back, and again it took him a week to get back to me! this happened at least twice more! after all that time waiting, i changed my mind about personal training sessions, and since i hadn't been able to redeem any of the sessions (no fault of my own!) i figured it wouldn't be a problem to get a refund. well, it has been. when i first inquired, they told me it was up to the director to decide whether i would get a refund. in the months since then, i've filled out forms, made numerous phone calls, sent emails, and basically been IGNORED. if they aren't going to give me my money back, they could at least tell me that so i can schedule sessions with a new trainer! i don't know what the problem is but it's really bad customer service and really frustrating! i saw that one other person had a similar experience. anyone else?

[filmlover44]

No, but I'm glad to know that there is a problem. I'll go somewhere else for personal training...
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Ok, now I'm crazy. Another goal achieved.

[katbka]

I saw a few boot camp-type group classes in the park last year. I think it is as close as it gets to a personal trainer, without having to pay ridiculous amounts.

[starsinjenseyes]

Over the summer I had a few sessions with Aston at the Y and I now take 2 of his classes- including the Boot Camp on Tuesday nights- and many of the exercises in both his Monday and Tuesday night classes are the same as my one-on-one sessions with him. I find the classes are just as good as the personal sessions.

[filmlover44]

[littlegal]

Filmlover--It sounds like they are talking about Bootcamp Fitness, which is located on Flatbush and Fifth Ave, and also runs Fitness Boot Camp classes in the park...at least they have in the past. Not sure if they still do, but it sounds like them.

[katbka]

I recall them wearing matching t-shirts, but don't recall the name of the fitness program. I do see them often, so Iwill keep my eyes open, and inquire next time i see them.

[filmlover44]