YWCA – Downtown Minneapolis

I work downtown and its very nice easy to use during my work days or on the weekends. I tend to use the Uptown YWCA over the downtown location due to the updated lockers and the feel to the place. The downtown space is very nice and I like the layout and urban cement design (should get some good street artist for some murals on the walls). The major issue I have is the need for a remolding of the men’s locker room and lacks modern features like at the uptown gym. Also the workout area could use an update and brighter colors. I do like the windows to look out on Nicollet Mall.

Great pool and the locker room is like a spa with a hot tub, steam room, and sauna! I swam here for one day as a visitor and found the pool to be much better for laps than most Y pools. The water was not too warm, there is a clock, and the whole pool is set up for laps (25 yards long). Very convenient location for those in town for anything at the convention center.

I have been working out here for about 20 years and it has been upgraded constantly.
This is a really nice workout facility for anyone living or working in downtown.
They have a pool that is always open for lap swimming, hot tub and sauna.
They have lots of cardio equipment and free weights. They also have olympic lifting gear including bumper plates.
The trainers are top notch. I have taken Olympic weight lifting and boot camp at this location and have always had a blast.
The inner courtyard makes for a great area to do incline or decline sprints or body weight workouts.
This is my go to gym when I am in Minneapolis.
The best part is they are a non profit and put all the money you pay into community development with an emphasis on empowering women and girls.
What is not to love!

I love this YW! It is great if you live in downtown West or in one of the surrounding neighborhoods because it’s a quick 5 to 10 minute walk. If you are a swimmer this really is the only YW to go to in Minneapolis. The pool is a perfect size and the people that swim here are all good swimmers, no amateurs. There also is rarely a lifeguard which I like because I can’t stand having a lifeguard watch me swim laps, I’m fine thanks… I love the locker room here because there is a sauna, hot tub and steam room right in the locker room. I know it could use some remodeling because it’s slightly outdated compared to the uptown and downtown locker rooms, but it’s also way bigger, quieter and something about it feels luxurious and relaxing. Probably because there is the private hot tub, sauna and steam room and there is tons of counter space, with lighted mirrors, lotion and hair dryers etc. I will admit that this Y isn’t the best for using the weight room or the treadmills because they all face the windows which look out onto Nicollet Mall and it’s extremely awkward because everyone walking by can watch you. The class times at this Y as well, are only great for people who work downtown. If the times were better I would take more classes at this Y because I feel that this Y is the most peaceful, and clean compared to the other 2. It also has more of an intimate feel, I’ve struck up conversations with people and even made friends at this Y. This Y is more for adults and not children though, I think there is less for families to do here, which is also why it’s a quieter Y. I always end up having a great conversation with someone whenever I go for a swim and I don’t feel that sense of community and friendliness as much at the other 2 Ys. I’ve also gotten massages here and they have been great. It should be noted that I actually only swim at this Y and occasionally get a massage, so if I wasn’t a swimmer I might not be as much of a fan, but since I am, I love it!

This Y boasts the style and modernity of the 1970s and is great for people who really want others to look at them while they work out.
If you work downtown, it’s undoubtedly a convenient location. I, however, refuse to use the machines upstairs because of the giant window out to the street where everyone can see you sweating on your hamster wheel (DON’T LOOK AT ME). There doesn’t seem to be a track of any kind, so I see people sprinting back and forth on the carpeted area downstairs or doing other weird exercises with ropes that there doesn’t seem to be a designated space for.
I come here for convenient class times. However, the group fitness room also has a giant full-​wall window so everyone milling around the carpeted area can stop and watch you shake your derrière (DON’T LOOK AT ME).

This is kind of a weird location of the YWCA, but I really like coming to this pool. It’s always kind of empty at night, so it’s like having my own private pool.
The locker room is HUGE, but it can be hard to find a locker if this isn’t your normal Y and you don’t rent a locker here.
The best part about this Y is the front desk staff. Everyone that I have interacted with is super friendly and kind.

My favorite Y by far. If you live downtown or in Loring, you can easily walk or bike here; since it’s winter and I’m a big whiny baby, I drive the eight blocks or so and pay a dollar to park. It’s not ghetto like the midtown one, and it’s not a meat market like the uptown one. It just… is. Lots of old people, lots of downtown business-​type folk, a few random weirdos like myself, and a delicious lack of ultrahipsters.
The pool is big and crystal clear. I’ve never seen more than 5 people in it at a time, which sounds cool, but it’s usually unlifeguarded — which is actually pretty unnerving when you’re the only person swimming, even if you’re a fish. I have a terrible fear of drowning randomly via leg cramp or aneurysm. I dunno. I guess there’s probably a security camera in there somewhere?
The women’s locker room is massive, rarely busy, and has an oddly luxurious feel to it — like maybe it was real fancy in the 80s and just needs some remodeling to restore it to its former glory. It’s also fully equipped with a cozy sauna, steam room, and hot tub. If you want to rent a locker for 6 months, it’s dirt cheap.
The fitness equipment is nothing to write home about, but it gets the job done. When you’re on a treadmill, the people watching on Nicollet Mall is exquisite. Sometimes weird, intoxicated people will stand there and watch you back, which I guess can be either motivating, ego-​boosting, or just creepy.
The biggest downside to this Y is that, as far as I can tell, there’s no designated stretching area. I stretch in the locker room or in the downstairs atrium because there’s zero empty space in the fitness center.
All in all, though, it’s a solid gym if you just want to get in, get sweaty, and get out.

Its the cheapest gym downtown. Cant beat the location.
They offer some classes and their is a court downstairs. I mostly used the first floor, the weights and the machines. Most are working and in good condition. Some are clearly out of date. They had a few TV, so that would make the work out a little more doable.
There were some clearly shady patrons there. Definitely recommend wiping down the equipment before you use it.
The locker room is ok, could use some remodeling.
The people at the front desk are a mixed bag. Some were nice and friendly, others were clearly bothered by the fact that they had to scan my card.
Overall, you get what you paid for. If you just need an elliptical or a treadmill and live around there, it could be worth it, especially if you can get a students discount.

I really like this Y. It’s never overly busy, especially on the weekends, and the staff is super nice. I never have trouble getting the machine I want to use and the weight machines are nice and non-​complicated.
The classes do tend to fill up kind of fast on the weekdays, but they are definitely worth a go. So far, I’ve just been the pilates one.
Also, this is a terrible aside, but I like being able to go to a gym where I don’t feel like I have to be a skinny bitch or super athletic. Everyone that’s here is just as odd and trying to stave off the chub as I am.

I was member a few years ago when they offered a weight management class. After they canceled it, I started taking classes and had some bad experiences with some of the trainers. So I quit. I then joined Lifetime and well … I quit
I really enjoy working out but don’t enjoy be circled by trainers who think the fat girl is the new prey.
So I rejoined the YWCA … and it has been great. There seems to be some new life in the place and I couldn’t be happier. I can work out without any one coming up to me and asking me to think about joining the Weight Loss boot camp (this happened to me way too many times at Lifetime) and I can go to classes and not feel out of my league. This is a place for real people to work out.
Also, it funds an amazing charity that keeps the funds local. I am very glad to have rejoined.
Side note — today I received a call from the membership desk to make sure everything was going ok and I was still happy. I haven’t been in 2 weeks because I sprained my ankle and the Dr has ordered I not work out at this time. I spoke with the membership person and she was awesome. I am glad to be back.

I really like this Y. It’s not nearly as pretentious as the uptown Y. It’s not pretentious at all, really (maybe b/​c it doesn’t seem like everyone’s looking for a date?). Anyway, you go, do your thing. That’s it.
Sure the machines are not brand new, but the new machines will come.
Do me a favor though. When you sign up for a machine, use THAT machine. Today I got the, «Yeah, I signed up for T2, but it wasn’t open yet so I got on this one (T5, The machine I signed up for).» She moved, but seriously?