Member Testimonials
Great space, staff is helpful. Classes can be a little full at times but hopefully the check in system will help with that!
Friendly staff, great hours - just a fine place to workout
Good clean safe environment
1. Everyone is always friendly and the front desk greets you.
2. The employees are always willing to help answer your questions.
3. There are reduced rate options for those who may be undergoing very costly health issues and find it hard to spare the extra for a gym membership but could greatly benefit from the environment and working out or those who are financially-challenged at that moment and could use a little extra help.
4. I really like the positive reinforcements posted around the gym, for example, the rules on how to treat others, the competitors prayer, etc. These set positive standards for children and basically everyone to remember.
5. I LOVE that there is a pool, sauna and steam room, especially in Winter when everything hurts!
I typically work out in the evenings at the Southeast Raleigh YMCA, but I visited the Alexander Family YMCA one evening this week. I was impressed by the larger workout space and the variety of equipment available, and I plan to visit this location more often. However, I did notice there were fewer wiping stations throughout the facility, and some were completely empty. This was inconvenient not only for me but also for other members who were looking to clean their equipment.
I often bring my 11-year-old son with me, and at SER he enjoys using the basketball court or walking the indoor track. At the Alexander Y, I noticed there were fewer children and teens around compared to SER. Additionally, at both locations, the basketball courts are usually occupied by adult pick-up games that take up the entire space, leaving little to no room for younger players to participate safely.
I believe the YMCA has a real opportunity to better support youth in the 10–17 age range. This is a critical and impressionable stage where kids are eager to be active but need safe, age-appropriate spaces and some structure. I'd love to see more dedicated court time or space for youth activities, and areas where kids can stretch, tumble, or do basic bodyweight exercises without needing machines or heavy weights.
Professional staff presence would also go a long way in helping teens feel welcome, encouraged, and safe in these spaces.
Ideas for Youth Engagement at YMCA Facilities (Ages 10–17):
Dedicated Youth Hours: Reserve certain times on the basketball court or fitness areas just for pre-teens and teens to ensure they have safe, uninterrupted access to play and exercise.
Youth Wellness Zones: Create a flexible-use space for stretching, bodyweight workouts, tumbling, agility ladders, jump ropes, and resistance bands—geared toward youth who aren’t ready or interested in traditional gym equipment.
Teen Fitness Orientation Programs: Offer short workshops led by a staff trainer to teach kids how to use gym equipment safely, build good workout habits, and feel more confident in the facility.
Court Monitors or Youth Coordinators: Have a dedicated staff person during peak hours to organize youth games, rotate basketball court access fairly between age groups, and foster a positive, inclusive environment.
Open Gym for Youth Sports: Schedule recurring weekly times for structured or open gym formats—like 3v3 basketball for teens, dodgeball nights, or even soccer/futsal in the gym with mini goals.
Active Hangouts or Youth Rec Clubs: Combine fun fitness with social activities—maybe a Friday night youth club that includes mini workouts, games, and time to chill in a supervised, active space.
Mentorship or Leadership Programs: Encourage older teens to take on peer leadership or volunteer roles, helping younger kids with drills, warm-ups, or just modeling respectful gym behavior.
Mobile Fitness Cart: Provide a rolling cart with sanitized mats, jump ropes, cones, etc., available to borrow for kids who want to create their own fun, functional workouts.
The classes, the wonderful workout areas, the cleanliness of all spaces including the locker room. My wife is also fond of the pool.
Very helpful staff lots of equipment to use large locker room functioning sauna and steam room.
Friendly and way to use. Lots of choices.
Friendly place to workout
I really like walking on the track.
Classes; pool; friendly staff; clean locker rooms
The gym is clean, has friendly staff, and a wide array of class or facilities offerings.
Wonderful group classes and instructors. Have made many friends by attending
Friendly staff, great classes, seeing friends there, the diversity of people and ages I get to observe when I'm there -- eveyrone enjoying the space in a way that serves them.
I WILL say -- the women's locker room has gone way downhill and I don't use the pool anymore because I don't like to shower there. Before the pandemic I was very comfortable with the condition of the locker room and I appreciated small touches like mouthwash by the sinks etc. The lockers are in disrepair, the towel dispensers don't work and there's just giant rolls of paper towels by the sinks, often sitting in a water puddle. The showers are showing their age. The lockerroom just really needs a facelift or at the very least a deep clean.
Everything has been more than copacetic! My son enjoyed afterschool camp thoroughly and we will be deciding if we want to go another year in the next couple of days. I haven't been able to use the gym as much as I would like but plan on using the triangle area clubs more often in the next couple of months.
Thank you Y!
friendly, helpful staff
nice facilities which are well maintained
Towels smell good
Large, well-equipped facility that is well laid-out.
Friendly staff and instructors, great classes.
The staff is great. The other members are and generally very considerate. The equipment is kept clean..
I love the Y and the way it seems to do all things for all people. It is friendly and clean and a place I enjoy going to.
Friendly front desk staff and competent friendly staff that clean the building.
Everything, except for one really annoying sloppy habit some members have in the shower area of simply leaving their wet towels on the floor of the shower stalls or immediatley in front of the stall. It is really off-putting to step into a shower stall with someone's wet towel in it or having to step over it to get in. Wish y'all would put up a prominent sign that this is not acceptable behavior.
Everything
The people at the front desk always greet me with a smile. My visit to the Y is always pleasant and predictable.
The extremely fabulous yoga class instructors and classes available at both Alexander and Poyner
YMCA . I enjoy going to both of these places for great yoga classes clean healthy environment and investment for the community for decades in Raleigh
Thank you ⭐️🇺🇸🍎
The staff is very friendly.
The spin classes are great.
I’m so glad we have racquetball courts.
Good, safe place to exercisr. Friendly staff.
Its location, I have been going to this Y since before it was renovated. I enjoy the new facility. I like the lockerroom is attached and has all the emenities I need and be able to go to the pool to swim laps in the same building.
Have more classes available than the other ones