YMCA of Buffalo Niagara – Southtowns Branch

The Y my go to place to de-​stress! I joined simply because they have a POOL! I decided to join because I needed to get out and get some exercise. The Aquafit and Strength and Stretch classes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the best. I even take my mom with me! She loves it! They always leave lanes free if you want to do laps or just walk. It is a little busier during the summer — kids and families — but not over crowded. The water is warm and CLEAN! The lifeguards do several water checks throughout the day. I do recommend swim shoes because the floor of the pool is rough on the feet. The staff is nice, friendly, and very informative. I can’t say much about the extensive cardio machines available because I’ve never used them. Membership is a little pricey — but depending on your insurance, you could save a bundle. Plus there is no annual contract! Additionally, there are a TON of classes to take — all included in your membership. Occasionally, they will have days when they will waive the application fee or when a member can bring a guest for free. While they are not open 24 hours, M-​F hours are from 5.30a — 10.30p, S&S 7a-​7p. I’ve read other reviews where they mention children in the adult locker rooms. I’ve been going for 3 months and have never seen a child in the adult locker room. I highly recommend Southtowns YMCA for everyone.

I am normally not a fan of YMCA gyms but they did it right when building and designing this one! Location is new and fresh, offers a lot of different types of classes and has a younger feel to the place. Pool is large, indoor track, and multiple basketball courts. Cario equipment in on the top of the facility.

I was a member here for years. If you are a single person, you get charged more, but have less options the «adult only» locker rooms are often over run with kids and the parents who bring them in there are often unreasonable in the expectation that their boys (I’ve see boys ages about 10 in the adult women locker rooms here) should not see anything — if you get my drift. Hard to change like that.
Personal training here was iffy… one cancelled on a regular basis for things like he wanted to go shopping or get his tires checked and the other dropped my sessions because she decided to teach a class — and expected that instead of getting a new trainer I would need to rearrange my entire schedule to accommodate her. (I am a graduate student who works full time.)
Facilities are great, staff for the most part is friendly… but it’s not enough to make up for the drawbacks. I dropped my membership because of the problems.