AE Finley YMCA

How have I not reviewed this place yet? This is my home away from home. I had a membership for about a year, mainly for a summer place to swim, but rarely went. Maybe once a month. I discovered the Swim Fit class on Monday nights and started going regularly… started talking to people… but then I was pregnant and didn’t go for months. After I had my baby, I knew I needed to get into shape. Not just *back* in shape, because it had been so long that it was a matter of just doing something… anything! Well, I signed up for a 5k and one of my Swim Fit buddies recommended I try Ramblin Rose, the Y’s sprint triathlon that was just two months away. I was skeptical but she convinced me to do the Y’s 6 week training program to prepare me for the big day.
So, I did it.
It was seriously life-​changing.
I completed both couch to 5k and Ramblin’ Rose. I met some wonderful, supportive people. Y members and staff. I lost weight (at this point, 85lbs, and still going strong!) and have never been as in shape as I now am. I’m pretty much there every day, taking classes, working out with friends. I take my kids there for activities like their 4^th of July festival, summer pool swimming (the whole reason I signed up in the first place!), and swim lessons in the indoor pool year round. The childcare is also fantastic and was the reason that I was able to get started in the first place. They watched my son starting at 6 weeks old. I was a nervous wreck, but the ladies, especially Kai Pai (sp?) and Rebecca were so caring and reassuring. They kept me updated on how he did each time, and made sure that I had nothing to worry about during my workouts. It definitely gave me a safe peace of mind.
Onto the workouts: some of my favorites are Zumba with Melanie, Jen, Holly, and Meg, Cycle with Ashley (she teaches a butt kicking Zumba class too!), PiYo with Jen and Meg, Total Body Strength with Dayle, Bootcamp and TRX with Stacy, Trek with Rosemary… I could keep going! I tried some other gyms (cough, cough, Lifetime) when I was coming back from maternity leave, and just didn’t get the same feel. While the facilities were beautiful, I felt like the Y just offered such a fantastic support system. If I want a café, I’ll go around the block and swing by Great Harvest (um, actually, that’s what I constantly do). I can’t recommend this place enough!

We love the Y and certainly the A.E. Finley Y stands out as our home away from home for fitness, YOTA swimming, volunteer work, Camp Grace and many other worthy, community focused causes.

My wife and I take group fitness classes here 3 – 4 times per week and have been doing so for the past 2 years. The sense of community here is amazing. Everyone is very friendly and the instructors go out of their way to get to know you and make you feel like a part of the family. They provide a great variety of group fitness classes for all levels of ability and they’re very responsive to customer feedback. They’re almost finished with the new renovations and the facility is looking great. You can’t renovate without creating a little inconvenience, but the staff did a great job of managing their resources during the renovations and minimizing the inconvenience to members. They also provided members with free access to any of the Triangle area YMCAs during the renovation to make up for the temporary inconvenience. I highly recommend and do not see myself going anywhere else as long as I’m in the area.

I work out here and give to We Build People. The only bad thing I can say is that I feel like we just did an expensive renovation and they are in the middle of yet another expensive renovation. They are not cheap and I feel it is a huge inconvenience.

Good place to exercise and network in North Raleigh. More of a family crowd here as opposed to the Alexander YMCA on Hillsborough St.

My Brother belongs here and takes us over as guests. I enjoy working out in the fully equipped gym. Then he takes me over to the basketball court where we get circles around us by teenagers and young adults. This is a very nice facility and has just about any sports and fitness activity you want for your family.

My family an I have been enjoying this location for many years now, they have a wonderful day care area for the little ones as well as lots of programs for the kids. I enjoy the gym and classes and now that my oldest is in middle school he can join me in the gym. Always clean and everyone pleasant and helpful.

This gym is pretty huge and has a great range of classes and activities for all to enjoy. I am usually there in the morning after the initial rush and at times the treadmill and weight area can be a bit packed but not to the point of having to wait.
Everyone is friendly and my kids enjoy the daycare area. Your membership card comes on a handy dandy key ring card and you can easily self swipe.
We have put our son in soccer for the 4 — 5 year olds and he is having a good time. My only complaint about soccer would be that it has taken them 6 weeks to get an American flag on the flag pole.

I speak as a person that hates the gym. I really found a home at the Y. The staff is helpful, friendly, and they actually know you. There’s always someone in the weight room to spot or to get tips on how to use the equipment properly. I love the women’s locker room: it’s huge and well maintained. This particular Y is a little small, it can get pretty full in the after work hours, and I typically do not like working out around a ton of people. Usually, I just cut it short when I begin to feel claustrophobic. The Y has quite a few classes, my favorite are the muscle and cardio core classes taught by Jennifer. The cycling classes are pretty grueling as well. Most of the classes however, cater to a crowd that are just starting to work out and need something milder. Me? I like sweating and breathing hard, so I need to do both to feel like I’ve actually worked out. So I recommend any cycling or weight lifting classes.

I visited this Y as I was searching for a new gym to join. I found a gym that is very close to where I live therefore I will not be signing up at this Y, however it is not because this facility is lacking in anyway that I saw. Overall this place has everything one could want, and for a family it would be by far the best choice for you money.
They have a indoor and outdoor pool. I did not see the outdoor one while I was here, I did see the indoor one and it was huge. it looked like it was half a football field in size.
Downstairs they have about 80 cardio machines of different types, their free weight area, and more exercise machines. While they don’t have a ton of free weight stations (benches and squat racks), I think if you used their imagination and are flexible, you can get their workout in even when it is crowded.
Some nice touches… their wireless signal seemed strong throughout the entire building so you can listen to Pandora and check-​in on Unilocal regardless of where you are. I like that. Also, they have a blood pressure station like the ones you see in drug stores. In a room separate from the free weights they have a full set of kettlebell weights which I like to use as a change of pace. They also issue you keys for their lockers so you do not have to worry about bringing your own lock.
Overall this is a nice, large facility that has something to offer for every member of ones family. If the other gym was not as close, I would probably become a member here, however I’m talking 1.5 miles as opposed to 10, so the choice is a no-​brainer for me.

We signed up our little girl for swim lessons beginning this month and she is just ecstatic about them. The staff couldn’t be more friendly. My bride & I took a tour of the facility to ponder a possible membership, partly for my own rehab, but also partly to just see if we can get in shape.
The $ 93/​month family membership fee seems a bit steep right now, so that’s still up in the air.

Oh My Beloved Y. Let me break it down for you…
PLENTY of parking but you may have to walk a bit if you come at 5pm.
Walk in and you are greeted by the wonderful smell of chlorine! Oh, some people don’t like that smell, hmm. Well, never mind.
Self swipe counter for speedy entry, basketball courts on this level and the indoor pool. Down the stairs to the bottom level. this is where the age of this place really shows. SUPER friendly staff at the locker/​towel counter. Locker room is big enough but definitely old. Ok, out of the locker room.
Cardio equipment/​weight area… If I described it as feeling like a church basement would that mean anything to you? That is the best way I can describe it. Don’t get me wrong, I still frequent this Y. It is nothing to inhibit your workout but can feel a little… claustrophobic maybe, I think it is the low ceilings and 4 walls?
Alright…out of this room and moving on… on to the one of the highlights of this Y. The Cycle Room! Love Spin classes here! The bikes are nicely spaced out, it is cool and has a large wall of windows! There is also an aerobic space back here that is nice.
This Y also has the best pools. The indoor pool is large so you at most have to split lanes. I haven’t had to circle swim here. They also have a large outdoor pool available during the summer time for you to get your tan on!
As a triangle member, I still prefer the downtown (Alexander) Y for cardio/​aerobics but I prefer this Y (Finely) for Cycle/​Spin and swimming.