Newport Mesa Family YMCA

Great place to work out with fresh ocean breezes and a pretty Back Bay view. The hours are fairly restricted and the crowd isn’t what I’d call young and hip, but that’s exactly why I love it. Not a meat market, no throbbing migraine-​inducing disco beat, just a laid-​back local gym with a casual vibe where you can work out in peace and quiet. Much nicer than the stockyard vibe at 24 Hour Fitness!

This review is for the Playpen at the YMCA Mesa. We joined the Y two years ago and used it sporadically (admittedly more for the kids care and to just have an hour of peace that anything else). When they built the playpen a little over a year ago, my wife and I decided to check it out. After a few Saturday morning boot camps with Coach Q, we were hooked! We make it to 2 – 3 workouts each week and recently completed our first Spartan Race after training with Coach Q and learning all of the obstacles. The Playpen is far and away my favorite part of the Y and I look forward to every time I get a chance to head over for a work out!

For the most part I had a good enough time using the facilities here but the location is truly its winning attribute. My son enjoyed the day care services, and I liked the women who worked in it with him. The shower situation was decent, make sure to bring a bikini or rally the strength to go nude in front of everyone else like some do. Quite liberating the few times I did to be honest. My main issue is the cancellation policy, you must notify them 5 days before the months end and this was a bit of a problem for me. Being a new mother my brain and attention wasn’t always on the date so for THREE MONTHS I paid for a membership I never used. Oh and you can’t do it over the phone. When I arrived to cancel 5 days til the end of the month at 9am I was told it couldn’t be on the 5^th day it had to be the 6^th so they had 5 days to process. It almost seemed like a sick joke, haven’t I given enough? Could they not just do me the courtesy and flex a bit on this small detail? Nope, I am locked in again and couldn’t be more annoyed. Will not be returning to save my life. This is just one facet of this business, not to be judged entirely, but leaving in this fashion has given me a bad taste in my mouth.

Needs a good scrubbing, overall.
Nice staff, adequate facilities, good classes. Generally a humane place for families and singles who just want to work out (unlike the pricey gyms for pick-​ups). My boyfriend approves of its family atmosphere.
Lots of seniors in the daytime.
Just not clean enough. I think I caught my last virus there. Would be 3 – 4 star, however…
Everything should be mopped and santized/​deodorized DAILY. And not with an old, reused mop, and not just a onceover. The janitorial needs to do the job right.
Also, patrons, please change into some clean gym clothes before coming in to sweat on everything. It’s actually healthier for you to perspire in clean clothes. Can you say «bacteria»?

I love this YMCA. I have been going here for 12 years on and off and I always come back. The people are great at the front desk, the lifeguards are friendly and fun, the yoga teachers kick your butt (in a good way) I highly recommend this place if your looking for an Average Joe Gym — you don’t go here to impress people. Ivan does a mean motor boat during swim lessons — I recommend you to take his class! Carol is a spunky Yoga teacher and will make you feel the burn!

Looks like a nice place. They need to fix their water fountains. I know, «its Newport Beach and why not have your Avian bottle handy?» But, when your working out and forget to bring it, you will drink sink water if you have to. Please fix.

I have been going here for 2 years and I love it. Great environment and no tools/​bros that you get at 24. Best classes and you can always get in.

Not the best gym in the world but not bad for a YMCA. Most of the members are over the age of 55 so that needs to be know before joining. The staff is usually nice but not always available. The pool is in good shape and I think this location was recently remolded. 4 stars all day long if you ask me.

Old. Rundown. Called for pool hours before we went. Pool open from 5:30 a.m. Until 3:30 p.m., I was told. Paid $ 17 at 1:00 to get into the pool only for 5 min. to be told that the corner of the pool where family swim is allowed was going to be used for water aerobics and we would have to get out for the next hour. In the time and age of technology, my refund has to be mailed to me in the form of a check. I was given a plastic water bottle as a consolation. Would not recommend even if I did have a chance to swim.

This location is amazing! Facility is clean and well organized, staff is professional and friendly, and love love love the pools!

This review is for the playpen, which is the military style obstacle course that they have here. I’m not a member of the YMCA gym but I did buy a month pass to the play pen because I’m training for something and this is literally the only place around that has a wall that I can practice on. I told the instructor RoQue exactly what my goals and intentions were and he has been soooo helpful. I’ve worked with him a few times and he is a really great trainer who has encouraged me to do something I never thought I could do. I also took a boot camp class in the playpen with coach Mike. He looked intimidating at first but I loved his class and I feel like I worked really hard. The play pen also has a great view… while you are busting your butt you get to overlook the back bay. This really is a great place. I’m so glad that they offer this type of place for people who are trying to train for things outside of your normal gym routines! You will work hard… and your body will hurt and get bruised… but it’s a great feeling!

Down from Simi Valley and came in to work out.
Clean, well set up free weight room with a nice variety of benches.
The machine area looked OK (A bit dark) but I didn’t get a chance to try it out.
Will be back the next time I’m in town!

Just perfect, love this place, very clean, nice and friendly staff, reliable price.

I am a big time convert to the YMCA. I admit I was skeptical of the YMCA when I first joined almost a year ago. Here are the cons: It isn’t very big, the locker rooms aren’t very posh-​looking (I’m not a fan of group showers), and it closes at 9:00 p.m., which is usually when I start my workouts. I have been a Super Sport and Ultra Sport member of 24 Hour Fitness for like 10 years. When I lived in Irvine I was an LA Fitness member and spent four months at Equinox Fitness as well. I go to the gym 20 times a month. You can only get kids club access for 1:15, so just barely enough time to do a class and do pickup and drop off.
I honestly prefer the YMCA now to 24 hour fitness. There is a total sense of community there. I am a huge believer.
What is better here? I will list them in the order of importance:
1. The class instructors are mind-​blowing. I can’t figure it out, but the instructors are amazing. I wonder if YMCA gives benefits or something to their instructors. They really are way better than the other gyms I go to. I go to Soul Cycle and Grit Cycle and other expensive spin classes, but I love the YMCA. Sherry, my spin teacher, is ranked #4 in the world for triathlon. Diane has amazing playlists that keep me going. And it isn’t just for me, my kids are on the swim team and Louis Wojiciekowski is hands down one of the best swim coaches for kids I have ever seen. The energy he throws into coaching is incredible. He is also very patient. This guy is totally going places and the YMCA is really lucky to have him and this guy is going to make his mark on the sport as a coach I have no doubt in my mind. My kids started at 0 in the pool and Jonathan was such a patient coach for personal swimming lessons. Drew does my Killer Circuit workout course on Saturdays and he works you really hard. I would put the instructors at the YMCA up against any gym in Orange County. The guys at the Playpen are really mean and scary looking but if you work hard no matter your fitness level they respect you for it and work with you. The Yoga class is full of super buff men. It’s funny because usually yoga classes at Yogaworks that I have been to have like 5% men. This class is like half men.
2. The actual machines are fantastic. The spin bikes and treadmills are way better than the ones at 24 hour fitness. They use this brand of equipment called Technogym, and they are really high quality. They are easy to operate and don’t break down. The view from the group exercise class looks out over the back bay and is stunning. The weight machines (not free weights) are also Technogym and I get amazing movement, much better than even the high-​end Hoist machines at the expensive gyms.
3. Employees actively watch your kids and play with them at the daycare. It isn’t usually full, but every once in awhile we have to wait 10 – 20 minutes. No rhyme or reason when it is full. It’s usually empty when I go on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6:30 — 7:30 p.m. and we always get a spot on Saturday morning.
4. Kids sports. If you have kids, and want to work out yourself then put them in a class for $ 10 a week and get your own workout in. It’s perfect. We put my kids in swim team and Tee-​ball and then when they are finished we put them in kids club and get almost a 3 hour workout.
5. Older kids can work out with you in the gym. Yeah. Pretty awesome. My 9 year-​old was really sick of kids club at 24 hour fitness because he wanted to work out with me. Here I am, working corporate lawyer hours and never see my kids and then I throw them in kids club while I work out at 24 hour fitness. Now I can work out right alongside my kid and have parent time. I love it. They train him on equipment at his dry land training session with his swim team.
6. Price. It seems expensive, but you get discounts on your kids activities if you are a member of the club. So full price swim team is cut in half with your membership, so here is what we pay: we have the family membership for ($ 85) plus tee-​ball for $ 35 for my youngest, plus swim team for my oldest ($ 40), which is four days a week at 1.5 hour intervals with amazing coaches. I also pay $ 15 per month so I can get access to the PlayPen, which is like an America Ninja Warrior training course. I do the Monday and Wednesday morning boot camp class for the $ 15, even though I was paying $ 200 per month for the same thing at 24 Hour Fitness. I consider the YMCA a bargain if you are going to use it.

I really like this YMCA. They have a nice, we accept you as you are but support your health and fitness goals vibe to it. Nice gym, nice locker room, good selection of classes.
I come here primarily to swim and really enjoy the pool. It’s pretty big and I’ve only had to share lanes a few times. The locker rooms has a bunch of showers and is spacious and clean. Would definitely recommend for those that have families– they seem to have lots of space and activities for kids while the parents work out.
Also, Gina V is the best for Zumba! She was my Zumba mentor for a while when I was training to be an instructor and her classes are wonderful. Would highly recommend if you’re into Zumba or dance.

Kept charging after membership cancellation. Had to make a ton of efforts to get my money back. (I still haven’t gotten it, they say its in processing). Can’t believe an establishment so big would be so cheap. Staff is inefficient.

After year of being a 24 Hour Fitness member, this place is a breath of fresh air. Kid care is included in the price, and my husband AND I can work out for our family membership. In addition, membership provides discounts to all the kids’ activities, such as soccer and basketball. The trainers are fabulous — highly recommend Kelly M. She’s so great about meeting times, and really listens to what I wanted to work on. She didn’t waste my time with watching me warm up, but rather asked me to come ready to work out, so we could maximize our time together.
My daughter takes swim lessons as well — Sarah is a joy. She’s managed to get my little girl to listen and learn her «scoops» (aka freestyle arms) and breathing. We can’t wait until she gets a little better to start swim team! All the swim staff is great — Ehren, Alicia, Ivan — just wonderful people, all around.
Love this place!

Can I give them 0? I spoke with someone to cancel my membership at least 8 months ago, due major health issues and surgeries. I just got a call that despite the fact they haven’t been able to charge my card in months they don’t have a record of my cancelation, so they are sending me to collections.
Hey YMCA, way to scheme. Be careful about joining, it’s very much a typical exploitive gym, but with a total dive locker room (for the women anyway).
If you cancel get the name, DOB, fingerprints, etc of who canceled it-​because they’re obviously not keeping records. Even when they can’t charge your card, they’ll send you to collections on their error.

Would not recommend this place. They told me 4 different things about membership and it including my son being able to play sports. My initiation fee was not refunded after I tried resolving with their manager. What a joke. Staff is not very competent. Join 24 hour. Much better!

Cheap and no douche, ‘roid’ed up guys in a competition to pump more iron than the next guy. Very low-​key if that’s what your looking for.
They have classes for yoga and other stuff. They also have everything you’d need to work out:
Elliptical and treadmills
Pools
Circuit room, or weight training machines
Free weight room
Yoga/​zen? room
B-​ball courts
Soccer field
Stretch room
And lots of stuff for kids
NOT OPEN PAST 10PM M-​Th
NOT OPEN LATE Sat-​Sun