Oakland YMCA

Fantastic experience: Water roblox

Fantastic experience: Quality service, they have their hi’s and goodbye’s down. It’s a friendly, clean, functional place to workout. Hella classes if you’re into that and great weight room

Negative experience: Unresponsive & unfriendly staff

Positive experience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ I really enjoy being a member of this YMCA location. The gym has an excellent range of facilities — sauna, pool, and a great variety of activities and classes. Its convenient location is another big plus. The community here is very nice and supportive, and it makes working out much more enjoyable. I especially want to highlight the amazing instructor, Ankur. After attending one of his classes, I immediately decided to join this gym. He’s professional, motivating, and brings great energy to every session. I highly recommend him! However, I do have a few concerns. Sometimes the front desk staff can be a bit unfriendly or dismissive, especially when they seem unsure about class schedules. Instead of handling confusion with patience, they occasionally speak in a rather disrespectful tone, suggesting that I might have checked the wrong schedule, even when it turns out to be a mistake on their end. I believe even front desk staff should be well-trained in the gym’s operations and able to communicate respectfully and professionally, especially when resolving issues. I also think the YMCA could improve its marketing and membership engagement by offering more promotions and incentives. For example, it would be great to have occasional free guest passes or shorter trial passes (like one or two hours) so friends or family members can try the gym before committing to a paid membership. Paying $15 or $20 for a single visit might discourage potential new members. Additionally, introducing family memberships or discounts for couples would be fantastic, encouraging more families to embrace a healthy lifestyle together. Overall, I love being part of this gym and look forward to coming back each time. With a few improvements, it could truly be the best fitness center in the neighborhood.

Fantastic experience: I love this Y. The front desk staff are so nice and welcoming, especially the lady with the beautiful gray hair. The gym is always clean and the equipment is always put away; this means other gym goers know and follow gym etiquette.

Negative experience: My 80-year-old mom has been a member of Oakland Downtown YMCA for over 20 years. She only speaks Mandarin Chinese with a few English words like 'how are you,' ‘good,' and 'ok.' Recently, Oakland YMCA management made a quick decision to terminate her membership because their employee reported that my mom used the racial slur 'N-word' toward her while my mom spoke Chinese to her. In Chinese, there is a filler word widely used in oral speaking which sounds very much like the N-word. It's an honest misunderstanding caused by cultural and language barriers. But the management not only ignored this misunderstanding but also tried to be language police; the executive director told me and my husband firmly that my mom is not allowed to speak any Chinese words related to the N-word sounds at her YMCA during our meeting in her office. Our request is simple: please apologize to my mom since the management made a mistake by accusing her of using derogatory comments toward their employee while she only spoke her own language, Chinese. And please provide cultural sensitivity training to the employees. Almost two weeks have passed, and we still haven’t heard back yet. YMCA represents diversity and culture in our community. I’m very sad to see this had happened to my 80 years old mom.

Negative experience: “As an international basketball coach with a bachelor’s degree in sports, I have traveled to over 20 countries and have never experienced worse service than at the YMCA in Oakland. The staff behind the front desk lack communication skills and have no knowledge of sports, which is disappointing for a facility that promotes health and fitness. The overall service was poor, making it an unwelcoming experience. I expected a much higher standard from a well-known organization like the YMCA.”

Positive experience: Bring back the hot tub!!! I work in the trades and I would soak after working hard all day. It was the best part of my day. I miss the multicultural intergenerational interactions and the stress relief. I am going to switch to the Berkeley y for the hot tub now, but I’ll miss the Oakland Y A LOT!!!

Fantastic experience: Love this place.

Fantastic experience: Really nice white dude at the front desk (wish I got his name) but honestly overall it's among the best Y's I've been to (and I've been to a lot)

Fantastic experience: A maze inside, but overall fantastic, clean facilities. I did not see anybody that wasn't here specifically to work out (as mentioned in past reviews). I went for lap swimming today. At 9 am on Wednesdays they start a water aerobics class in half the pool so ended up lane sharing, which is understandable. $20/day to use the pool or $45/month for membership. Pricey for a day pass but I don't mind as a trial, especially for the nice conditions of the locker rooms and the pool. Lanes divided by fast, med, slow, etc. which was more or less adhered to. If you compete (2'44"/100m or faster), this is probably not the best pool for you. There are lots of seniors and water walkers. I swam around people--NBD for one day. Beginners or intermediates would probably be happy here on a regular basis. Full shower facilities and lockers available for free--just leave an ID to borrow a padlock.

Positive experience: The new staff and re-furbish is a 100% improvement. This Y feels like the old Y. Staff is helpful and polite for the most part.

Negative experience: Not sure if the staff are deceitful or just incompetent, but we were misled in the costs for signing up for the Y and we are definitely turned off by it. We signed up under a promotion to get one month free, but because we signed up on the last day of the month, our free month was just that one day. We were then charged the full rate for a family membership despite us being on a financial assistance discount. We repeatedly asked why this was and they kept reassuring that they would refund the difference, which took them weeks to do. Eventually they refunded the difference for store credit only, which we never agreed to. Every member of staff we spoke to wanted to pass us on to somebody else and nobody seemed to know what was going on. It was completely unprofessional and outrageous. We ended up disputing the charges with our credit card carrier because the YMCA doesn’t want to provide adequate customer service.

Positive experience: Clean but older facility. Full range of gym equipment at reasonable price.

Positive experience: Generally excellent facilities and staff. I enjoy coming to the YMCA to work out. My only suggestion is that the staff and management do one of two things: 1. Change the posted closing time to 4:45 PM or even 4:30 PM on weekends, or 2. Be more lenient or flexible with people leaving around closing time. Every time I go to this YMCA toward closing time, especially on wekeends, I feel extremely rushed by its current policy of "everyone must be out of the facility by closing time -- not at closing time, not after closing time" (these were basically the exact words of the person staffing the front desk). The posted closing time of 5:00 PM gives one the impression that one can walk into the facility at 4:00 PM, work out until 4:45 PM or so, and then shower, get changed, and leave at or a little after 5:00 PM, but this is not the case. The staff member announcing the closing time even issued a veiled threat of punishment to YMCA members who were still in the facility after 5:00 PM, saying that they were in violation of their contract. Whether or not that really is the case, this YMCA should at least be more transparent about its extremely prompt closing policy. As it stands, it's unpleasant to go to this YMCA around closing time, and they shouldn't advertise their expanded hours so enthusiastically if they are going to close effectively twenty minutes early.

Negative experience: theres no way im being charged despite having 0 in my bank account. I literally looked everywhere to disable my account because its just draining my cash. I sent so much emails.

Negative experience: During my 11-month tenure at the Oakland YMCA, the atmosphere was marred by vivid, discriminatory behavior, particularly from a young Asian female staff member. Her indifference was strikingly evident each time I walked in. I still vividly recall how she would warmly greet a white woman ahead of me, only to abruptly turn away when it was my turn, deliberately avoiding eye contact and blatantly ignoring my presence. This selective acknowledgment was not just cold but felt like a deliberate act of racial profiling. Adding to this was the aggressive response from a white male staff member when I attempted to report these issues of racial bias. His hostility was alarming, transforming a place meant for community and wellness into a space of discomfort and anxiety. This YMCA, moreover, seems to struggle with external community issues. Over the past year, there has been a noticeable increase in homeless individuals from surrounding areas coming to the YMCA, often seeking day passes to use the facilities. While understanding the complex social issues at play, this influx has further impacted the overall environment and member experience. In light of these experiences, I strongly encourage those seeking a fitness community to consider other options such as the Berkeley YMCA or Berkeley Equinox, where inclusivity and respect are more deeply ingrained in the community ethos. I am a member of both organizations and can attest to their current status. Elderly black members of the YMCA also recommended Berkeley based on similar experiences in the past decade. Cheers!

Negative experience: Such a bad parking place. I have monthly parking permit and the barcode suddenly stopped scanning. I have been tryna call them they aren’t able to help. It’s been 3 days already and the issue didn’t get resolved. $220 down the drain.

Positive experience: I was a member of the Y for almost 20 years, but I no longer go to this Y. Which is sad. I grew up in the Y, and the Oakland Y is a good facility. However, they no longer have towel service, they closed the spa and steam room, and reduced hours. Quitting was hard though. I mean it turned out to be impossible to cancel my membership by phone. I called multiple times to cancel, which they never did. I asked for a confirmation callback. None came. Instead, they just kept taking my money. "Christian values?" I had to finally go in and put a stop to it, but what a disfunction bunch of people behind the counter. What happened to this place?! Anyway, check out SF Fitness for more local locations and good amenities (including towel service), at about the same price. The Club at City Center is also very close by, and has all the amenities the Y used to have, plus an outdoor pool, for just a little more money.

Positive experience: I signed up on line and when I arrived at the gym, two front desk ladies were having a conversation and I was just standing there waiting for their attention. I decided to say hi how are you I’m new here sorry to interrupt your conversation but can someone help me? They replied with an upset face as if I was interrupting their private time. I was smiling and being very positive the entire time and one of the front desk ladies asked to take my picture then gave me a key fob and brush me off to continue having her conversation with her co worker. I said oh ok thank you so much have a great day to which no one replied anything back and pretended I wasn’t even there. Not even do you want a tour? It took me 10 minutes to find the locker rooms. Besides that is a big facility and the members are polite and tons of equipment available. Basketball court pool huge locker rooms. Plenty of showers lots of strength and cardio. FYI there was no music playing over the speakers so bring your headphones. Like the gym vibe from the members. Update as of September 2023 Locker rooms need to be updated. No gym has their lockers zip tied anymore. This was during pandemic stages. Lockers are all rusted and old with mildew inside. Floors are dirty with brow fungus. The cleaning of the machines have gotten better. The staff needs to work on welcoming guests in. Not us walking in and having to loudly say hello so they can react to your presence. Don’t get me wrong they are nice people when you get to talk to them and friendly but there is no welcoming presence. Members are friendly when they see your face on a regular. Trainers are helpful with answering questions and giving device. Main toilet in men’s always dirty having most guys using the toilet by the showers which is always clean. Locker room floor always trashed with paper. Staff walks by and doesn’t pick trash up unless is someone of management. I myself had to pick up trash from floor because it was just too much. This can be improved. Once again staff is super friendly but does not welcome people in as we walk in like most gyms do.

Fantastic experience: great staff

Fantastic experience: Well managed and the pool is my favorite.

Fantastic experience: I was a member of the old YMCA location this one for outshines the one that was on telegraph

Fantastic experience: Before covid a lot of upgrades to equipment were needed..clearly the Y invested a ton of money and effort into the space and adding tons of good equipment - rogue racks and plates for days..way better use of the space over all and focused on bodybuilding in the upstairs gym Nice job Y

Fantastic experience: Best value gym in Oakland. Spacious and has all the equipment you need at all skill levels

Fantastic experience: So glad to be back at the YMCA of the East Bay! Water aerobics; Zumba classes; Tai Chi etc! Come join us.

Fantastic experience: Not sure why there's any negative reviews for this place, there's a wide range of equipment and the gym was clean and well maintained - there were no homeless sleeping in the doorway!

Fantastic experience: My favorite Y in the US: lots of space, natural light, never gets too crowded (same goes for the pool). Bonus: the staff is SUPER friendly!

Fantastic experience: The Oakland YMCA is gradually growing on me. I love the wide age bracket that uses the gym... And it's always neat and well maintained. This gym is good value for money considering the bay area costs

Fantastic experience: One of the best YMCA's in the country. Great equipment, facilities. The Y has always played an important part to the community here in Oakland and I am grateful that they are up and running post-pandemic.

Negative experience: My belongings were stolen from the lockers but that is not why I am giving this bad review. Instead of trying to help me out figuring who stole by looking at the camera, they were rude and unhelpful. I had to practically beg for them to see the cameras (which they probably did not even do it), they never answer any of my calls and the front desk was really rude and act defensively. I never accused them or got mad, I was just trying to do everything in my power to get my things back !

Fantastic experience: Gym areas are very clean and have good natural light. Free weights area has a double height (picture below). It does not get too crowded and there is enough room between machines. Staff is friendly and helpful.

Fantastic experience: During my stay in Oakland I signed up for 1 month at the Y. Very happy in my decision. So many squat racks / shells means I never really have to wait to do my most important workouts. The facilities are clean and the lifting room is bright and spacious. Highly recommended.

Fantastic experience: I'm a personal trainer at the downtown Denver Y and spent some time in the bay area with friends and decided to visit a Y for a quick pump. The facilities are top notch. Equipment was up to date and plentiful. I only ended up using the weight room, but it had such an array of equipment types and availability that even if fully packed I'm sure anyone could find themselves a meaningful workout. Staff was helpful in looking up my profile in Nation wide and the location is of the facility is mere blocks from Oakland's downtown offerings. Give it a visit if you're in town.

Positive experience: I’ve been using this Y while temporarily located in Oakland. The most succinct word to describe it is trashy. The men’s locker room is disgraceful; shabby, poor maintenance, broken fixtures, a non-functional steamroom, etc. The pool is decent although the water always seems a bit cloudy for some reason. The other facilities are also decent but certainly not better than that. Front desk staff lacks any sense of welcome. They don’t even make eye contact unless you actively engage them. I give three stars mostly because it’s there and accessible but, lord, it could be so much better with competent management.

Negative experience: YMCA is been run by kids. Nonprofit organization is a fake organization!

Fantastic experience: Love DT Oakland so much to see and do.

Fantastic experience: Good and fun fitness classes

Fantastic experience: Excellent staff, space, and location. Love it.

Fantastic experience: Best Y I've ever been to. 2 separate pools, 2 saunas, several women's changing rooms... a whole separate cardio and stretching area for women on the top floor... free, cold filtered water available on every floor. There's a nice view of the park across the street from some of the elliptical equipment downstairs and from the women's cardio studio upstairs. Also a roomy area of the building for kids activities, basketball, fitness classes. Plenty of free yoga classes, although I haven't checked those out, I think it's cool that they offer a lot of free programs. Every time I come here expecting to work out for a half hour, I stay for hours and never run out of things to do or check out... relaxing in the sauna is a nice way to let off steam after a workout.

Fantastic experience: I try to work out all must everyday ^^

Negative experience: I signed only one month then they changed me three months I emailed them ,I called I took to supervisor they are not refunded the money they took my money with out nothing because after one month I didn't go there when I signed they told me I can sign for one month

Negative experience: I cancelled my membership after moving out of town three months ago using the webform on the YMCA East Bay website. I'm still getting charged the full amount months later, and have tried reaching out to the YMCA via phone, email, Facebook, and through the membership portal on their website but have not gotten any response. Their webform doesn't provide any evidence of submission (like emailing a copy to myself) so I'm not even able to request a chargeback from my credit card company. Edit: Was finally able to get them to quit charging me, but they would not refund the 2 months that I spent trying to get in touch with them.

Negative experience: On the "welcome back" page it says 12+ with vaccination. My 12 yr old and I used lap pool for one day. The next day they turned us away. I would not have joined. I signed kids up for swim lessons. When I asked how they were supposed to practice if they can't come in, they told me at another pool somewhere else. I thought the YMCA had a main goal of serving youth. So very deheartening that we used once when the very same people that checked use in, turned us away the very next day. I remember when the Oakland YMCA was about equity before gentrification.

Fantastic experience: I try to work out all must everyday ^^

Fantastic experience: A wonderful place to work out to improve your health and muscle tone

Fantastic experience: Positive: Quality

Fantastic experience: Very clean. Lots of sanitizing great way to start living again after this covid pandemic

Fantastic experience: I love this place. Good people. Nice facilities. Really good monthly rate.

Negative experience: Used to swim there regularly pre-covid. Kept my membership active during the covid shut-down as I felt the staff and the infrastructure would need to be maintained. Now that the gym and pool are "open" I find I can't get in to use the facility no matter how hard I try. The staff has been condescending and dismissive. Dropping my membership after 20 years

Fantastic experience: Great facilities, great people. Lots of squat/power racks, ellipticals and treadmills if that's your thing, and good choice of resistance machines (though I do wish they'd add a standing calf raise machine...). Pool, track, basketball court, as well as sauna/steam room during normal times. Lots of group classes though I haven't done any yet. Friendly staff and clientele of all ages and colors. No complaints! Been a member for ~5 years. Here as often as I can be.

Fantastic experience: Great facility and staff!

Positive experience: Met a nice older man in there who introduced me to the wonderful world of sounding. His name was Kevin and we had a wonderful joined experience in the locker room after a nice swim. 3/5 stars though because I didn't appreciate being told to leave for being too loud when sounding. Overall quite a nice facility.

Fantastic experience: Amazing GYM IT's like my home

Fantastic experience: Awesom staff and family oriented

Fantastic experience: Spa, dry sauna, wet sauna, raquetball courts, and all the standard stuff. Great staff, clean facilities, safe block.

Fantastic experience: dope. about 6 squat racks and two benches among all the other equipment

Negative experience: The YMCA just deducted $79 from my bank account even though, as a high risk individual working hard to NOT get COVID19, I have asked them to suspend my account? Unbelievable. I don't care if the Y is opened or not... COVID19 is still a problem here in CA, and I should have the option not to return. The Y has literally taken food off my family's table. Disgusting fiscal predatory behavior. Shame on you YMCA.

Fantastic experience: I love the yoga and the pool it’s phemonmal.!

Fantastic experience: Commenter Imran below is incorrect. There are squat and bench press stations. And it’s a great place. Erica the manager is fantastic.

Fantastic experience: Basketball coach is really good at teaching you the game.

Fantastic experience: I love this place. It’s been a god send for me and my special needs daughter!

Negative experience: Garage closes ar 10pm. Better leave before that or they'll hold your car hostage.

Positive experience: Good. Just try to find the times when the group of 7 Asian kids aren’t here so you don’t have to wait 2 hours for the bench press.

Positive experience: Boys went for the past two days and did not want to go for the 3rd day. No swimming and no enough excercise. Horrible, too expensive program

Negative experience: This one star is for the female older basket ball coach (Janet) who is mean and rude. She singled my son out and he was basically humiliated during the learning practice, and she was not very kind to him. She seems angry all the time as well.. I am blessed to have a strong minded kid.. unless he would be to ashamed to come back....He loves basketball but she made fun of him and was not warm at all.. She should not be a basketball..coach if she don't have love for kids that DON'T know and want to learn the GAME! This is unacceptable. She will NOT win.. take your anger out on Adults your age.. and leave the kids alone.

Negative experience: My two boys went there for the 2nd week of winter break. Did not like it at all. Wanted to be picked up as early as we can. Not enough sports for an 11 and slmost 9 years old boys. It is more of like a day care. My older son mentioned some of the staff members were annoyed when kids ask questions. No swimming at YMCA

Fantastic experience: Recently upgraded treadmill's, Stationary bikes, stretching areas, as well as the pool. Women's and Men's locker room has been cleaned up.

Fantastic experience: I love the Y! Been a member since 2014, I joined for the swimming pool. The community is welcoming and positive. It’s a slice of the entire Bay Area here. So, if you like people, a wide variety of mind, body, and spirit building activities it’s a great place. Also, I typically ride a motorcycle or bicycle downtown. If you don’t like kids, grandparents, or diversity then you may not enjoy the y. (But then again, I’m not sure why you’d live in the Bay Area if you’re not into that!). Smile. The Y is great!

Fantastic experience: 9:30AM water aerobics instrut or Ķelvin is the Bòmberesterist !

Fantastic experience: Amazing staff, programming, equipment, facilities, and community.

Fantastic experience: Thank you Tianti for giving me a tour of the gym facilities today. Although I've decided to not join at this time, I may come back at a later date to join, say winter when the weather is chilly to run outside.

Fantastic experience: Such a friendly, clean space. Showers have curtains.

Fantastic experience: Have been a member for 3 years and exceedingly happy with the service and friendly staff that welcomes you in. Always updating their equipment and renovating. Incredible value!

Negative experience: With no good explanation, it's required to send a letter by mail to change or cancel membership. Why even have an online portal? Feels like they're purposely making it difficult to change my membership.

Positive experience: The YMCA has everything you need: treadmills, weight room, basketball court, pool, basketball court etc.. Very friendly staff

Positive experience: OK, later a nice gentleman came and showed me around. Facility has possibilities. I guess I’ll check out a class on the three day pass... My first visit is very unimpressive. I wrote to set up a tour. We worked out this afternoon. Kaylin said to come in and check in at the front desk. So I did and when I arrived I was told she was in a meeting. No idea when she’d be done, but I was welcome to wander around. I didn’t even find the locker rooms. I am irritated at this waste of my time. I hope they’ll at least validate my parking. I guess the Y won’t be my gym choice after all.

Fantastic experience: They treat military very well and offer significant discounts. Staff is friendly and they have a myriad of classes, which are included in the monthly costs.

Fantastic experience: Full

Negative experience: Poor or no maintenance in locker room. Pool always cloudy, heavily chlorinated and incontinent infants in "swim diapers" using the pool. A place to avoid if you don't like acquired diseases.

Fantastic experience: Bright, clean, not smelly. The staff are friendly and helpful. I like the yoga classes, but have been also known to use an elliptical and the weights. Pool is big, but lots of chlorine used in it. The space is designed well.

Fantastic experience: Terrific classes, and lots of them, and a friendly place.

Fantastic experience: Great classes and a wonderful international friendly community that represents the best of Oakland.

Positive experience: Really good price and facilities, but gets a little crowded at times

Positive experience: Staff and facility are the best. Just tough to drive there during rush hour

Positive experience: Relaxed atmosphere; never too crowded; great views while working out.

Positive experience: GReat. Water arobics instructor Kelvin is excellent!

Positive experience: Pretty excellent as YMCAs go - a nice selection of group exercise classes, a modern and clean weight facility, and an olympic pool. Not especially cheap but worth the money.