Somerville YMCA

[leftoverture.livejournal.com]

My horrible contract with Bally's is finally coming to an end soon, and I'm considering making the switch to the Somerville YMCA, which is WAY more convenient for me, location-wise. Looking at their website, however, I'm a little apprehensive about their fees - they are asking $40/mo for the membership that includes use of their treadmills (which is by and large what I use when I go to the gym). My budget unfortunately won't quite accomodate that - I'm not a student, but I do work at a non-profit organization with a non-profit salary.

Does anyone have any experience joining a YMCA? Does standard joining-a-gym fee and contract haggling song and dance apply, or are the prices listed on their website locked in? My google search seemed to indicate that there might be some flexibility with YMCA fees, but I'm curious if anyone has had personal experience with this in Somerville.

Thanks in advance!

Comments

[misterthorn.livejournal.com]

Is Planet Fitness a viable option? $10/month, no contract. I love it.

[leftoverture.livejournal.com]

I'm definitely considering Planet Fitness - my interest in the YMCA stems from the fact that I live practically next door to it, which would be awesomely convenient.

[smoterh.livejournal.com]

is planet fitness the space above Pier1. I thought that closed a while ago.

[misterthorn.livejournal.com]

it's below Pier1, in the basement. definitely still open.

[schpahky.livejournal.com]

Seconded on Planet Fitness. If pretty much all you use are treadmills and ellipticals you can't lose. They are cheap!

[anomie666.livejournal.com]

Its $31 for the "general" membership. The $40 is for the health center. I have the general membership which includes pretty much everything you need. That gives you access the nautilus room which has 3 treadmills.

There is no contract haggling or signing up fees, but they do require (as must places do) an automatic monthly payment from some checking account. If you cancel your membership and then try to re-join, they will hit you with a big fee.

I'm looking to do the Planet Fitness thing myself, but the YMCA is so much more convenient for me that it is worth the extra money since I'm more than likely going to go to a place that is only a 5 minute walk away.

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

You can often join for 1 month without a commitment at the Y, to see if it's worth it. My experience with them is they don't haggle--sometimes they'll have deals (though usually in the summer or beginning of the school year).

[teele-sq.livejournal.com]

Have you taken a tour of the facilities yet? If their gymnasium is any indication, their equipment is outdated and decrepit. Not sure about their treadmills.

They don't allow you to hang on the rim:
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs114.snc3/16133_244184646829_676146829_4709982_2603163_n.jpg

You can't make out with the punching bag:
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs094.snc3/16133_244184956829_676146829_4709987_1826108_n.jpg

Also you're not allowed to curse:
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs077.snc6/168696_10150114591956830_676146829_8025891_1226178_n.jpg

[sparkgrrl658.livejournal.com]

i'm also still amused by all the places that have to specify "no smoking" like on airplanes. *imagines someone lifting weight with a cigarette in their mouth*

[hahathor.livejournal.com]

Oh dear! I recently was in a production of Durang/Durang at the Y, and I saidyelled "Fuck You" every.single.night. Good thing I hadn't seen that sign so I can plead ignorance of the law.

[ron_newman]

yeah but you were in Cambridge

[hahathor.livejournal.com]

What, do you expect me to actually READ these damned things closely enough to work out the details of which Y is being discussed?! I mean, really.

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

I have been a Y member for 3 (maybe 4?) years, and I like it there. There's no joining fee and no contract. There's a pool, a women's area, a men's area, and the most expensive membership (which I think is around $40/month) gives you your own locker that yours, as in you keep your lock on it.

The women's work-out/locker area has a whirlpool, steam room, sauna, and showers. The work-out part has 2 ellipticals, a treadmill, some lifting machines, some free weights, and one of those gigantic work-out ball thingys. According to my BF, there's a TV in the men's area (in addition to work-out equipment), along with a lot of naked old guys.

The main part of the gym, the "Nautilus room," has 4 ellipticals, 3 treadmills, 3 stair masters, a rowing machine, 2 stationary bikes, and a bunch of lifting machines (from memory, I can think of an ab machine, 2 arm ones, 2 leg ones, and maybe a pull-up thing? I'm pretty sure I'm forgetting stuff). There is a separate weight room with free weights, barbells, etc.

It is never EVER EVER crowded in the gym. If there are more than like 4 other people in the gym with me, I am shocked. Actually, I'm not sure that's ever happened.

There are not many classes, but I think they're doing pilates, yoga, and irish step classes right now. They were doing Zumba, but I'm not sure if they're still doing that.

One of the best things about the Y membership is that, when out of town, you can go to other Y's for free. You can also go to other local Y's for free on a limited basis, like once a week or month (I can't remember exactly how that works).

Having said all of this, please note: this is not a fancy-pants place. All the gym equipment works just fine, but the equipment is definitely older and not at all super-modern. The only TV in the main area is a flat screen over the treadmills (though, because it's often quiet in there, you can usually put on whatever you want). The gym just got some new lifting machines, and the ellipticals are new-ish, but the treadmills are definitely on the older-to-quite-old side. I mean, they work, but don't expect a heart rate measurement.

I usually go at night, when the "crowd" (aka 2 other people who aren't me or the BF) is either high school students or yuppies like me. When I go on weekend mornings, it's usually guys who I think have been members since WWII. Everyone is really nice. The staff is also really friendly.

Anyway, I suggest going by and checking it out. It's a cheap alternative to bigger chain gyms. Not having to sign a contract was enough to sell me.

[georgy.livejournal.com]

I belonged to the Somerville YMCA for a while before I fell in love with running outside. I was last there regularly in 2007, so take this for what you will. Their equipment was limited in number and old (broken treadmills and ellipticals were not uncommon, though they did purchase some new ellipticals while I was there). During peak times, you may have to wait. I found the main exercise room did not have the best ventilation. The locker rooms were particularly in poor order, with many lockers rusted out from leaky ceilings.

I definitely recommend taking a tour or doing a day pass before committing. Who knows, they may have completely renovated since I was there.

[ratushebarl.livejournal.com]

I had a Y membership last summer; I too live very near it. It has the basics, but I found the decrepitude and emptiness depressing and ended up not using it much. Very much an institution in decline...I'd rather go to a Gold's or Planet Fitness that has more vitality even if it's further away.

Somerville Y

[bostonartist.livejournal.com]

Agreed... I used the Somerville Y once and never went back, it is in need of a MAJOR renovation/overhaul. However I love the YMCA not for profit system. I have used some Ys that are new and beautiful (Malden) but some are decrepit (Somerville). Also, you cant beat Planet Fitness for $10 / mo.

Re: Somerville Y

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

I wish there were a way they could do some renovations -- I actually think a few changes could make a huge difference (paint job, working fans/HVAC, maybe new carpet, fix the leaks downstairs). I wonder how much that would cost.

They did re-do the pool and buy a bunch of new equipment recently. So ... that's ... something.

[jadelennox]

is it Bally's itself you find horrible, or just your contract? Because especially for renewals, they can get incredibly cheap. I had them down to one-year contracts at $11/month before I switched to working at a place with a gym.

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

I regularly get "join for 1 year at $99" offers from them. Of course, any gym that'll charge less than $9/mo is suspect.

Actually, I should probably just post this in an entry...here it is for those who might miss it.

[oneagain.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you had a good experience with Bally's. I did not. When I wanted to end the contract, I gave the notice they told me they required, *in the manner* that they verbally said was required, at the front desk, but they kept taking my money, which I found out when my bank charged me exorbitant fees for being overdrawn. When I found this out and took it to the manager on duty in person, I was told that, in order to cancel, I had to call corporate (so, apparently the person I asked to cancel me who thought it was all taken care of was either wrong or lying, as was the person at the front desk who I checked with a week later just to be sure). When I went in there in a huff, that was when I was told I had to contact corporate (which was clearly scribbled written in tiny little letters since asking in person how to end it is clearly not enough. The man at the gym I spoke with when I was furious and trying to figure it out told me a short cut since, it would seem their system is set up to make it close to impossible to get them to actually do what you want when what you want is to cancel. Really, even when I got someone, he very *reluctantly* asked me if I wanted to cancel after I told him all that had happened (really? you still haven't figured it out? It's what I have been repeating over and over--not like *I'm* cloaking it in fine print and lying to *you* about it).

In order to get my money back, he told me I had to get bills and all sort of other verifications, including a statement of all that had happened, and mail it. I did this. I still have not heard back from this over 6 months later. I would call back, but it seems like wasting time since they don't really honor their word and I have spent enough time and energy on this. I will not enter into any more contracts with them since they have acted in calculatingly bad faith from the get-go, lying and, as far as I am concerned, stealing. YMMV, and clearly it does, but I'm done.

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

If all you do is use treadmills, and cost is an issue...why not just walk? I only ask because, personally, I loathe gyms and would much rather walk around outside. When I lived near Porter, I would walk to and from Harvard instead of taking the T at Porter - a nice mile walk, on Mass Ave, which is mostly shoveled in winter...and way cheaper than any gym.

[ron_newman]

I'm not a gym member, and my main exercise is biking, but I can think of a few reasons: cold weather, ice, snow, rain (and most Somerville streets are not as well shoveled as Mass. Ave)

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

I also much prefer running and walking outside, but I find it difficult to do for exercise when there's ice and snow on the ground, when it's raining, when it's under 20 degrees or when it's over 100 degrees. I joined the Y specifically for these reasons -- it's a cheap back-up to outside.

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

Running and brisk walking in winter conditions are less appropriate exercise than treadmills for people with certain gait and mobility issues--even beyond "I just like exercising on a treadmill more" some people are encouraged to use treadmills rather than winter terrain by their doctors and/or physical therapists.

[pywaket.livejournal.com]

I've been happy with Planet Fitness, and at $99 a year, you can't beat it.

Now, if I could just get up off my ass and go again - I haven't been in a few months.

[littlecitynames.livejournal.com]

Oh haha I read the newer entry before I read this one. I loved the Somerville Y. There was no joining fee and no contract when I joined in June (though that could have changed by now). It is indeed $31/month as long as you don't need the sauna room which is basically the only extra perk if you get the $40 membership. It was small, personal (the woman at the front desk remembered me the second time I came in!), and not at all busy. And you get to go to the Zumba and yoga and other classes for free, something they do not offer at Planet Fitness. And it was super easy to leave as well. They never charged me again after the day I asked them to cancel my membership.

The only reason I left was because I moved further away and it's not on the way to anything for me anymore. Otherwise they were fantastic.

[littlecitynames.livejournal.com]

And yes, the facilities are not the nicest, but I think the non-crowdedness and the personalness of it is worth it. The machines are new and work well. I might join Planet Fitness soon because it's closer to me now, but I think the bright-and-cheery tons-of-people-on-ellipticals-in-a-row thing is not really a good gym environment for me. I guess I like my gym to have more character.

childcare?

[tealegirle.livejournal.com]

Some friends at another Y said it had free childcare. Anybody know if the Somerville one does? Or any in the area?