Great place, great service. Great people who works there.

The Charles River YMCA is a wonderful gym and community. I have been a member for several years and participate in many group activities such as Barre, Pilates and Zumba. All the folks at the Y also did an awesome job keeping me active during the pandemic by offering virtual classes and now hybrid. Im glad to be back in the gym and look forward to attending more live classes.Thank you, YMCA!

This YMCA branch has become a real life-saver for me this winter as the temperatures dropped and I couldn’t work out/run outside anymore. Their covid-related reservation system is also a good incentive not to skip gym and to schedule your busy day around the workouts. Also love the fact that I can just come in and work out at my own pace - no pressure to take group classes/personal training sessions that sometimes occurs in “regular” gyms. Very relaxed and friendly atmosphere.The only downside is that it’s almost impossible to sign up for the swimming pool - it’s almost perpetually overbooked!

The Charles River YMCA is fantastic, it has two locations in Needham, with weights, a pool in one location and lots of activities and classes. My wife loves the Zumba class, and we love that there is child care at the Chestnut Street location (specific days and times). Friendly people, a non-profit that is helping communities, great organization!

Looking for a great place to workout? The staff is friendly, helpful and knowledgeable! They take safety very seriously to ensure the best experience.

Love my local Y - great staff, very clean, all the equipment I could possibly need. More people should be coming back to the Y.

We have had great adaptive swim lesson instructors between Mattie and Janine. They totally get my sons needs and quirks, as well as his personality, and they know how to work with him effectively. He really enjoys the lessons, and I appreciate how much he is improving with their support.

Super convenient and friendly staff...greatly improved equipment too!

Very friendly and helpful staff, clean facilities

I recently got a membership here before they gyms were forced to close. Yes, it is a small gym. However there is certainly enough room for everyone there and you can’t beat the price. I generally like to spend 10 min on cardio and the rest of my time using free weights. I have never struggled to find weights and there is always room in the side room if you are not benching. The amount of room/number of barbells is sparce and you may have to wait if you are planning on squatting or deadlifting. Besides that i would definitely recommend!

Its a small gym, no doubt, but definitely has pretty much everything you could need. If youre a gym rat who NEEDS a rack at all times, theres only one for everyone to share, but that being said, the gym-goers at this Y are generally not of that variety and you might only need to wait for one person to use the rack ahead of you if at all. The staff are friendly, the facilities are always clean, the Zumba classes on Saturday and Sunday mornings are SO good (some of the best in Greater Boston, no doubt). For folks hating on this Y, theyre just used to bigger more glamorous gyms. This place definitely does the job and is so convenient if you live in the area.

Great basketball and soccer programs for my kids. Friendly, supportive staff.

This is a great YMCA location if you are looking to get in and out on a treadmill or elliptical machine - but this location has very tight quarters. Its clean and Ive never had an issue waiting for a machine, but it is definitely a small facility. I have never tried a class at this YMCA but there did seem to be a limited schedule (which may be due to demand). All in all I liked this YMCA for a quick workout on my own but wouldnt plan to workout with a group of friends.

So...lots of updates since these 2 posts- the Y at 863 Great Plain Ave is the pool site (4 lanes 25 yards) with lap and family times and its open until 9:30 PM! It also has a fantastic group cycle studio and group exercise studio- totally renovated with awesome classes- check it out!

Child watch Mon-Thu 8:30a-12:30p, 4:30-7:30p; Fri-Sat 8:30a-12:30pFamily gym is an “open gym” program when parents supervise their own children 6 years old and under:Mon-Fri 2:30-4:00p; Sun 10:30a-12p if no birthday parties

Coming from the Oak Sq YMCA I am absolutely floored that this place charges the same price ($44/mo for young adult). Charles River has MAYBE 10 treadmills, 0 floor space and at any given time 3+ out of order cardio machines. The space is INCREDIBLY cramped even during off hours...forget peak. The Oak Sq Y is a beautiful 3 floor facility with sprawling cardio areas and multiple work out studios. This place doesn’t even have a pool/spin studio in the same building! Luckily I only did a short term membership as I’m only around for 2 months but I can’t believe people CHOOSE to stay here. The staff is nice enough and it’s pretty clean...only “pros” if you can even call them that. This location doesn’t deserve to be more than $20/mo. yet charges the same as its far superior counterparts in the area.

It’s small and cramped, there are people in the back of the cardio machines dropping weights on the floor (very noise and irritating .)They don’t have several cybex machines and the ones they do have are up against the wall near the cardio machines also . The rowing machine is blocking a fire exit, fire extinguisher and a fire alarm . The lockeroom is 10 x10 if two people are in it it’s cramped . The pool is a a separate building several blocks away . Only four lanes and today they had 5 people in one lane .( dangerous, I got out !) I’ve been a member of the Charles river Y after moving here from western Ma. 2 years ago, I was a member of a great Y there for 25 years and am extremely disappointed with the Charles river YMCA . If I could give it no stars I would !

Great place for group work outs- Lourdess Barre class is outstanding as is Steves Rosss spinning class. We are lucky to have this in our neighborhood

Membership prices are very high and cant be customized to fit your needs. Its one-size-fits-all.

Always space to park

Great time with my family at the pool

Nice