YMCA of Memphis and the Mid-South

One of the best gyms i have ever been to. And all the amenities a full gym can have from a pool to sauna yay!

I was a member here for about six months, and it was pretty decent. They were happy to give me a tour and help me get a discounted membership, and even when I was cancelling my membership, they made sure I had the right paperwork and understood when the last auto-​debit would be. The front desk ladies were always pretty friendly when I checked in too.
I only ever used the machines on the second floor, so I can’t comment on the gym, pool, or classes. The locker room is surprisingly huge, and has changing cubicles as well as showers and restrooms. I never had trouble finding a free locker, and the freshly washed towels are pretty nice. The equipment in the gym was always in good repair, and the indoor track is pretty awesome.
However, though I was offered a free evaluation session with a trainer when I started, it was pretty lackluster, and I never experienced any interaction or encouragement from the staff — I just showed up, did my thing (or tried, at least), and left. I would have considered personal training if it was suggested, but I was too intimidated to actually seek anyone out to ask.
Being a downtown location, the parking is a bit annoying. You need to buy a decal to park in their lot, or try your luck on the street. I stopped coming after work when I got a more stressful job, and eventually just cancelled the membership for lack of use. If you live or work downtown and know your way around a gym, though, this is definitely a good AND affordable option.

I might be a bit biased because I previously worked at this YMCA, but I’ve also been a member here and at other YMCAs all over the place. This continues to be my favorite. It’s in an old building that has character and history as well as all the modern things you need or want in a gym. It’s got four floors with a swimming pool, free weights gym, cardio equipment, large aerobics studio, full basketball court, racquetball courts, a boxing gym, and childcare facilities. It’s got the best view in Memphis if you have to be stuck on a treadmill — you can even watch baseball games.
The staff is great and really care about members. If you are a regular they will learn your name and talk to you every time you come in to see how you are doing. Members are all super friendly too and get to know the people who workout at the same time of day. The aerobics instructors are great and regularly have large classes that make it more fun thanks to the energy.
A couple downsides: the weight machines aren’t always in the best working order and could be updated, there isn’t a ton of free weight space so it can get so busy you don’t have enough room, and parking isn’t great (there is a parking lot across the street that is monitored that costs $ 50 or so). These aren’t huge concerns for me since I have other parking downtown so I still give this Y 5 stars. :)

This is pretty much the nicest YMCA I’ve been a member at. Full basketball court, swimming pool, whirlpool, full gym, cardio equipment, racquetball courts, etc. Four floors of awesomeness! Anything you want is pretty much here, including massage services.
I mainly come here for the basketball; the basketball gym is a bit small so you can only play 4 on 4, but it still does the job well. The floor for the weights and cardio overlooks the basketball court so a lot of times you’ll get spectators watching you from above playing ball, so that’s an interesting touch.
The weight room is sufficient, the cardio equipment is actually really nice, but I’m not a huge fan of the cable machines. The resistance on them is just a bit funny, and it’s not really all that smooth. Could just be me though.
What really sets this YMCA apart from other places is the staff. The staff is extremely friendly, and they go out of their way to talk to you and see how you’re doing. I really can’t emphasize enough how friendly everyone is.
This YMCA charges for parking since it’s downtown, but it’s only $ 50 for the year. Not too shabby as the parking is convenient for certain locations downtown, such as the ballpark for the Redbirds. Oh yeah, the sundeck overlooks the entire ballpark and it’s a great view for the game if you wanted to catch a few innings.
I’m also a member of French Riviera Spa (yeah, I know, I’m stupid), but if I had to pick only one, I’d pick YMCA for all that they offer. However, if you’re a serious gym rat who likes to do Olympic lifts, then FRS is what you’d want.

Angelo (trainer & employee) is compassionate about helping members grow and achieve their goals.

Full service, multi level Y. Very spacious. They have just about all of the exercise equipment you could ask for. The indoor track is cool and there is an overhead view of the basketball court. Huge indoor pool and an awesome view of Auto Zone Stadium (you can actually see live games in progress) from the cardiovascular center.
Parking may be difficult if you arrive before 6. They have a private parking lot, however you’re supposed to purchase a decal to use it. Street (meter) parking is free after 6.
Fresh towels is a nice touch.