Meredith Mathews East Madison YMCA

This is a family gym. You have neighborhoodies pumping iron, teen girls on the bikes, seniors on the treadmill, and kids coming out of their water babies class. I love it all. The staff at the Meredith Mathews YMCA is super friendly. The facilities are pretty basic, but they work to improve their offerings all the time. Over the years, they have added several new types of weight and chin-up machines and a row machine (old school style). There is a smaller room with various weight machines, exercise balls, and stretching mats. The main room has elliptical trainers, treadmills, two different types of bikes, step machines, free weights, and some more weight machines. They have a classroom with a mirror and hardwood floors where they teach yoga sometimes, but which you can use for your own training (martial arts, etc) when it's unoccupied. They have a lap pool, locker room, steam room, and a basketball court. They offer a lot of interesting classes, though times are hard to make if you don't wake up early and if you work during the day. I am very fond of the Y as my neighborhood gym. I never feel like I'm too out of shape or that I need the right workout clothes to go there. I know of adults who have been going to this location since childhood! more

i've been a member at the Capitol Hill/Central District YMCA for years. Located just south of Madison street on 23rd, this community gym has just about everything. I went mostly for swimming (they also have a sauna), yoga classes and to use the full range of exercise equipment. Most conveniently, they have free childcare for about 6 hours a day so you can drop your child (3 mos to 6 years) off in a fun and supervised room and work out care free. plus, the Y is totally affordable and if you miss a month once in a while (like i did) you at least know your money is going to a good cause. check out their website where you can learn about the facility and check the pool and fitness schedules. more