YMCA of Austin – TownLake Branch

(Year-​long member) At the Y at TownLake, for me, the cons outweigh the pros, so I’m ending my membership. I’ve included some Pros and Cons. I’m not crazy, I just have a lot of extra time tonight and I’ve got some things that may help you in your decision making.
Con: «No, I don’t want to go on the internet every week to look at the class schedule.» Many of your members are unable or not willing to use your website or a 3^rd party smart phone app to figure out your schedule, which changes often and without notice, and when classes are cancelled it is not unusual for a replacement not be found. Windows Phone users are completely out of luck. If you ask schedule questions at the front desk, it will turn into a «why don’t you use your phone» conversation. Every. single. time. For a while they were not even allowed to print paper schedules, which has changed recently. The paper schedules they post for members in the hallway are very often the wrong week (on weekends, don’t expect the correct schedule) or stolen by a member who couldn’t simply get one at the front desk (probably to avoid the lecture). Solution: Join Gold’s Gym
Pro: Sense of community you cannot get at a place like Gold’s Gym on 6^th: The Y at TownLake is full of friendly people who are happy to get to know you. At Gold’s, it tends to be in and out. The new Gold’s location downtown squeezed even their employees into work desks not fit for sardines. It’s not the kind of place you’d hang out. Plus, pushy sales at Gold’s is a turnoff.
Con: «What on earth is the time?» Having 10 clocks in the building that are always running out of batteries with employees not willing to change them is a frustrating problem. Why have clocks if they are not right? The clocks in the studios themselves seem to functioning without these problems.
Pro: It’s got everything: The Y at TownLake is huge. It’s a great place to go and take several classes and just «hang out». They have coffee too. (caveat: if they are out of coffee and you inform the front desk, they will probably acknowledge you and not make the coffee. This happened 3 out of the 4 times they were out. It was not busy at the front desk either).
Con: I was curious about open swim, and so I approached a lifeguard who was writing on the whiteboard. She turned to me and said «What.» In an aggravated, flat voice. I said «Excuse me?» To which she responded, «I said, What.» I told her «well you’re a nice person» sarcastically and received the answers I was looking for, but not without some attitude. A company is only as strong as it’s weakest employee.
Pro: It’s in a really convenient location: there’s a B-​Cycle station a few minute walk away (hop through traffic on Lamar frogger style), it’s near Trader Joes, hike and bike trail, and Whole Foods.
Con: showers are often mildewy. Consider cleaning more thoroughly and replacing shower curtains more often. Maybe every six months.
Last couple suggestions: use one of your giant monitors to display the class schedule, print off new schedules and have them available up front. Also, please hire more instructors who are a healthy weight (Gold’s does this). It is discouraging to lift weights with a leader who is not currently at a healthy weight. It is great that you don’t discriminate, and will hire people of all shapes and sizes, but from a fitness class instructor I expect more.
That’s all.

I’ve been going to this Y for about 15 years and in general love the ymca culture. Unfortunately town lake has probably doubled their membership in the past 3 – 4 years and has done nothing to mitigate the problems that go along with that type of growth. The equipment is often broken, the TVs hardly ever work, and when they do they have very limited channels, and parking has gotten to be horrible. It’s a shame they don’t value their customers feedback and treat these issues with any urgency.

I’ve been member of the Y for 6 months now, and I couldn’t be happier with this gym! The facilities are clean, the staff is friendly, and the clientele is diverse. The first weeks of January have been a bit more crowded than usual, especially on the cardio machines in the mornings (~6:45 am), but the weight room and exercise classes still have ample room. Definitely try a cycling class with Becca — she’s great!

I love love this gym! I love the yoga classes offered. I like the classes for children on Saturday mornings and during the week. Cooking, crafts, asl, games, sports etc. I like how child watch will watch your kids for 2 hours. I like how they will change diapers. I like how the kids can eat snacks. I love the weight room. I love the big pool and hot tub. The pool is nice and warm for the kids and the lap lanes are cold for the swimmers. I love the sauna and steam room.
I do not like the impossible parking some days.
I do not like how there is a wait on child watch due to under staffing.
I do not like how the steam room is under maintenance often.

I’ve taken my kids here for swimming and the facilities are great. There are two pools, one is a lap pool and the other for kids. They have a good supply of water toys like noodles and paddles and such. The facilities are clean ads staff are nice. They audio have a temporary child care service, probably for when the parents are taking a class here.

Our family has been a member for several years. Great gym but, if your teenager wants a job at this gym FORGET it! My teenager attends this gym daily, knows majority of the employees. He has applied for multiple positions only to be lied too or given the run around. Be very careful with the managers of each department as they are very very sketchy individuals. Cannot believe a well known gym would not give a child a chance to work at the facility. Very discouraging and disheartening.

Great gym. I have visited many gyms around the country and world, as well as in central Austin; I feel like overall the YMCA is 5 stars.
Pros:
— Reasonable pricing, especially compared to the other nearby gyms like Pure, Spark, Castle Hill.
— Good equipment. I use the weight room — specifically free weights and pullup bars, and there is always enough during off-​peak hours, and enough to either work in or do an alternative exercise during peak hours. Specifically, there are 2 squat racks, 2 trap bars, 2 deadlift bars, 2 flat bench presses, many, many dumbbells, several pullup stations. There is also incline bench, decline bench, 1 – 2 Smith machines, 2 stretching mats, additional yoga mats, plyometrics equipment, boxing area. And there is every kind of machine you could want for those of you who do strength machine training.
— The showers are acceptable, much much better than Gold’s downtown (more spacious, much bigger locker room, many more showers).
— Good location right between the lake/​trail and downtown.
— Staff is nice.
— Plentiful parking for those who drive, have never been unable to find a parking spot.
Cons:
— When classes are hosted in the TRX area at peak hours (couple nights/​week), the # of pullup stations gets effectively chopped significantly and it’s hard to find a place to do weighted chins/​pull-​ups.
— Some people don’t want to allow you to work in on their equipment. I find that most are nice, but not 100%.
— Wish there were a back entrance/​more accessible to walking in general. Granted, a lot of this is not the YMCA’s fault — they have to deal with the train and being right next to Lamar, so a lot of it is the city of Austin/​Union Pacific’s fault. It is annoying to wait for the train as a walker, though (though there is a long-​cut, walking on the Lamar sidewalk, that avoids this).

I am a single parent, youngest endures severe health issues. We moved here for safety. Unfortunately due to a stalker, I had to totally change my life. We lost everything. I still live in fear. I finally got to a position I could do something extra for my kids. I decided to join the YMCA, thinking it was still a Christian based all inclusive, safe, fun, place. Yeah. Not. Adam at the desk signed us up. Because of our situation, we were told we qualified for a discounted rate. Apparently, that offended Adam. He could not have been more condescending, rude, offensive or patronising if he tried. He looked down on us, both figuratively & literally as the desk is much higher than usual. Adam charged us 4 times what I expected. I bit the bullet, as I didn’t want my kids to lose out on anything more. He did not offer any type of tour or provide any information. We wandered around to see the possibilities. Later, I asked him if there were any brochures or schedules to show us what there was. He informed me to get that information on line. Nice. Unfortunately I am not in a position to do that. We have yet to return. Sadly, I can’t afford to keep paying for nothing & should have never signed up.

Clean! Plenty of equipment! Friendly staff! Nice landscaping! Great location… Short walk to the trail at Townlake! Super convenient for lunch break workout!

This is the best gym I’ve ever been a member of in the 30 years that I’ve been working out. It’s clean, easy to navigate, filled with very nice, workable equipment, and has a very friendly staff. I love the nice early morning crew that checks me in. They’re always smiling and chatty. If you can’t find your working out «happy place» amongst all they offer here, you’re not going to find it. They have so many classes, a large gym area, and a large swimming area. They are also right across the street from the Hike and Bike Trail if you just need to get some fresh air! They also have a very nice lobby area with free coffee. Great for lingering and meeting other memebers. IT’S FUN TO STAY AT THE Y-​M-​C-​A

I couldn’t be happier with the Town Lake Y. I joined last fall and have used the facility a few times a week ever since then. Here’s what I like:
* The renovated facility is gorgeous and has an open airy feel that makes it enjoyable to be in. I typically loiter for awhile after my workout when I can, to take a look at the newspaper or catch up on email.
* The facility has a diverse clientele and doesn’t feel like a meat market. I am contrasting this to 24-​Hour Fitness and Golds Gym locations where I have worked out in the past. There are many different ages, body types, and races using the gym.
* I mostly use the weight room and generally have access to squat/​power rack and bench press whenever I workout. Occasionally I have to work in, in peak times like MWF in the morning before work hours. People generally re-​rack their weights and there are staff cruising around who take care of the re-​racking every hour or so if someone doesn’t do their own. As a woman, I feel comfortable in the free weight area and often see a few other women there while I am working out.
* The drop-​in daycare is great. The facility is clean and open and well-​staffed. They have limits on how many kids they will take at one time, but I have only had to wait once or twice. Staff are friendly and know my toddler, who has a lot of fun there and ASKS to go back.
* The pool facility is large and has a warm «instructional» pool that is shallow enough for kids to practice in. Occasionally that pool will be closed for a class but the ramp area of the main pool remains open and can be used by kids in that time. I haven’t had time to do lap swimming there but I have never noticed the lanes looking overcrowded.
* The women’s locker area is very large and is always kept clean. Showers are nice & hot and the facility is never over crowded. There are various nooks and changing areas where you can have privacy if you don’t like changing around people.
* The basketball gym is often in use by people playing pick-​up, but there are open hours when you can practice shooting or use the air-​conditioned court for other indoor workouts if the weather is bad.
* Schedules for the pool, basketball gym, and classes are kept up to date with an online app, so you can check ahead of time and make sure what you want to use is open.

I’ve been working with a personal trainer at the YMCA for a few months now, and I love it! The equipment is new and plentiful, and the staff is friendly. I’ve been training with Jentri, and she’s awesome! She simultaneously kicks my butt and makes me feel good about myself and my progress. She has a good understanding of what my body is capable of and how hard to push me. And to top is off she is incredibly easy to talk to and I always feel better after a session with her. If you need a trainer, I’d recommend her to anyone!
I never have trouble parking, and it never seems to crowded. Love the body pump classes too!

Great staff and facilities, except for the men’s bathroom which needs better ventilation.
Problem is how overcrowded it gets, wait in line for check-​in, use cardio equipment or use the restrooms. Parking is becoming a nuisance too. Will they ever stop taking new memberships? Will they expand (again) or will YMCA open another branch in this booming area?

This gym really offers a community vibe. The front desk staff are friendly and the child care staff are amazing! So many smiling faces that know my name and my kids names. You can also tell that the staff love working there and working with each other.
At the time I go the parking isn’t too bad, but I could see how it would be pretty awful during the busy times. I really wish there was an outside pool, but I joined knowing that it didn’t have one. Maybe someday!

I just come here for spin class in the annex that the city of austin provides but it is a gorgeous facility. The front desk staff is always friendly and the cardio equipment looks great. There are community gardens in front. Parking can be a challenge though depending on the day but there are tons of spots.

I love this place! I drive past 3 other Ys to get to this one. It is huge with tons of cardio equipment and a huge weight room on the bottom. I don’t do classes but they seem to have a lot, and I don’t use the locker rooms or pools so can’t speak to how those are, I mainly just go here for weight lifting and occasional cardio. The staff are super friendly and helpful and always smiling! :) the only thing that would make it better would be another squat rack because there’s always someone benching or curling in one of them, but that’s not really the gym’s fault. HELPFUL TIP: parking is tricky here, so I only go during non-​peak hours, and unless you love pumping iron to oldies classics, bring your headphones ;)

Cancelled my membership here. They have horrible customer service and gym hours. The gym is always crowded. Parking is also a pain at this location. They request that you WRITE on paper and give them 10 days notice when canceling your non contract membership. Last time I do business with Austin YMCA

I love this facility!!! They have lots & lots of amazing equipment and the people working there are very friendly and helpful. The lobby has healthy vending machines (i love muscle milk), the pool is huge, and the sauna is great after a run. The only reason it’s missing that 5^th star is because the parking lot space is always packed. But overall it’s a great gym ! Get a membership !!
Oh and by the way they are a non-​profit organization so that’s amazing!

I had been debating about joining a gym for a while. I had been going to a local group fitness studio, but I needed more. After weighing the options, the Y was the best fit for me.
It is so easy to drive the five minutes from the office after work to go there to workout. Sometimes parking can be a little nuts, but I always manage to find a space fairly quickly. Friday evenings are my favorite for a good treadmill date because there’s hardly anyone in there.
I’ve taken the AquaFit class with Liza and I really enjoy it and it is definitely a great class for low impacters. No one cares what you look like in a bathing suit– just come out and move.
On my more intense days, I’ve also done my staple Zumba– but this location has Turbo Kick (my favorite format). I’ve had folks at other gyms tell me Turbo Kick is the same as kickboxing, but it really isn’t (I would know, I’m certified to teach TK). I love that the classes fit well into my schedule.
The facility itself is clean and up-​to-​date. They have an excellent setup where– while the place is child-​friendly– I don’t have to worry about rouge children running around in the womens’ locker room.
With my membership, I can visit other Y locations, but this one fits into my life the best out of all of them. I enjoy visiting them each week. My only drawback is that the price is steeper than many of the gyms out there, but not as steep as others.

Love, Love, Love this place. I am kicking myself for not joining sooner. Right next to TownLake. Go for a run, come back lift or swim, maybe a little yoga, shower, and go about your business.
The YMCA has been upgraded with great cardio and weight lifting equipment. They have a boxing and kickboxing area, gym, indoor pool, a variety of classes that are free with membership and tons of options within those classes.
Generally speaking, everyone I have met at the Y has been very pleasant. The thing I like the most is the since of community. You have folks of all different economic classes and ages going to the gym. The Townlake YMCA provides a good melting pot of people. I have had conversations with some pretty funny older folks and always walk away smiling or learning something new.
I have worked out at 24 Hours, Golds Gyms, Planet Fitness, and many more, but no place had every felt more like home than the Y.