Ymca

I was mugged 1 block away in 2006 and i am a six foot 180 lb man. The area is gaining huge apartment complexes so it will get safer or more dangerous depending on who moves in. In the morning the people are friendly and happy. in the evening the young men can get surly as they compete for equipment. People come to workout not to cruise (try the 24 hour fitness) prices are not cheap when compared to gyms in the area and now they charge for parking!!!!! They say we are paying for the charity work they do with children. The teenagers in the evening in these plans are boisterous and have verbally threaten an old lady who got in their way. I have put in complaints about the bigger teenagers who push their weight around. So you are paying to be uncomfortable. but the little kids are OK. The men who use the locker room shave body areas and cut hair in the shower and drying area without cleaning up afterward and even clip toenails. I complained so the put up signs "do not.." didn't help. I hear the women are much cleaner and polite. There have been robberies of the lockers. They put up signs...They are redoing the facility but the people will remain. Why am I here? I will have to evaluate that.

The YMCA is not just a place where you can go to lift weights or run on a treadmill, but this is a place with all kinds of classes for yourself, your children and the entire family.

During the summer months their summer camps for children are filled with activities and youth leaders work together with adult leaders as camp counselors.

Membership is required for most classes but non-members are allowed to register for some classes at a higher non-member rate.

The downtown Oakland YMCA is a great place to get a workout. It's large! There are several floors and they have a large pool, racketball, aerobics room, an indoor track, basketball court - oh - they have machines and weights too! It can get a little crowded during peak times, but there are so many things to do you can choose not to hang around and wait for a machine to open up. The only downsides are the cost if you don't qualify for a break (about $75 a month!) and since there are a lot of people it can get a little dirty - but the community programs and commitment to health the Y has - you can live with it.