East Side/Mt. Hope YMCA

With some of the other YMCA facilities in the area that are beautifully remodeled and much larger, this location can feel very out dated and cramped. I have not taken any classes or used any programs here, I have mainly come to use the work out equipment. The equipment room is very cramped and sometimes you feel like you are running on top of eachother. I do like the large window in the room, which makes things a little more bright, but over all I feel like this facility is kind of dark. The staff is very friendly and has always been helpful when I have questions. They do have some classes, but I always found them to be at times that don’t really fit into my schedule. Similar to other YMCA’s, most of the classes are offered during the day, with a small selection offered in the evenings when I can go to them.
Overall, I think the YMCA is a great organization, and I really love some of the other locations. That being said, I wish that they would put a little TLC into this location. With several new gyms opening in the area, I think they are going to need to get a face-​lift to compete.

Considering that this is a capital city’s only Y it’s absolutely disgraceful! It’s outdated, limited, and totally disorganized. Also it’s not really any cheaper than other gym memberships in PVD so it’s not like you’re getting a great deal. The administration is unresponsive and not cooperative with the surrounding community. Class schedules are incorrect so be sure to call 1^st. My sister who travels all over the country&works out at Ys everywhere was shocked that this was PVD’s only Y. She said Podunk towns in the middle of nowhere had Ys that far surpassed this dump! Do yourself a favor and join a decent gym like BSC or Golds or anywhere but here! If you are a swimmer join Brown’s pool;trust me it’s worth it

Three years into my membership at the East Side Y, I am having regrets about my previous 3 star review. Funny, as I re-​read it, most of the stuff I said is still true. My reasons to like it are the same, but have grown. Because I tend the work out at the same times, I see the same faces, chat with the same folks, etc… I have developed a warm fuzzy neighborly feeling toward the place. Not only is it easy to bond with the other clients, but also to connect with the employees, and now know many on a first name basis. Another revelation I have had over the past years, as my tyke progressed from the daycare play area to some of the group classes, is how awesome their swim program and instructors are. They really have incredible patience to deal with these not quite fully formed humans that we call our kids. My kid is swimming and loving it!
As to my wish list… mostly the same too. The cardio equipment area is still small and cramped, but hey… there is plenty of equipment to go around. And still no room for abs/​mat work.
Bottom line, still a member, still convenient, and I will probably stay a member even when my kid leaves the nest.

The staff couldn’t be more friendly. I was visiting from out of town, and bought a guest pass. Best decision I made all day.

My initial sentiments had the fortunate padding of coming at the end of a string of writing positive reviews.
Knocking another star off because of a sad fact I was reminded of at one of my recent nightly workouts. Some of the personal trainers are an absolute displeasure to share the room with. As I always do (and as is considered polite in a crowded gym) when it is unclear if a person is using a piece of equipment I would like to get on, I asked one of them politely if they were using the machine next to them. The response I got was «Are you kidding me? If I was I would’ve yelled at you.» I was literally taken back, there was no need for such a snarky response to a complete stranger asking a question aimed to be considerate.
They also dash from area to area, taking up egregious amounts of this poor excuse of a weight room’s already limited real estate with their one or two clients. All of this is done in a fashion that has caused me to almost get hit by weights and body parts while sitting still (in most cases while already having moved my equipment to be more accommodating to them). There are other paying patrons here besides your clients, please treat the area as such.
**I would like to clarify that the above does not apply to the general staff, which is always friendly and helpful. Always a hello on the way in, a goodbye on the way out, and happy to answer any questions you may have.
Another note on the locker rooms — there is almost always a crowd of kids just hanging out in there, taking up large amounts of the extremely limited space in this dingy, disgusting locker room. In addition to sitting around on their phones and video games for what seems like at least 45 mins at a time, they run right into the changing area soaking wet, making the floor a disgusting and slippery mess.

Considering its urban location, this is a great facility. It may not have the convenience to sprawl out on acres of land like its suburban counterparts, but it packs a lot in what it has to offer.
They have the standard treadmills, elipticals, arc trainers, stationary bikes, 2 Expresso bikes and a stairmaster. But my favorite fact is that they have a rowing machine that is rarely in use so I usually get it to myself!
The have a great collection of free weights, Nautilus machines, squat rack with 3 different dumbbell bars, benches, exercise balls, bands, kettlebells, mats, foam rollers… really I could go on and on. Basically they are well equipped in the work out room upstairs.
I haven’t taken many of the classes offered. Yoga is my favorite. The instructors come from local yoga studios and get you in zen mode with ease. Sometimes the children’s center across the hall is a little distracting, but what can you do? Be grateful that the yoga class costs are included in the monthly fee unlike some of the other YMCA’s in the state.
The spin bikes are in great condition, Catherine is a great spin instructor and gets a good burn in your legs. I like how the room is dark, as a pain cave should be.
My new favorite class are the Body Blast and Muscle Max, both are very similar to a BodyPump without it being BodyPump.
Considering the fact that they lowered fees for the year 2014, this place is a great value. There aren’t any gyms in the area with a pool, and I will gladly pay for that convenience.
Overall, a great facility with well rounded offerings.

I can’t believe that I haven’t reviewed the East Side Y. I love this place, but I had to leave because I moved.
The folks here are friendly, and I was just so inspired by the range of people I’d meet working out upstairs. There were 20-​somethings to over 60-​somethings. I loved the hours before 7 am when I could work out in peace and quiet (no music!) or listen to my own tunes. The machines were well maintained, and I would frequently see staff cleaning them.
The locker room was definitely in need of some updates, and the pool was pretty much constantly overrun, but the whole place was like a friendly community.
It definitely improved over the years — the expansion really helped! — and I hope it continues to grow.

This is my neighborhood YMCA, and I am incredibly thankful to have a Y so close, especially because of the swimming pool.
The East Side YMCA has a diverse group of patrons, all who have the same goal — to be part of a healthier community. The staff is always kind and helpful, and so are the rest of the gym go-​ers. The daycare services are stellar, and this branch offers so truly interesting classes. Belly dancing? Aqua ZUMBA? Yes!
I would love for this YMCA to be my favorite branch, but it is not. Parking can sometimes be a problem (then again, it is the East Side) and their pool could use a major facelift. The tiles and side rails are old and are showing their age, and the flags above (needed for those who dabble in the backstroke) are old as well.
Aside from the aging facility, I adore the people and mission of this gym!

I come here every so often to swim since I can pay per visit as a non-​member. I signed up for the fairly priced advanced swim instruction and am happy with the high quality and patient instruction to help me improve my form (thanks Adam!). The facilities need some updating, but over all, the parking’s convenient, the employees are friendly, and I like that they don’t brow beat you here to sign on as a full member. This Y is a good choice for a no frills swim. 3.5 stars overall.

This review is for the daycare service at the Mt. Hope YMCA.
We put our son at the Mt Hope Y when he was 14 months old, and my only regret is that we didn’t get him in there sooner. Daycare options on the East Side of Providence are, surprisingly, limited. And the Mt Hope Y is a superstar. There is great diversity in both the staff and student body, and my son has learned a tremendous amount since he started.
This is one of the few daycare centers in the area where the staff seem happy and well compensated, reflected in the wonderful care they take in teaching their students.
I feel good about leaving my son there every day.

So I wanted to wait a while after I joined this gym to write a review. I’ve been going here for about 4 months now + I’ve tried everything but the pool. The staff are really nice here + the facilty is recently renovated + looks pretty good.
It is a bit small + quaint… + well lets be honest…
a little overpriced now a days with all these $ 10/​month gyms.
I joined because of the classes.
The classes are OK— belly dancing is fun… but i didn’t break a sweat! there is a great bootcamp class on Monday nights. Wish it was more than once a week! I also wish that they had classes starting around 5:30pm more often for people who work in the area that want to get the gym out of the way right after work or lunch time classes. The classrooms are really small so they can get packed– HOLY YOGA SPOON FEST. so cramped but that is because the instructor is really great. The spinning room is also VERY VERY SMALL and cramped. They are trying their best with the space they have.
They work out area is small + a lot of the equipment is on its way out. they do have some newer ellipticals + treadmills with tvs on them if that’s yo thang!
If you need a lil local gym time, this is your kinda place!

I’ve lived in various states and worked out at many gyms. I had to relocate out of RI and deeply, DEEPLY miss the East Side/​Mt. Hope Y. It is clean, does not smell, and is excellently climate-​controlled, things that might seem pretty basic and which people often take for granted, but you really learn to appreciate them after you’ve worked out in subpar conditions elsewhere! I also love the amount of windows in the fitness center. I’ve found it tough to be motivated to work out elsewhere when all I see is cinder block and fluorescent lighting. Though I’ve seen a cardio sign up board at the East Side Y, I’ve gone at various times of day and never had to wait to get on cardio equipment.
The yoga classes are the real deal and are included in your membership, so you can get an entire gym membership with the option of multiple yoga classes for less than it would cost you to take yoga at a studio. One of the aerobics instructors, Nina, is awesome! She really knows what she’s doing, is not a stereotypical aerobics instructor (read: has a down to earth attitude and is not annoying, haha), and varies the work outs so your body and mind don’t get too used to her classes. If you haven’t checked out Zumba yet, try it out with Mary. I’ve been to Zumba with several instructors now and find Mary has a perfect balance between low and high impact, so her class really is for everyone.
One other thing to consider is that the Y has much more community involvement than other chains in the area, so paying a Y membership is helping your community, too!
Lastly, the financial aspect:
1. You may qualify for financial aid.
2. When there was a financial discrepancy in my billing due to a change in my membership (from couple to single), I got to talk to an actual person right in front of me about it and it was fixed immediately.
3. When I did have to cancel my membership due to relocation, I did not get charged for an extra month or have a cancellation fee. When you are looking at gyms, I urge you to really look into the financial commitment they expect (Read the contract!), how early you need to cancel your membership, and how often they actually do what they say they’re going to do. The internet is full of consumer complaints about gyms that overcharged them or gave them a very hard time (financially) when they tried to cancel their memberships and I have experienced it firsthand. Plenty of chains really just want your money, which can be especially evident when you see vending machines full of junk food at their entrance!
No matter your fitness level or goal, you really can’t go wrong with the East Side/​Mt Hope Y. If you decide to make it part of your wellness commitment, I’m happy for you! …and so, so jealous.

Not the best Y I have been to but it gets the job done. It’s literally right down the street from my house, which makes it ultra convenient. The pool has 5 lanes, but check the schedule for lap swim times. The weight training/​cardio area is small, but again, has everything you need if you are relatively creative in the gym.

For someone in their early twenties, possibly in grad school, or for those who hate working amidst a bunch of buff folks at other Jersey Shore gyms, the YMCA Eastside is a great place to head to for a workout. The monthly fee is fairly inexpensive ($ 27/​mo if you’re in early 20s), but I didn’t even sign up for the financial aid yet since my income is fairly non-​existent at the moment being in grad school, so I could essentially be paying less. I also basically chose this place because of convenient location to me, which was #1 priority.
What I love most about this place is that 90% of the fitness classes during the week are FREE! I wasn’t too big on most of the yoga classes, except for maybe the Wednesday evening Vinyasa II class which was a small challenge, but the spinning classes are well worth it, especially for someone who has never tried spinning before (as long as you remember to call in advance to reserve a bike that afternoon, there’s only 10 available). Even after several weeks of spinning, the classes are still difficult if you know how to push yourself and stay with the instructor. You do have to pay for most swim classes as well, but regular lap use is open most of the time.
The locker rooms are decent… they’re not super new or nice, but they do get a little messy after the kids’ swim team plummels through them in mid-​evening. There’s usually at least 1 cardio machine open during busy times in the evenings, or the wait is no more than 5 minutes. I do wish there was more floor area for using mats or crunchies though.
I gave 3 stars instead of ⁴⁄₅ for a few reasons:
1. the times when I want to use the pool to swim laps are usually busy with swim teams and there’s only 1 open lap…
2. the area for cardio and weights can feel a little cramped at times, especially if you wanted to do some floor stretches… I always feel like I’m in others’ ways.
3. the locker rooms could always feel slightly cleaner or of a better quality.
4. The times for many of the workout/​cardio classes could fit a normal work schedule better (early mornings + evenings)
Overall for the cost, this is a pretty good place to work out, see familiar faces and definitely feel at home.

Before moving to RI, I belonged to several YMCA’s (Nashville, ATL, Tampa, and Dallas). Every time I transferred to a new city, I also transferred my Y membership. The process in every other city was seamless. I visited the East Side Y when I moved to Providence and I was very disappointed. This branch was going to charge me the initial joining fee (this has ALWAYS been waived by other Y’s because I paid this when I first joined the Y in Nashville). The staff seemed distracted and didn’t want to help me. Compared to other Y’s around the country, the equipment and facility was in bad shape.

This summer the YMCA saved my life. Sort of. After enduring two years of graduate school and skyrocketing stress levels, I knew I needed to step away from the books occasionally to work off some of that nervous energy. Disappointed with the athletic facilities at my institution of higher learning, I turned to the nearest YMCA. The friendly staff informed me that I qualified for financial aid and only needed to pay a paltry monthly fee (definitely find out if you qualify before you join!). I received reduced rates for swimming lessons, quickly enrolled in adult beginner classes, underwent eight weeks of tutelage from a competent instructor ten years my junior, and now spend five days a week or so in the pool attempting to perfect my newly-​learned freestyle, breaststroke, and backstroke. The exercise and weight room, refreshingly devoid of jock types, lured me back into weight training for the first time in five years. Bodysculpting classes challenged me and left me appropriately sore. The yoga classes provided much-​needed relaxation. In short, I learned how to move again.
This YMCA has even more to offer than the few options I’ve tried. There are free consultations with physical trainers, massages, and exercise classes ranging from spinning to pilates. They provide on-​site childcare and family changing rooms for folks with kids. The staff solicits feedback and responds to it whenever possible: for example, the women’s locker room will soon receive a much-​needed overhaul. Plus, they’re always on hand to answer questions about lesson times, unforeseen pool closures, or proper exercise techniques.
The facilities are not the newest, but they are clean, comfortable, and more than adequate for my needs. The classes aren’t always top-​notch (I’ve been particularly disappointed by the lack of challenging, rigorous yoga and various instructors’ emphasis on weight loss as opposed to long-​term health), but they get the job done. When I think about how much money I’m saving on swimming lessons and yoga sessions alone and then realize that I also have access to a pool and gym equipment, I’m just amazed. I’ll be here almost daily for as long as I can afford the extra time away from those books.