We recently joined the YMCA in Silver Spring, so my children could join the Y’s year-round swim team in preparation for competing on our summer pool’s team. As a bonus, joining the Y allowed me to check out their fitness offerings.
The Y in Silver Spring isn’t as impressive as some of the newer, shinier YMCAs in other parts of the DC area, but it has two pools, weight and cardio rooms, a solid lineup of classes (which unlike other gyms, occur during the day, not just from 6-10AM and then after 5PM) and a community feeling.
The Y is very strict about NOT photographing its fitness areas and locker rooms for pretty obvious reasons that didn’t occur to me when I embarked on this challenge. I’ll do my best to describe the various areas, but to get a real idea, you’ll need to visit the Y.
Location: The YMCA Silver Spring is in the Indian Spring neighborhood right off of Colesville: 9800 Hastings Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20901.
The Locker Room: The women’s room is pretty basic to below average.
The Fitness Areas: There’s a small room with yoga mats, hand weights, and balancing balls. You can use the strength training room to warm up and cool down or do an entire work out there if you wish. Since I am still doing the Virtual Boot Camp, I wrote down the day’s work out (each movement, how many reps, etc.) and did it in there, and one time wasn’t even anyone else around! There’s also a cardio room with stationary bikes, ellipticals and other machines, an annex with a few rowing machines, and the studios where spin, pilates, yoga, zumba and a host of other classes take place. You can also pay for personal training or swim laps in one of the two pools. I’m not much of a swimmer (which is why I’m thrilled my kids are good swimmers), but I do enjoy water aerobics (that was also an additional fee).
Child Care: There’s free babysitting during most of the day, if you have to take your kids (up to age 12) with you while you work out. Although at some gyms child care is an extra fee, it’s included in the cost of membership.
Cost: September’s promotion is free initiation, so you only have to pay your first month’s fee, and there’s no contract, so you can cancel at any time. You can also “suspend” membership as well for a nominal fee (that’s what we plan to do in the summer). The cost for one adult is $72 per month, one adult plus kids is $82 per month, and for a two adults plus kids is $97 per month. If you happen to have Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance, you get an additional discount.
Contact: Call (301) 585-2120 or stop by between 5AM to 10PM Monday to Friday or 6AM to 8PM Saturday and Sunday.
Bottom Line: It’s not exactly cheap, but the Y has a lot to offer. I just wish it were a newer facility and that it didn’t cost so much more to use the facilities at other Nation’s Capital YMCAs.
I’d like to thank the following gyms for supporting my Personal Fitness Map by offering me a free one-week pass to try out their facilities. If you have a favorite gym or specialty fitness studio in the DC area you think I should visit, please leave a comment, so I can arrange my week-long trial membership. My only caveat is that it can’t be more than 20 miles/45 minutes away from Silver Spring.
D.C.:
Maryland:
Virginia:
Personal Trainers:
- Virtual Boot Camp by Balance Personal Fitness Training
