Summit YMCA

I usually use the pool, which I found a little unorganized.
1) Once I called ahead about their Sat night schedule right before I left home for the pool since the pool is rented out sometimes on Sat night. The girl who answered the phone told me that the pool is open to public and not being rented out. When we got there, we were told that a pool party is going on and we cannot get in (what? I just called like less than 1 hour ago!)…inefficiency No1.
2) They don’t put up signs to let you know which lane would be adult lap vs. family swim vs. lesson. And when you ask them, they would tell you they don’t know, it depends, and when I asked them dep on what, they said it dep on which instructor is teaching, which I found very strange since don’t they have a schedule? So while you are in the middle of your swim, they would ask you to move to another lane (when they could have save everyone trouble in the beginning by putting up signs!)…inefficiency No 2.
3) The pool is not very clean. You can see «stuff» (unknown content) floating in the water.
4) I am not sure what is wrong with their water/​air system. The changing room sometimes smells like urine.
Also, if you are enrolled in their monthly donation program, it’s a hassle to want to opt out! I went there wanting to opt out (since we want to donate to some other org that’s more efficient) and they told me to call, and when I called, they transfer me to a voice mail box… no one has called me back yet, so I am still not sure how to opt out!
Well, you get what you pay for (I haven’t checked out The connection, which is the same price)…If you can afford it, Lifetime or Equinox both have better/​cleaner pool/​changing room…

After searching for a month for a reasonably priced gym with group exercise classes in Summit, I finally settled on Summit YMCA. The first reason I love this gym is that you can apply for financial assistance if you are eligible, which has really helped me out with the membership fee.
Now onto the classes. If you are looking for challenging «boot camp» style group classes, I absolutely love the Body Shred and Les Mills GRIT classes that Sonya teaches. They are AMAZING and pretty difficult, but you can do modifications to the exercises. I swear I have gotten visibly stronger after a month of doing these classes twice a week. I also love Friday Bootcamp with Hillary, because the class is challenging and she times each group of exercises along with songs, which is really engaging.
The gym itself has great amenities and equipment. There are a bunch of high quality cardio equipment, notably they have the Woodway curve treadmills which are awesome. I also love that they have showers, a suana, and free day lockers.
The one complaint I have with the gym is that there is not enough room for me to do exercises on the floor with weights. The weight room has very little floor room, and is typically packed with guys when I go to the gym after work and I am a woman, which makes me uncomfortable taking up space in there to do my exercises. Otherwise, there is space for like 5 people in the cardio rotunda upstairs but you aren’t allowed to bring weights up there and there are usually a bunch of people there taking up all the room. So the only downside about the gym is that there isn’t much free space for me to do exercises.

Five stars for some super fantastic classes.
I’ve become a Zumba maniac thanks to the magic of Zumba J’s classes. Fun people, a great workout – I’d take it seven days a week if it was offered.
I’m also a huge fan of Suzanne’s Sh’Bam classes. I leave feeling great, I laugh, I sweat – what more can a woman ask for from a gym class?
My work schedule has been a little nuts, so I’ve been missing some of the other great classes. Sonya pushes you hard in the best possible way (GRIT – makes me want to barf but I also leave feeling like a She-​Hulk). Body Combat is another great, hardcore class.
I haven’t been feeling very yoga-​like, but I did take one vinyasa class that was top notch. I can’t recall the teacher’s name but she was so helpful especially when it came to hooking me up with props and mods (because in full disclosure, I’m bigger than a breadbox).
And it’s not just the teachers who rock (and they do). The other students? The Y attracts a mix of fun, lovely, supportive people. I tell everyone who will listen to join.
I used to just go and use the elliptical. That’s fine. They have those. But classes!
The front desk folks are sometimes super friendly and awesome. And sometimes they’re a little grumpy. But aren’t we all.
Great value, great fun, I love love love the Summit Y.

Equipment are regularly updated and well maintained. Staff are very helpful and friendly. The Summit Y has everything that an individual or a family would want in a gym plus much much more from summer camps to wellness forums. Pricing is affordable for all as the Y will accommodate those with modest means as well. Truly a community center where everyone feels welcome and myriad opportunities are provided for ones total well-​being.

This review is for their free weight room only. They recently renovated this place and they now have 2 full squat racks and bumper plates. If you are into doing squats, deadlifts or Olympic lifts this place is great. Now only if they got some kettle bells-I’ll update this review to 5 stars.

Enough to get the job done, but definitely not as nice as the Westfield area YMCA a short five miles away.

Everything you need. Not nearly as posh as Lifetime but better priced.
Have a program specifically for 7^th graders to teach them how gym is used. Very kid & teen friendly. Actually see teens & tweens using machines (properly) which is nice.
We were members for years, left for Lifetime for a few years, and have come back.

I recently rejoined the Y and they offer some great group classes. The instructors are great, personable and they give you a great workout. I just left a gym where I was paying less, I have to say, rejoining the Y is definitely worth the extra $$$

I used to love this place, but lately it has gone downhill. There seems to be a lot of turnover, as I rarely see the same faces. I will say that the equipment is nice and they have a variety of classes. But the community feeling is gone.

I’ve been a member of the Summit Y since the Springfield Y sadly closed its doors this past summer. The one thing I had missed about Springfield was the community feel, and the warmth it had especially during our morning class. Well now that we are in Summit I’m definitely settling in, and I LOVE IT! Many of the employees have transitioned over, and they keep it very friendly in here. (I’m a big fan of Pam H., Danielle M. and Susan G. who are my Springfield friends.)
Swimming– They have a very nice warm heated pool (Buntin) and the regular pool (Hurst) 25yd. All the kids classes are in the heated pool. Both my sons take swim classes, and if you are a family member, you can actually register for adult swim classes for FREE. They also have a combination of locker rooms for families, which is nice, Womens locker room, Girls locker room, Mother/​son locker room as well as the Men’s side, Father/​daughter, etc.
Health/​Fitness Classes– Spin Class is awesome on Tuesdays and it is packed (9:15am) with their most entertaining instructor that should moonlight as a comedian. Also if you work, check out their 5:30am options, I’ve enjoyed them too, especially the Tuesday mornings with Ellen. I can’t complain of any of the instructors, they’ve been great and I’ve never experienced a no-​show.
Summer Camp– Lots of options here, my kids enjoyed it, but we frankly couldn’t spend so much on more than a week.
Parking– Can get crowded, and since it is so close to the train station it is metered (25 cents/​45min. i believe) I admit I’ve skipped paying a few times, and have been lucky, shhhhh. my friends though, not as lucky.
Stroller Access– I found it alot easier somedays to park on the street (Cedar St.) adjacent to the parking lot, and feed the meter and take the back entrance to the elevator. I think there though it’s 25 cents/​30min.

I’ve been a member of this gym since 2003. It has everything I need to keep in shape: good equipment and classes. There is a decent variety of classes from yoga, pilates, kick boxing, spinning, body sculpting, etc. to specialized classes like boot camp. But there are some problems that keep me from giving it 5 stars. It seems like the cleanliness of the gym has declined. The main workout room is fine. But there was black mold on the shower curtains in the locker room and the basement floor (where the locker rooms are) has a funky smell. Also, I needed to change my membership plan and the gal at the front desk had the personality of a brick. If you’re going to be at the front desk representing the Y, try to smile and at least act like you enjoy what you do. To be fair, this is the first time I’ve dealt with a front desk employee that was less than friendly. Perhaps I just got the wrong person at the wrong time. I went to a competing gym as a guest (a huge new gym the next town over) and the front desk couldn’t have been nicer or friendlier. Of course you do pay double for that kind of service and cleanliness. So for now I’ll just avoid Miss Crabby Pants and shower when I get home.