Dorchester YMCA

I really enjoy going to this Y. Its close to public transportation both T and Bus. There is typically street parking but there’s also a parking lot in the back. Staff always acknowledges you when entering and exiting. The bathrooms are clean but could definitely use an update. Christina teaches bust and gut, chiseled, african dance, and is a great personal trainer, she is a true motivator. She kicks my butt ever time I walk in the Y. Marc is great too. My son loves the mini master swimming lessons. Its the next best thing to being on a swim team.

new director means sparkling floors, updated programming and Lots of community outreach & events. the expansion of access to local teens is great, but it means Codman high owns the gym 4 – 6 Mon– Fri. this is kind of a bummer, but I’m working around it. trying to get my systems on line before new year rush hits.

My home Y is in Roxbury. I made it a point to start visiting all of the Y’s in Boston.
I’ve been to the Wang now Dorchester. My pre judgement was way off base. I really like this gym! They have most of the equipment I like to use eg. battle rope, kettle bells among other things. The locker room is very clean, especially the toilets… thank goodness. The only problem I have is the small parking lot. Luckily I workout in the AM, so I don’t have to worry about not getting a parking space. I’ll be back there at first light…

The only reason I came to this Y was because the one I originally go to (Quincy) is closed at the moment. The facility itself and the people who work here are nice but my complaints are more for the people who actually work out at this gym.
I don’t know if it has anything to do with the time I went there (10 a.m.) or if its consistently like this but there were a few who did not know how to use the equipments properly. One man was hanging upside down on the pull up bars and almost kicked another gym member in the face when flipping himself around. Another guy decided it was more effective to have one leg on the ground while the other was up against the lat pull down machine and did his pull down workout that way.
I did not see a single person wipe down their machine after they used it. Maybe I am used to the hygiene cleanliness the Quincy members follow but I felt gross after using the equipments. I’d much rather drive the extra 25 minutes to the Hanover Y than come back to this one.

Might be the best Y in Boston. No. For real. The classes that I’ve taken (step, boot camp, kickboxing) are all great workouts. I tend to worry that the intensity is not going to be great, but every time I go, I get a consistently intense workout. The staff is always attentive, nice and helpful. What is perhaps most amazing is that they have a shoestring budget and, say, about five people on staff, yet they do the most by offering programs that cater to people at all levels of fitness. I’m a finnicky gym connoisseur, and I’ll leave a gym in a heartbeat (just read my other Unilocal reviews about certain gyms if you doubt me), and it seems that I’ve found everything I need at the Y. The reason I think the Y is different from the earlier reviews is that they’ve changed management and the new director is unbelievable. She’s changed the face of the Y – it’s not the same as it was before. Try it out. Er, should I say WERK it out?!

I have yet to take any classes, so I will have to update my review once I do, but the machines are all modern and clean and the facilities are well maintained. After years of being pampered with my Healthworks membership, I was nervous to re-​enter the world of co-​ed gyms but everything has been great, and it’s just as family-​oriented as I would have hoped.
It’s nothing super fancy but it serves the purpose I was looking for — somewhere to work out close to home without the pressures of a meat market or tanning salon atmosphere. The membership price is super reasonable and it can be used at any of the Ys in MA and RI.
I am looking forward to trying some classes, the pool and looking into their programs for kids once our own baby comes along.

Although their classes maybe don’t really happen. I go here for the machines. And I work it out! They are super friendly (they said Happy Birthday on my birthday!) and they host all sorts of events for families in the community. I grew up with the Y, so it’s the place for me.

Joined in Spring. Was looking for help to tighten up after weight change. Told I had make an appointment to talk to instructor,“he is very busy and he keeps his on schedule”. I made appt. and got to speak with the all mighty instructor. He was very put out that I was taking his time. A real turn off. Seemed that I wasn’t really wanted there. Didn’t go back had paid membership and then had 3 months charged .Got a form letter welcoming me and to call director any time. Called and she was too busy. Froze membership. Just found out that it can only be frozen until the end of Aug. and then they will go back to charging my acct. Guess who’s going to kiss this place goodbye. As far as being Christians, I think they have much to learn! There’s a new place on Neponset Circle, see you there.

YMCAs are built upon the philosophy that everybody should have access to recreation and should be treated as a Christian brother or sister. The Dot Y has not disappointed me in this regard. It really lives its core philosophy. Classes are affordable and the staff are terrifically friendly. But there also seems to be a divide between the morning shifters and evening shifters. It’s hard to get the full story because…“I’m just not hear in the mornings” is a common overheard. For example, I signed up baby and me for Itsy Bitsy Yoga. Cute, right? We came two weeks in a row only to find that the session was canceled that day. No one called us. Further, the website did not reflect that the class existed. So bottom line, be proactive with any classes for which you register. There is a lot going on here, and it’s easy for your activity to get overlooked.