Childress Klein YMCA

I am an instructor a Ymca in NC and was visiting Charlotte and decided to go to the Y for a cycle class. I was greeted at the front desk with a luke warm hello from the staff. I then went up to the cycle class. The instructor arrived only 2 or 3 minutes prior to class and did not introduce herself, welcome new students or explain the workout. She then insisted that if we were not ready to stay for the entire class and complete the format of the class we should give up the bike and give it to others that were waiting. Again, she said that approx 20 people had to leave the class do to lack of bikes emphasizing that we should leave class if we were not up to fully participating. I should mention the class was similar to Flywheel with a leader board with TV’S ovethead tracking each indiv bike. The class began with a 30 sec warm up and finished without a cool down or stretch and we were told to stretch off to the side to allow for the next class to begin. During the class there was no mention of proper form or the use of spin shoes to enhance the workout. As a participant and cycle instructor I was surprised by the format and lack of proper warm up and cool down. I was also surprised that this was the atmosphere at the Y. The facility was very nice and the equipment was good but I think they need to have a sign up sheet for the class and good decription of the intensity of the class.

Uptown’s Y! Resting in the Wells Fargo tower, you’ll find this older, but newly remodeled, modest YMCA.
The staff here is super friendly. Much of the equipment is new. The lap-​pool and lorckerrooms were recently updated. They offer numerous group exercise options, etc. There is a walking/​running track that hovers above the center court on a secret second level. In addition to the track you’ll find an area for cycling classes, more workout equipment, etc. Within the lorckerrooms are saunas and steam rooms as well.
Parking is in the deck off of MLK. Be sure to take your ticket up to the front desk and scan if for validation to avoid being charged upon exit. Just keep in mind that the validation is only good for 2 ½ hours. The orange and green levels of the parking deck are designated for Y visitors.
Guests of the Marriott also have access to the Y since the hotel doesn’t have a fitness center of its own.
Check it out if you’re ever in need of an Uptown workout. It’s a great spot before or after work for persons that commute to the area daily.

This is my favorite YMCA to work out on Saturdays AND Sundays. The gym is near empty on that day so I feel less shame about being on the elliptical whilst eating my Bojangle’s chicken biscuit and checking my mobile.
Seriously though, when the Dowd Y is overflowing with meatheads, there are usually still people working out here who look like they do other things besides work out.
The facility is clean and recently remodeled. Parking in the building is validated on Saturdays and weekdays after 4:30 pm. Even most other days, it’s generally less packed than the Dowd down the street.
The YMCA’s as a whole in Charlotte are better than a lot of other gyms. If you didn’t land that silver spoon job out of school and can’t afford Crossfit, the Y is the best choice.

Great location and clean gym. Joined this YMCA when I began working uptown. They provide towels on the fitness floor for mopping away your sweat as well as full bath towels in the locker room. Fully equipped locker room offering convenient way to shower before heading back to the office. Great variety of machines and indoor pool. Can see basketball court and classes from machines. They offer a variety of classes, from yoga to Zumba to weights. Also have indoor track. Great gym and great price!

This YMCA facility is pretty nice! The staff is very nice and the areas are all quite clean and well maintained. There is towel service which is always great (I hate laundry).
Walking in there is a central courtyard with basketball courts, the free weights, and cardio machines, the pool is placed in it’s own area and was under construction the time I went unfortunately. This Y solved it’s space problem, being in the Wells Fargo building by having a track on the second floor with some additional machines and other knick knacks up there. Very nicely laid out but I don’t understand why the track directions change depending on the time of day at all? (I asked an employee there and they couldn’t tell me why either)
In any case, I’d come back and probably will. Clean and well laid out facilities with decent staff makes this a winning place to get your sweat on in my book.

I have really started to love coming to this gym for a quick lunchtime workout!
The gym is laid out fairly nicely with a cardio area and weight area separated by a basketball court. There is an indoor pool (there is a glass wall beside the cardio area, so you can see into the pool are) and running track above.
Some of the pros I like about this gym:
–TVs on all cardio equipment (Though recently TWC switched to Digital so all the tvs are having to be updated, so there arent any channels now)
–The functional fitness room– Monkey bars, large ropes, weights, plyo boxes, jump ropes. There is also a WOD on the board in case you want to get your crossfit on
–The salad bar area– Great to grab a quick lunch to go after the workout. Prices are very reasonable.
–The Quick Fit room off the track– Great for a quick workout away from others.
–Weight area– For being a small area, they have a good amount of stuff. I think there are about 4 unassisted squat stands/​bars, which is alot for this size gym.
–Large offering of classes
I usually go right at peak time and have never had to wait for a cardio machine. Sometimes the ab area behind the cardio is a bit full, but there is always a ton of space in the functional room!

This is my favorite center city YMCA. It’s extremely convenient, being that I work in 2 Wells Fargo. But even when I’m not in the office I try going to this YMCA. I typically go to Body Pump on Saturday mornings, which is a great class, and I frequently swim here as well. While I enjoy the pool at Johnston more (it’s a warm pool) the pool at Childress-​Klein works just fine, and the aquatics director, who is usually onsite, is very friendly and gives me tips while swimming. It’s not nearly the size of Dowd, but it doesn’t get quite as crowded and has a more welcoming vibe, in my opinion. I especially like how it has different rooms where you can go stretch after a workout, and not feel like you are in the way. If you can deal with the hassle of parking (they validate within a very limited window of time) it’s worth checking out.

You can’t really get much better than this for a gym in the immediate Uptown area. There’s pretty much any fitness activity you can think of awaiting you on the 2^nd floor of the One Wells Fargo Center. Plenty of cardio options, swimming pool, basketball court, classes, yoga, all of your standard free weights and machines, towel service, steam room, I could go on and on. Make sure to avoid at your typical peak times to maximize the experience. I like to block off an hour on my calendar mid-​morning or afternoon and have the whole place to myself. I always see one of our EVP’s around these same times, great minds think alike!

Way back when, I used to work downtown… this was the Y I would frequent during lunch to get a workout in. I loved the facilities then and they’ve even recently updated everything (March 2014). Looks like they moved around some staff offices and gave members more workout space.
The renovation brought super clean/​modern look to the place and added food/​snack bar which is so great especially for the after workout refueling routine.
I can’t really say much about the ladies locker room, but the guys locker room has gotten a major face lift and is a nice space to change and get ready in.
I’ve started recently swimming so the pool facilities here are great and the Y provides towel service, so you don’t have to have a wet towel in your gym bag or call all day after a morning swim. I did talk to one of the lifeguards and he said the 2^nd phase of the renovation will happen and the pool will be updated — exciting stuff, however with the Dowd pool, and MAC pool being renovated at the same time, this place will start picking up with swim traffic (anticipated)… we will see, but for now I do like my «controlled drowning» to be kept to mostly myself.
Just when you thought you couldn’t have a Y in a tight space due to downtown limitations, the CK YMCA both amazes and fufills their duties in providing great services to their members and their community.

I prefer CK YMCA to Dowd during the week. For one thing, it’s less crowded. I also feel that people are a bit more «real» at CK… I don’t feel underdressed when I’m working out and people actually talk to you –whereas at Dowd I feel a bit inferior because I don’t own any Lululemon & I actually take my makeup off before working out. Don’t get me wrong, there are some great people at Dowd & you’ll find me there most Sundays –but for a middle class person that works in uptown, I find CK way more welcoming & a better workout environment than Dowd during the work week.

This just might be my new lunch time routine. Its close to work and they offer a cardio strength class around lunch time. Only thing is that its packed at noon. So i went at 12:45 and by the time i was done, it was a ghost town. So i can go at 1:00 and get in and out within an hour. Even with taking a shower!

I like the space & it’s easy to find your way around. The staff are friendly & helpful (especially Amy — she’s a caffeine-​buzz with a smile!) I HATE that the parking validation is only accepted until 8:30am or after 5pm. My sweetie works across the street & we would love to be able to work out together more often in those middle hours, but having to pay for parking there is ridiculous!!! Childress Klein properties needs to make an exception because it’s obvious if I’ve only been there an 1.5 hr & I’ve got a Y stamp I’ve been to the gym — not just parking there for something else. If they fixed that I’d go more often & give them more stars. p. s. I also dislike the new logo. I think it looks like a goo-​ey pastel mess. I thought the other logo was strong and straight-​forward.

So as Y’s go, this is my go to place due to the fact it is located almost in my work building. Their rates have also gone down and no initiation fees anymore — yeah!
Throw in free classes and a pool and they beat a lot of places hands down.

I was staying at the Hilton next door and got access to the YMCA. Nice! One of the days, I woke up with a sore throat. Headed to the gym anyways, but started coughing horribly just as I checked in. Had to walk out to clear my throat then went back in and hopped on an elliptical machine. The lady at the front desk was so nice! She brought me a cup of water because she noticed that I was coughing so much earlier.
Amazing service! Now I wish I belonged to a YMCA back home. Going to have to look into it for sure.

If you are a stickler like I am for a treadmill with a tv then you wont like this YMCA. The treadmills face the tvs which are mounted on the wall and they also face the basketball courts which is kind of interesting sometimes hehe ;-)
They have to work out a different arrangement for the towels — other YMCA’s have the towels on a shelf and then you throw the used ones in a bin. This location keeps the clean towels in a bin. People going by not used to this will just throw their used towel in without looking and ‘pollute’ the clean ones. Geez just make this consistent with your other locations YMCA so people dont do this!
But if you are in a time crunch and you work uptown you can get used to this tiny location. Don’t forget parking is free after 4:30PM!!!

My go to gym during the week for several years! The convenience can’t be beat if you work uptown. I’ve tried Dowd, and the gateway location would be a hassle to jump on and off the trolley. Everything you could ask for in a gym… classes, equipment, swimming, basketball courts, track, lockers and towel service! Not sure of the management as the staff has been constantly changing here lately.

This is my favorite Y, simply because I love the lap pool, the towel service, the clean showers, and the steam room. Also, no kids!
This Y attracts a professional crowd, which makes sense since it’s in an Uptown hi-​rise. I come here M-​Th, and mainly use the lap pool. It’s a nice contrast to the Dowd Y, which tends to attract questionable people (I always felt that my locker would be broken into, at the Dowd Y). People at this Y tend to be in their 20s and 30s, whereas the Dowd Y gets really, really old people who move very slowly in the changing room.

The Childress Klein (or Uptown) Y is the best place to get in a great workout during the day if you work in that area. There are plenty of cardio and weight machines, free weights, a pool, two basketball courts, and an indoor track. The facility is very clean and well maintained, and the staff and group exercise instructors are always pleasant and helpful.
Speaking of classes, the Uptown Y also has a cycle area and a multipurpose room for classes on top of one of the basketball courts. There are a ton options, including strength, athletic conditioning, cycle, kickboxing, yoga, pilates, etc (you get the point)…all to help you work up a sweat during your break. The woman’s locker room is very clean and plenty big, so you won’t have to worry that you’ll be stacked on top of the other patrons when trying to get ready; I would think the men’s would be the same, but can’t tell you for sure!
A couple of tips before heading to the gym:
1. The cardio machines and swim lanes fill up quickly over the 12−1pm lunch hour, so better to go before/​after that time or plan to run on the track upstairs.
2. Parking is free before 8:30am and after 4:30pm for 2.5 hours if you get your ticket validated at the front desk, but sometimes during weekdays the deck is full, so you’ll have to find alternate parking (which is not free).
3. If you plan to do a class in the multipurpose room, you’ll have to exchange your Y scan card at the front desk for a special pass as it is across the hall and through security.

Alright gym rats, in the spirit of full disclosure let me open by saying I occasionally teach a range of group-​ex classes here. I think I pay more in taxes than I actually net on the small amount of additional income it gets me, so I’d hope any bias I have is well-​tempered.
As someone whose been to almost all the county’s Ys, I’m a big fan of the C-​K. Tucked into the Wachovia (now Wells Fargo???) One building, and adjacent to the Hilton, this beacon of sweat calls to the uptown corporate crowd and those in town for just a few nights. Hint: almost all the traveling shows for the performing arts center give their crew and cast passes to come and use this Y. I’ve met dancers, singers, and performers of most of the bigger shows here. Humorist David Sedaris (and his sister), for example, were in town recently for a one night performance– they both came to swim and had a great time (he even mentioned the visit during the show!).
So why this Y? 3 main reasons. First, this place is not so gargantuan that you would get lost making your way from the lockers to the gym floor. This also means the crowds are manageable and people tend to know the other people around. I don’t find this so much at the Dowd, for example. The friendly aires here are just a little more appealing both for motivational and enjoyment of the visit purposes.
Second, the cardio and weight equipment is well-​maintained and logically laid out. They just put in new free weights and redesigned that part of the gym with some new machines to boot– which was a nice upgrade. People here generally care enough to wipe down the machines after they are done and don’t mind letting you work in for sets. When you are on a schedule, this helps.
Third, everything you want is here in one place. Group Ex classes, a pool, an indoor track, personal training and basketball half court. If you get hungry, check out the food bar at the entrance– it’s get a nice selection of food options that aren’t fried or wrapped in cheese and bread. I also find at least the men’s locker room to be amply sized, with plenty of shower stalls, a steam room, a sauna, and plenty of lockers for day use.
Lunchtime tends to be busiest, but the early morning crowd gets decently sized too. The after work rush is much more subdued lately, no real idea why. If you want the place almost to yourself, come in between 8:30 am — 11:00 am or 2:30 pm — 5:00 pm. Amazing how things empty out then.
One note of clarification– parking is free for up to 2.5 hours in the Wachovia/​Hilton deck so long as your are out before 8:30 am or enter after 4:30 pm. The times do not apply on the weekends, though I am sure the gym here is closed completely on Sundays. Whatever you do, just make sure you stamp your parking ticket with the Y stamp at the entrance. The parking deck attendants have little mercy for those who do not follow the restrictions. Comprende?
I’m a morning person and the best part of this gym, for me, is the community of regulars who also make the daily pilgrimage to burn some calories before the sun rises. There are some serious athletes who train like crazy and some desk jockeys who live for their exercise highs outside of the office (that’s my hand raised in the back of the room). In all, it is a great mix of people who will open up if you take the time to talk to them. Join one of the early morning running groups or become one of the die-​hards looking for some self-​inflicted punishment in one of the boot-​camp style fitness classes– whatever your flavor of exercise, you can find it here and all in one nice, compact easy to access place.

While the Dowd is less than 1.5 miles away from the Uptown location, I imagine this particular YMCA is super convenient to the folks who work Uptown. Yes, durr. But, I do prefer the Uptown Y over Gateway for a couple reasons… not only because its closer but… because:
–This Y has a nice variety of mid-​day group classes, granted they can be pretty crowded at times with all those bankers workin’ up a sweat before they head back to work
–There is a nice variety of weight equipment and cardio machines arranged in a half moon fashion around the basketball courts (these courts are nice, too)
–If you’re a swimmer, this is a convenient spot to get your laps done
–And I just realized that there is a running track upstairs… who knew?!
–Free parking in the Hilton garage — just make sure to park in the correct spots and validate your ticket on your way out of the gym
So, while I typically hit up the Dowd, the Uptown (Childress Klein) location is a nice option if I prefer to run to the gym or catch a specific group class.
*FYI: If you’re interested in the group yoga classes, go to the front desk first and get a pass. The actual yoga room is down the last elevator bank and through the glass doors. You need a pass to get through security.