JA Walters Family YMCA

I’ve been back to the Y with my friend a few times, and wanted to update based on further experiences.
This is never going to be a 4 – 5 star facility. It’s just not.
HOWEVER, there are some redeeming qualities that I have discovered and wanted to expand upon since my first review was based on a very limited experience.
First, I’ve discovered the joy of spin class. I’ve taken two at this Y, with two different instructors and thoroughly enjoyed both classes. The spin room is very small and accommodates a limited number of riders, but thus far I’ve not seen a full class. The room is well ventilated, and the instructors have both been competent and helpful.
Second, I took a yoga class this week at the Y, and I discovered that not all yoga instructors are created equal. Not that this instructor wasn’t knowlegable, but her directions were sometimes hard to follow — especially since I have to base my practice on what she’s saying since I cannot see her without my glasses on (and add to that the fact that the room is dark and there were a LOT of people in class, and I was in the back row… even had I had direct line of sight to her, I’d have had a hard time seeing what she was doing… So the vocal cues and specifics on which direction, which leg, etc would have been helpful. In general the class was OK, but I prefer my current yoga studio at this point.
The cardio machines that I’ve used thus far are clean and in good working order. There are plenty of them, and I’ve not yet had to wait for anything, which is nice.
The pool is still a sticking point for me. It’s still too warm, and still not clean. And there’s still no posted schedule, so it’s very hit or miss on whether or not you’re going to be able to have a lane to swim laps in or not. Planning ahead just isn’t realistic. So at this point I still plan to hit the aquatic center more often than not since I know there are dedicated lap swim lanes each day there, and the pool is cool and clean.
I did also check out the sauna and the jacuzzi. The sauna is OK — nothing to write home about, but it functions appropriately. The jacuzzi is not fantastic. Some of the jets work and some don’t. If you get there and it’s empty, you’ll be able to hit a working jet, but if there are a couple people there already, then getting in is relatively pointless if you’re looking for jets to help work out any kinks. Would be nice if they maintained it and got the jets all working properly.
The locker room is adequate, and seems to be well maintained.
So over-​all they’ve moved up a little in my book, but I still wouldn’t pay the high monthly membership cost. At this point the few perks still don’t make up for the issues, and I’d still prefer to workout at home or outside.

A once nice exercise venue, machines, free weights, cardio, basketball (3 indoor courts), main pool, children’s activty pool, hot tub, steam sauna, four large locker rooms plus family changing areas, and a dynamite list of classes.
My family does Tai Chi, Zumba, Pilates, and Yoga-​lates. Family prices and guest day passes are pricey (way too high and keep going up) and they keep pulling machines off the floor to furnish new satellite YMCAs without replacing them (causing long waits at peak times) … but at least their classes are free. Their costs would be lower and equipment more available if they didn’t give out so many free or reduced cost memberships to economically depressed families. I’m not saying it’s bad … I’m just saying I’m tired of paying the increasing prices, with no say in how many free memberships they give out.
They do not promote a healthy life-​style. All their vending machines are filled with high calorie junk food. Asking them to change … anything … using a request card is pointless. They are not resonsive to their membership.
The facility is not kept very clean (extremely dirty in the multi-​purpose studio where people sweat, shed hair and skin, and then lie on the floor … ick!) We always ask for a dust broom (we would sweep the room ourselves) but evidently a staff member has to do it … and they don’t. Look for giant dust and hair bunnies under the ball racks and aerobic steps … so big that they stare back at you and make menacing noises!
They fail to give the awards for their fitness program … they no longer give towels … they change hours with no regard for members needs … and they have way too many desk staffers that do nothing but chat with each other … and long periods during the day when there are no trainers available in the machine/​weight area (unsafe).
I believe that they are poorly run/​managed and would do much better with a new president/​manager who would take time to talk to the people … rather than act like the prince of the gym.
Why are we still going here? Because our friends and class instructors are here. But maybe we should all move en masse to the Gainsville Bodyplex. I hear that it is much nicer … just no pool … but we have Frances Meadows pool available for that.
Are you listening YMCA? Get fixed, or we will get gone.