Southern Branch Ymca

I was in town visiting my mom over the summer and purchased a summer membership at the Sothern Branch YMCA. I participated in many aquatics classes, and they were very well run though the warm water aquatics classes fill up very fast. I also took advantage open pool lanes A LOT in the regular pool as well often visited the water water pool. The regular large pool classes had instructors who were very nice and encouraged a good pace. I did find the deep water classes should not have been utilizing three pool lanes for 8-10 participants. I believe the pool space could have been allocated a little more efficiently. The staff working at the front desk (Connie, Phyllis and Mary) were extremely helpful and greeted all members as they arrived. The facility was clean and well-maintained. Regarding summer, since children are on break and attending camps, the environment was lively but appropriate. I believe that is the kind of atmosphere expected when visiting the YMCA during the summer—kids are in a safe place while their parents are working. Overall, I had a positive experience, and if I am in the area next summer, I will definitely renew my summer membership. Erin, the new director, is great and very personable. The lifeguards—Mick, Meadow, and Chris—are very friendly, professional and prioritized safety for all swimmers, which is a top priority. Great place for all ages to get involved and live a healthy life style. It helped me finally start to working towards a healthy lifestyle. Thanks, Southern York YMCA!

I agree with Wendy's comment about people hogging the machines. Often while waiting for one person to get off a machine, I've used three other machines plus used free weights. They do 4 or 5 sets (definitely more than three sets) of 10 or however many, with a 5 minute break in-between while playing on their phone. If you stand near them and stare at them to let them know someone is waiting they just give you nasty looks. The worst is when couples come in (or a group of high school kids) and one of them does a set, sits on the machine for 5 minutes playing on their phone, does another set, sits on the machine for 5 minutes and does another set while the other person just stands there. Then the other person gets on and does the same thing. They don't swap out. There are no employees supervising anything. I asked a trainer about people not wiping the machines down (mainly teenagers there in the summer) when they're finished and she said they were told to not say anything to them. The vast majority of people, however, do wipe down machines. It's always pretty busy in the gym area so it's guaranteed you're going to have to wait for the machines. Also in the summer the place basically turns into a daycare summer camp for kids. I feel like I'm tripping over kids when I'm there. They are often in the public area by the gym, screaming and gawking at everyone working out. They also eat lunch there. There is often a line of at least 30 kids waiting to use the bathrooms near the gym, which end up trashed. Every time I would try to get from one area to another it's a long line of 50 kids being led somewhere. You have to try to break through or stand there and wait for the long line to pass. The summer camp and the gym should definitely be in separate areas. The classes (not Silver Sneakers) are also extremely hard. If you're not already in good shape, you're really going to struggle. The classes considered "basic" are anything but. There are several classes that fill up immediately. Registration for them opens at 5am so set your alarm or you won't get a spot. The staff is friendly and the instructors are very nice. I'd go elsewhere.

I've been a member since the beginning of June. During that time one of the two pools has been out of order the majority of the time. Something seems to always be broken, maintenance needs done, and they're shut down for extended periods of time...not days, more like weeks. The class offerings are nice but they try to cram too many people into Studio A and Studio B (which are just rooms) for some of the classes. Got tired of waiting for people to get off of the weight machines so I stopped going. The gym is really crowded the entire first half of the day and gets really busy in the evening up until closing. I agree with what someone else said about the summer camps there. The summer camp kids really shouldn't be parked in the area where the wellness center is and people are trying to get in and out of the wellness weight lifting area and get to classes. It's a major public thoroughfare area and they have 50 kids eating lunch on the floor, lined up along the weight lifting area, screaming, running around and staring at people working out in the wellness center on the machines. The summer camp program and private events take precedence over classes and other scheduling of the gym/basketball courts.

Can’t use the gym equipment because half of them sit on their phones on the equipment. Staff is tired of hearing about it.Why have rules if they aren’t enforced.? They say tell the front desk. To do that I would have to take a picture of the people sitting and I don’t need the hassle. I don’t have time for this. I just called JCC and they have staff that monitor their gym. Unfortunately too many people are disrespectful and without any consequences they either don’t care or just enjoy the drama. I go to the gym to release stress, not add to it.

I wish they used the basketball courts for basketball during prime hours instead of shutting it down for 4 ladies to dance. Can we please at least TRY to cater to YOUNG MEN. It's in the name. Feels like every Sunday they have a class booking the gym that doesn't need to be in there while 15 young men have to leave because that's the only reason they are there. Then, I hear about vandalism in the neighborhood. Maybe if we wouldn't take away their outlet. This is the entire purpose of the organization. At least leave the gym open on weekends.