YWCA St Paul

I will rate them an “A” on everything except parking. They have full fitness equipment. They have a pool which I never used. They also have a senior program which includes basically exercise and balancing for old people. It’s close to me. The parking is terrible and it’s on a very busy street. The building is a new facility.

I've been a member of St. Paul YWCA for more than five years. The cost for a senior (over 55) is very low. The facility is very clean and the equipment is always in working order. As long as I don't go after work, it's fairly quiet. You can usually get a treadmill, stationary bike or elliptical - during busy times there's a sign up board. The only downsides are the fact that you have to pay for many of the classes, in addition to the membership fee, and that there are often a lot of kids.But of course it is a family Y, so maybe you like that. In spite of these drawbacks, I like the location, the free parking and the fitness center environment - this is not a meat market and there are skylights and clean carpeting that add to the ambience.

They have really strong instructors. The trainers that my husband and I use are excellent. The range of equipment is according to my needs. The adult classes have a lot of new equipment. Their cleanliness is good. I would use them again in the future.

A great fitness center. Clean, friendly, convenient hours, not too crowded, insurance rebate for 12X month visits. My only complaint is that the cardio machines are old. It would be nice to have some newer fitness equipment with electronic jacks, etc.

Update, February 2011 - I will note one frustration, and that is that management is unresponsive to comments submitted by members on forms provided by the Y. I have a concern about some of the equipment, but my efforts to communicate this concern via the official complaint system have not generated any response at all. Very frustrating. Even if there is nothing management can do to change the situation, it would be common courtesy for them to give me a call and explain why.

I signed up for membership and received a welcome senior discount. The staff are friendly and the environment feels welcoming. I was at first quite timid about attending my first water fitness class, but when I mentioned this to the instructor, she not only assuaged my fears, but also introduced me to several current members of the water fitness class who said they'd welcome me aboard. Some of these women were roughly my age and shape, and walk with a cane (as I do), and wear their glasses in the pool (as I must, if I'm to know where I am and what I'm doing!). I've tried other fitness centers, but always felt horribly out of place. Thanks, YWCA of Saint Paul!

THIS YWCA IS A GREAT COMMUNITY BUILDER, OFFERS LOTS FOR FAMILIES, AND IS A DYNAMITE LOCATION. THEY GREATLY EXPANDED TWO YEARS AGO, HOWEVER, AND NOW ARE NICKEL AND DIMING ON FEES, LIKE $1.00 FOR TOWELS AND CHARGING FOR YOGA CLASSES. STILL, IN COMPARISON TO PRIVATE CLUBS IT'S A BARGAIN AND IF YOU HAVE HEALTH PARTNERS OR BLUE CROSS, MEMBERSHIP DROPS BY $20 PER MONTH AS LONG AS YOU AVERAGE TWICE WEEKLY VISITS. I WILL SAY THE POOL IS TOO COLD.