YWCA of St Paul

We like it ok. Their price is pretty good especially if you sign up as a couple. I like that they have a pool, it’s a small pool, but that is fine. The facility is a little hard to navigate, and even though I have been many times, I still find myself getting lost.

I admittedly do not have a lot of experience as a gym member. The staff is friendly. The machines are adequate, and there is plenty of variety for me to keep my workouts interesting. I use the weight machines, elliptical, treadmills, and bikes. I don’t take classes or use the pool. Hand towels are free.
For me the hours are plenty, open to 10 on weeknights and opens at 5 most days. The only thing that it would be nice to have are a track and basketball style gyms. I would also advise against going during the busiest hours (5 – 7) from Jan. to March. There tends to be a rush of New Years resolutionaries. You can still get a machine, but it may require a wait.
I also like that the YWCA does good things in my neighborhood. There are day care programs, summer camps, literacy programs, youth fitness, and a kids swim team. It is a place for all body types and experience levels. There are people that I see there every time, and there are people there who obviously are getting back into shape or dealing with significant disabilities.

As a former member of Lifetime Fitness, my standards are probably higher than they should be. Machines at the YWCA are dated or not in full working condition, there are no TVs, magazines are many months old, mats are icky, towels are 50 cents, yoga classes cost extra, child care costs extra, the child care facility is in a tiny room, you have to sign up to use machines, bring your own padlock for a locker, and the fitness club isn’t open 24 hours. These things are the polar opposite of a Lifetime Fitness center. Alas, I do not live across the street from a Lifetime Fitness center, so it would be twice as much effort to actually go and use a membership at one. I have no excuse not to get to this YWCA.
My boyfriend and I are both Blue Cross of MN policy holders, so we get $ 40 off our dual YWCA membership, bringing the cost to just $ 22 for both of us (as long as we each visit 12 times a month).
I’m going to have an open mind about the YWCA. It may be a downgrade in amenities, but I think I’ll get more out of it in the long run.