Member Testimonials
Friendly staff and patrons
Friendly people and nice pool and exercise area.
Staff, facility, programming & community.
The monthly cost, variety of workouts and the up to date equipment.
The welcoming vibe. We are treated with dignity. We are encouraged to improve. But no pressure. HATS OFF TO KAYANNE and VICKI fof their caring approaches to women's fitness.
Clean and lots of options.
I am very happy with most of the staff!
I have met many new friends.
The things I do not like is when Makaya is out and we have Kayann!
She wants us to use our weights, when she has to be reminded to use her weights !!!!
She always has an excuse about using weights!!!
I and a lot of my friends want Lynda !
She makes class fun and she never asks us to do something she wouldn’t do!
We know Makaya will be out on maternity leave sometime soon, so I hope it is Lynda, because I and a lot of my friends will be going somewhere else!!!!
I like going there for my regular exercise. Staff members are friendly and helpful. It's a good place to meet people.
Newly added electronic modules to exercise different different parts of the body are valuable additions.
The staff was friendly and helpful
Southoakland YMCA please stay open later on the weekdays and especially later on weekends. This is such a wonderful place and I don’t get to enjoy it often because the hours are not fitting my needs.
In my opinion, the staff is always the biggest variable in a facility. The staff at this Y has been extremely helpful to me. As a new member, I've asked many questions and have found the staff to be informative and very patient with me.
People at entrance are very helpful and friendly! Kenny was fantastic when he showed me how to use the E gym. And I love love love The Pilates classes. Donna and Cathy are superb! Thank you for offering those classes! Now that Birmingham has closed classes. I’m trying out some new ones at South Oakland.
Clean, friendly, and has everything I need
Nice staff and facilities
Friendly, helpful staff
Good course instructors
State of the art, Individually Programed E-GYM equipment.)
Staff at the Birmingham location was excellent.
Everyone is so happy!
Must because they're exercising!
It's the rare exception for a member to not initiate or reply "Good Morning" with a smile.
=:)
The variety of classes for seniors, the walking track and weight machines, friendly staff.
I enjoy the politeness of the staff, riding the bike, weight machines and e-gym machines. The facilities is always clean and has a wonderful atmosphere.
Austin, our traitor, is amazing. All of the staff is knowledgeable and helpful. The EGYM is incredible and there are ample regular machines. And lots of parking!
The egym
Great place for families
It's a great gym and staff is very polite as well!
Love the staff and members. Location and hours are convenient.
Locker room cleaning needs to be more thorough and consistent.
Absolutely love how reliable the swim lifeguards are. Also love the gym!
I like the Live Strong program very much. The instructors and program coordinator are great. I like everyone I have met at the Y including the receptionists.
Staff is very patient
3/28/2026
YES,
The S.O. YMCA is a great place ! For our health, with your great instructors, and the friends we make there.
Yet, we STILL have to shower with mature, large DRAIN FLIES. I smashed 2 in the last week ! Faucets and shower heads that need to be scrubbed to remove GREEN CORROSION! MANY of the (pool area )saftey stair strips NEED to be reaplaced for both men's and women. Very Dangerous & Slippery
ALL of us are disappointed in the lack of concern for our saftey the Royal Oak Y.
These are easy, inexpensive fixes...!
J v
I find the staff to be friendly and welcoming. They have lots of different classes and equipment although I am primarily a swimmer, and originally choose it for the pool!