The YMCA

This is definitely my go-​to gym. Yeah, the new Cityway YMCA is newer and nicer, but this one is my favorite. Great weight room downstairs, lots of cardio equipment upstairs, and not as crowded. Plus, it’s in walking distance for me.

This place is so cool and definitely doesn’t have that globo-​gym feel while you’re at one; it’s tucked in the Athenaeum and while the building is an «oldie but goodie» none of the equipment and facilities were out of date. The downstairs locker room was very nice, clean and updated– tv’s with cable so you can watch Property Brothers while waiting for your gym buddy to get there. You can use your own lockers or rent one.

This Y location is so very nice! The staff are friendly and comfortable. The weight room in the lower level is big and spacious with mirrored/​wooden floor area for stretching and other free work. I love it. The upstairs is where the machines are. High ceilings and open space. It is not stuffy at all. I love this place. The women’s locker rooms are clean, there is carpet in the changing area which is perfect. There is also a flat screen in there as well. They’ve thought of everything. This Y has a cozy feel but it is big! One of the nicest locker room I’ve seen and I’ve been to most of the Ys in Indy.

I’ve known the YMCA existed in this building for several years, but only recently joined with the intentions of visiting another location, but realized a workout would be pointless because there are way too many people waiting in lines for equipment. Not wanting my membership to go to waste, I decided to visit this location, which is actually within walking distance to my place.
This is a pretty basic gym but it has all of the essentials When you walk in, you’re in the main room. 40 or so cardio machines take up the front half with elliptical machines, treadmills, stair steppers and bikes. The back half of the main room is weight equipment… 20 or so machine that can make muscles in your body hurt that you forgot existed.
Above the front desk are a couple of small rooms where classes are held. I’ve gone in the evenings and haven’t seen anything going on there, but I’ve been old they do classes up there. Downstairs are the locker rooms and free weights.
The couple of times I’ve been in the evening it’s been pretty quiet. Right after work there is a bit of a rush, but by about 7 the place starts to clear out, so you have your choice of equipment and don’t feel like you’re on display. I’ve also been on a Saturday afternoon about 12:30 and counted about 10 people upstairs working out and just a couple downstairs.
If you signed up for the YMCA hoping to use another location in the CITY that is WAY too busy, consider this your alternate.

This is a great gym for those living downtown/​Mass Ave area and who are looking for a casual place to get their fitness on.

It’s an awesome downtown Y. In a fab historic building. I love that it’s quirky and compact. You can work out here. Yay.

Very nice people work here. They smile and are willing to help in whatever way they can. I came in on a random rainy afternoon and the front desk staff asked if I wanted a tour. The tour was quick and as soon as we got back to the office, we went through the process of applying for membership. Quick and easy. Oh, membership prices are on a sliding scale for families whose annual income is something less than I think $ 55,000? Even still, as of now, the monthly fees for an adult is $ 39.
Parking is free in the lot adjacent to the building before 10 a.m. and $ 1 for a token purchased at the front desk after your work-​out. They said the parking is actually $ 6 and YMCA subsidizes the $ 5 so members don’t have to pay an outrageous amount to park. Still paying for parking, even if it is downtown Indy is something that I guess I’ll have to get used to. There’s also bike parking outside for those who prefer to travel on 2 wheels. There’s a whole bunch of perks for joining — a number of free guest passes, free group exercise classes, complimentary wellness and nutrition consultations.
I just went to a group exercise class, which will definitely render me unable to walk tomorrow, but it felt great when I was actually doing it. Hah. Still, I look forward to coming often for workouts.

This Y is better than the other downtown location — better hours, more space & convenient parking! I’ve started coming to this Y over the Bike Hub location in the past few months and love how this gym [doesn’t feel like it] is located in one of the city’s most historic buildings. I appreciate the variety of equipment on both levels — plenty of cardio & weight machines on the main, lots of free weights and other weight machines & open space on the bottom floor. I wish there were more variety in the class times.
Because of my somewhat off-​set schedule I can’t attend the classes geared towards 8−5ers. Perhaps they should invest in some later classes?
This location has their own Activtrax which is helpful for a beginner/​novice gym rat — sign up for a free personal training appt and you’ll be set! Also — take advantage of the small sauna downstairs. I’m not aware of many corporate-​esque gyms who have one!

Just joined and love it!
Tons of cardio equipment — from stationary bikes, ellipticals, treadmills, stair steppers — on the main floor. Drawback — everyone faces the same way, so feels a bit like you’re on display if you’re using equipment in the first two rows. Also, you definitely make an entrance because all the machines face the one and only entry point, so brace yourself for it. Nice variety of weight machines in the back of the room.
Downstairs, more strength training equipment, mostly focused on arms (or so it appears). Another room with mirrors and stability balls, steps, kettle bells, and free weights. In case you haven’t sweated enough during your workout, hop in the sauna which seats around 8 people. 15 minutes should do you good. There’s also a fantastic locker room in the basement area with complimentary towels for use, lockers for storing stuff, bathrooms with showers, and hair dryers.
The Y also offers a variety of awesome classes, morning, noon and night. Currently on rotation– spinning, Pilates, yoga, cardio endurance, hip hop dance, etc. Went to my first class last week and there are people of all ages, sexes, and ability levels — so don’t be intimidated! Very welcoming environment, especially if you’re just starting to get back in shape!

I love coming here to work out. The athenaeum is such a great historical building g in downtown indy. But the ymca is a great place to get a great workout. I was looking for a good place to get a membership so I could workout everyday and I walked in met the employees and got a tour and loves the place. I have almost been coming everyday since then. Such a friendly staff that gives you a nice welcoming and you feel at home. They have a nice variety of card equipment and assisted weights. I have never had a problem finding what I want to use on a busy day. Clean facility.

This gym has been the closest one to me for over a year, but I only recently started frequenting it because walking the extra 10 minutes down to the Bike Hub in the winter weather hasn’t sounded like something I want to do recently. That being said, as soon as it warms back up I think that I will start making the extra hike again.
The building is in a convenient location for people in the Mass Ave area and the Athenaeum is always a cool place to walk around in, but it is the building that is a lot of the issue here. This is not a structure that a gym should be located in. It seems like they really had to work around making the building suit their needs rather than choosing a place that worked best for them, so it is oddly laid out. The dressing rooms are downstairs with little marking to find them, but they have all the necessities. The free weights room is downstairs which is kind of nice that it has its own space because usually that draws a little different crowd than the rest of the gym area. In the main room is all of the cardio equipment as well as the weight lifting machines. I like their weight machines better than the Bike Hub, and they are the same ones the Jordan and Pike YMCAs have. They also have rooms upstairs for their classes.
I have only been going here since around the same time New Year’s resolution-​ers started up again so maybe I have a bad view on how crowded it usually is, but it always seems uncomfortably crowded when I am here. The weights aren’t too bad, but it seems like there is constantly a wait for treadmills between the 5:30−7 hours. Part of this is because they don’t have enough, but part of it is also because they constantly have broken ones. They have at least 3 different models of treadmills, so I’m assuming they pieced their collection together through whatever they could get, and it has always been an issue finding one when I want. It’s also kind of a pain because their personal trainers use the one walkway that goes through all of the lines of cardio equipment to do their work out sessions with clients, so that makes a crowded space even worse.
The building is always hot and humid; as I’m sure the 125 year old building was not meant to handle large rooms full of sweaty people working out. The downstairs area is especially stuffy. This is the first Y that I have been to that actually keeps their entrance to the gym locked and requires that you be buzzed in once your ID is scanned. The staff is always nice and friendly, like most Ys in the Indy area. Also like most Ys in the Indy area, the hours suck. For the cost of a membership, the hours are a huge inconvenience and seem very lacking. If you prefer to work out later in the evenings or outside of very specific hours on the weekends, then a Y membership is not for you. There are only a few TVs up in main room, but since everything faces that direction you can almost always see them. If you are in the back of the room on the weight machines, then you won’t be able to see the screens well enough to read anything. There are usually a couple TVs on Sportscenter, and one or two on a major news network.
I’m hoping that my experience will get better as the year goes on and less people start showing up, but nothing is worse than not being able to use equipment that you are paying to have access to and that has happened to me quite a few times already. I have a feeling I will head back to the Bike Hub for cardio when the weather makes the longer walk more comfortable since I have never had an issue getting on equipment there in over a year and the space is much nicer and more comfortable, in my opinion. Although, I might continue to come to the Athenaeum for weight machines since I like the ones here more.

Communication at all the YMCA’s Indianapolis is so poor. I am always left on hold for 10 minutes plus and the website information is never updated plus the class schedules are not easy to find. If the Y wasn’t literally across the street from where we live I would go elsewhere based on customer service.

The front desk asked me to fill out a lot of personal contact information on a form before introducing anything about the membership, facility, and class to me. I felt like I was forced to provide my personal information to the Y first before I even get to consider if I want to join there.

I recently joined the Y and have been enjoying workouts here 2 – 3 times per week.
The group classes I have attended have been stellar. Yoga for beginners is a great way to end a stressful workday and the Pilates class left my core feelin’ good and sore.
My only critique is the smaller free weight area in the basement and the lack of a swimming pool.

The Atheneum Y is my kind of gym.
First off, I like a gym that doesn’t feel like a gym. It makes me feel like a human and not a cog in some elaborate fitness dictatorship. It’s in a gorgeous old building with tons of natural light. It feels good to be there.
The staff is friendly, there’s a nice community vibe.
There are lots of cardio machines, a downstairs weight room, and upstairs there are a few fitness rooms where classes are offered. Most classes are free but some series are paid. (I’ve taken yoga, pilates, and TRX). I like that it draws a diverse group of people: hardcore weight-​lifters, moms, older people, young professionals.
And this is HUGE: they have free, high quality childcare with a wonderful staff. You can leave your child for up to 2 hours as long as you stay in the building (otherwise it’s $ 5 an hour, still totally reasonable).

I’ve always really enjoyed the Y growing up as a kid. I think they offer great programs for all ages and promote healthy lifestyles for all. This facility is very nice located in the Athenaeum downtown.
The classes they offer (upstairs at least) are in these awesome old rooms with gorgeous windows overlooking Michigan Street. Yes, sometimes I’m staring at the window!!! But hey, it’s a beautiful old building getting put to great use like it was back in the day.
And if you really want to come, try out the Zumba, Pilates, cycling, and yoga classes. I’ve been to all four-​I teach on Monday nights-​and I have to say the instructors are great and there is a definite camaraderie between the instructors, staff, and members.

The staff is super friendly, the building seems to have been updated recently, and there are quite a few great perks (like access to a nutritionist, a personal trainer, and free towels). I like that it’s close to my house!
The only downfall of this place is that it lacks some of the things I consider YMCA essentials — a basketball court and a pool. I know there are other locations nearby and that the historic nature of the building makes it impossible in include those things, but I just feel like something’s missing!

With the hour changes (no longer open on Sundays) at the Bike Hub YMCA, I’ve found myself returning to my «old» YMCA stomping grounds at the Athenaeum– conveniently located only a few steps from mi casa. Seeing that I arrive on foot, I have no difficulties parking/​getting to this location; however, I would think it could be a bit difficult from time to time by car to find parking.
Pros of Athenaeum location: music plays fairly loud, great magazine selection (you won’t find this girl sitting still on the bike without a book or something in her hands), plenty of equipment
Cons: floor plan (with the a good bit of the weight equipment visible and out in the open of the grand room, I am less likely to dabble with teacher arms out in the open for the world to see.); less natural lighting — feels a bit trapped in.

While I was in town recently on business I sought out a gym to get my fitness on, as the hotel gym I stayed at just did not have enough equipment to use for my purposes.
This YMCA location is pretty nice. Well maintained, bright, clean, lots of cardio machines, free weights, racks, tv’s, and a friendly staff. Reasonable daily rates too for visitors like me.
These YMCA’s are a life saver, as sometimes the cities or towns I travel to lack a good health club close by. Indy is one of those as there were none close to the downtown area I stayed at.
An overview —
— This branch has good hours, 5AM — 9PM Mon to Fri
— Wellness Center with Free Weights, Cybex Equipment, and an Array of Cardiovascular equipment
— Free Wallet/​Purse Lockers for Valuables
— Free Parking in Lot until 10:00 am (M-​F) and on Street after 6:00 pm.
— Can park in parking lot after 10am for only $ 1
— Silver Sneakers Fitness Program
–1, 000 Square foot Free Weight room
— Free Shower Towels
— Co-​ed Sauna
— Three Multi-​Purpose Rooms
— Kit Lockers Available
Will have to remember this location when I come back here next year for the annual convention I attend.

Oh, so this is what the inside of «my» gym looks like? Right on! Day one, almost went into the women locker room. Day two: straight to the men locker room — schew.
You probably wouldn’t believe me that it took me nearly 4 months after signing up for a gym to, in fact, go to the gym. Wait, yes you would.
So here I am – finally! I dig that we can walk to our gym. I dig that it’s in the Athenaeum and that there’s a biergarten just on the other side of the gym wall. I dig that the gym is a symbol of a balanced life: with a theatre, meeting rooms, beer hall, restaurant, former bowling lanes (bring ‘em back) and garten. Although, I miss that basketball court, I dig all the space now for all the cardio machines. I probably wouldn’t come here if it weren’t for all the new machines as it’s the only thing I use /​do at a gym (other than the sauna). I like not being around the weight lifters (as they’re downstairs) because it’s just not my thing to do, or to hear dumb bells dropping on the floor and loud grunts.
Friendly staff, friendly guests, tvs everywhere you turn (if that’s your thing), book rests on every machine (that’s my thing) and a sauna in the basement.
Bottom line: it’s an alluring enough place to get me to come back two days in a row, and envision myself to frequent every single day for the rest of my life — that’s a pretty good judge of a rock solid gym.