fix the problems with the new bathroom doors, handicapped needs a handicapped toilet, second occupied sign on doors.

The Melrose Y is within 1 mile of our home and I use the pool for laps up to 3 times a week in the fall till spring ( use Torigian in the summer because of lane availability. I use the Saugus Y @ 1.3 miles away for the exercise equipment. Both have very friendly and helpful staffs, life guards and employees.

Weekday fitness mid-day classes for 50+ adults have been eliminated and/or are inconsistent

Nice updated facilities and great group exercise teachers!

Need group class Friday evening

great classes

Accessible facility, friendly and helpful staff and reasonably priced

I love all the classes they instructors are wonderful one of them

Love the Y! The programming is outstanding and varied, so there’s something for everyone. The equipment is well-maintained and well-organized. I always feel welcomed, challenged, and supported at the Y. Highly recommend.

My only frustration is trying to get into classes. I love all classes I’ve taken and the instructors are great but I need to set reminders to sign up the second they open. I work in healthcare and it’s not always easy to get away from a patient to be able to do this during the workday. Otherwise staff is great and facility is clean

I first called and ask a few questions and the woman at the desk whose name I don’t know was so helpful and friendly. And it was the same when I went in and joined. It’s a lovely facility and I’m happy to be there.

Welcoming feeling you get when walking into the Y

The renovations did improve things, but didn't utilize the space very well. All that dead space in front of the rest rooms didn't add to stretching space/helping traffic flow

I like the classes, I like the variety and the time schedules, The instructors are awesome and they make
exercising fun. We are like a little community within the YMCA

Its a good gym, nice environment and classes. Love the increase in space since renovating. Throw up another boxing heavy bag and its a 10(most of my friends are martial artists lol)

So welcoming and inclusive:)

New setup is much better. Removing as much equipment from the turf or the edges of the turf would be great, especially the “A” rack with bar weights and the punching bag. Any effort to open up the turf area and walking space would help a lot. Thanks!

Great staff. Family friendly.

I love the community, the free (and paid) classes offered, the staff. The facility itself is fine— sometimes crowded— but I recognize it’s a small space to work with and you’ve done the best you can.

I love the Y’s location in downtown Melrose and the mission of the broader North Shore YMCA group. I also appreciate the recent updates to the fitness center and all the ways the staff try to create a positive, welcoming experience.

The instructors are terrific.

Front desk staff generally are not engaged, friendly, or courteous. When you walk in theyre talking to each other, looking away, looking at their phones or eating.

Locker rooms . bathrooms dirty. Shower stalls have mold in them. Often soap dispensers low on soap.

I'd like to recommend the Y but so many very simple things need to be fixed.

Like the indoor soccer class and the facilities

I love the classes and instructors

Recent renovations, professional staff, clean environment, and variety of classes.

The support by staff & members.

Friendly staff and excellent facilities.

The Melrose YMCA management seems pretty dysfunctional. Members are baffled by an administration who completes an expensive, 6-week+ renovation WITHOUT A PLAN FOR HOW THEY'RE GOING TO USE THE NEW SPACE! They're moving heavy, expensive equipment around multiple times, installing it incorrectly. Now they've moved all dumbbells 25 lbs and lower into a separate section around the corner, so if you want to, say, warm up with 20lb weights before moving to higher ones, you have to carry weights around to bench and then horde them. The expertise of the trainers and people knowledgeable about how the weight room and equipment is used seems to have been completely disregarded. (Hiring outstanding instructors might be one of the few things this admin has gotten right.)

And I find deeply hypocritical the cookie-cutter move to "standardize" all class down to 50 minutes; this approach runs counter to the anti-capitalist philosophies of some of the courses offered, particularly Asian traditions like yoga or Tai Chi that see the value in the mind-body connection that requires time to develop over the course of a single course. When I inquired as to the reasoning behind this, I was given a list of ridiculous reasons that asked me to disbelieve the evidence of my own eyes. One "reason" given was that instructors needed time to set up equipment for the next class, but the room was empty for an hour after the class I took! Members don't appreciate being lied to.

In contrast, the instructors and trainers really go above and beyond, and many are excellent and provide quality programming. Unlike the administration, they treat members with respect and dignity.

Friendly staff, but not overbearing.

Great instructors for yoga (Donnette and Jeff). Wonderful front staff. I am so much healthier and happier!

I am a senior. I have been a member of the Melrose Y for about 40 years.

I can walk to the Y. The price I right and I love the group chair and Matt yoga classes. Since the renovation of the workout space there is so much more room.

In the past I have also purchased personal training hours and worked with Jeff.

Two suggestions: please either put paper towels in the bathrooms upstairs or invest in better hand dryers. The existing dryers are ineffective, which is annoying. Also, please move the metal chairs down for the chair yoga classes. The plastic chairs move around and, I believe are a safety hazard. I have made both requests several times.

Thank you!

Sue Cann

I only use fitness center. I thought it was very good before, but the expansion is excellent. Place is clean, good staff, good vibe.

A great variety of group fitness classes and a well equipped gym.

Variety of programs

Variety of classes.

Love the classes and the community

Great facility

Missing some valuable machines/tools that could greatly improve workouts. Upright seat bench, plate-loaded squat machine (hack, pendulum, normal), calf raise machine, t-bar row machine.
Separately, let me know if you guys are ever interested in getting a Bevi water machine. I work in the Charlestown Bevi office and would love to have one at the Y!

Way too crowded and the clientele has no concept of gym etiquette. It's worth paying more to go to a gym with clients that don't hog equipment during busy hours.

The Melrose Family YMCA is just what it proclaims to be, a Family! We have been taking aquatics exercise classes at the Melrose Y for over 15 years and we keep coming back because of the incredible staff at the Melrose Y.

Rubens, is just the absolute best!!!!! Not only does he run the aquatics department with expertise, he conducts a Tuesday and Thursday 1pm Aquatics exercise class that is invigorating, therapeutic and fun, fun, fun! Rubens is professional, yet kind. He takes the time to get to know each participant and reminds everyone to exercise within their particular physical limitations while offering alternative exercises when needed. He is mindful of our individual capabilities yet challenges us just the same. Rubens keeps me coming back to the class and the aquatics section of the Y. He is invaluable and I credit his class to being a major part of my recovering from joint replacement surgery.

Let's also not forget about our favorite life guards! Kate in particular is a wonderful asset to the Y. She is friendly and highly competent. She keeps the pool schedule to the minute and we all feel incredibly safe with her at the lifeguard station. Thanks, Kate!

The front desk staff is off the charts friendly snd helpful. Super competent at setting up accounts, helping with payments and insurance and always greeting with a smile and a friendly hello. I never hesitate to have trust in them if I ever have questions about the schedule or my account. Thanks Melrose Family YMCA for making my exercise routine safe, fun and friendly. You inspire and encourage me to get in the immaculately kept pool!

Add more classes in the morning I.e. tai chi, and water arobics

Very clean and organized. Decent lifting setup - soon to be great once the remodel is done. Nice pool setup.

Friendly to all ages

Just took a yoga class with my wife. Very nice class !!! The instructor is excellent. Thank you.

Lots of activities for older adults to participate in. Nothing on Friday anymore.

It was clean and the staff was very friendly.

The equipment is plentiful. The hours of operation are abundant. The staff is friendly. The cost is discounted with my health insurance.

Being able to get in shape and the friendships I have developed.

The layout for the weights is extremely challenging / crowded to work with

Friendly staff and members!

Overall good