We love this location but please! We need the kids watch open again. This is my only time and opportunity to have a best work out! Lol..

My roomie and I are currently looking for a place to become members for regular workouts. Very impressed by the professionalism and warmth in an initial phone conversation with a woman named Judy about their amenities, and class schedules–I had high hopes that this YMCA would be an ideal place to join. I visited last week on a 2-Day Pass, with the intent of taking my daughters to use the pool, and at the same time, tour the place and hopefully, sign-up. To our dismay, we were told the pool was closed for maintenance, but to call the next day because it would more than likely be open. Sabrina took us on a tour of the facility while we were there. She was friendly and informative and I was further impressed with the competency of the staff. The place is smaller than other YMCAs, but nestled in a nice, peaceful area, at the end of a solitary road behind the Seau Park. It appeared clean, and there was ample parking available, and wasnt crowded when we were there. There was a good number of gym equipment, and comfortable areas to work out. We returned the next day and again received a professional welcome at the front office. I was convinced to join and intended to register before we left, after our swim. I wasnt so convinced after our swim though. Firstly, the lifeguard on duty hollared out to my daughter, as she swam past the 46 mark of the pool, Young lady! Stay on this side... (motioning right with her hand towards the shallow end where my younger daughter and I were) You cant pass that point. Confused and startled, my daughter swam back towards me. Having read the rules on the second page of their pool schedule posted online, and also given an exact hard copy of it when on the tour, to my knowledge, their facilitys rule as it should apply to my daughters is Ages 7-12: may use the aquatics facility with guardian, or if the guardian is located in the facility. Guardian must check the child in to the pool. No where does it restricted space to a quarter of the pool area (half the length of the pool was divided into 2 swim lanes and the other half was divided into 2 parts, in which my daughter was further restricted access to). My daughter, who is 12, may look younger than she is because of height, but she certainly looks older than 7, has been swimming since she was 4, and if observed for a minute, was clearly an able swimmer . Furthermore, the lifeguard didnt ask her her age, or see if she could pass the swim test as stated on their same pool regulation as their way of gauging a swimmers ability to be left unattended. She was denied use of certain areas of the pool, no reason or rule given. Note, aside from one other swimmer (who was using one of the sectioned off swim lanes) we were the only ones in the pool. The lifeguard didnt deem my daughter able to swim in the area provided, but she later considered her a good ebough swimmer to ask for her to position the floating line that she wanted in place to constrict her swim area to so she wouldnt have to get in the pool herself and get wet doing! If my daughter wasnt so welcoming of the challenge, I would have left right then. Also, lifeguard shift was changing so I thought I wouldnt have to deal with anything more. Wrong. As I was poolside aiming downward and snapped a photo of JUST MY girls as they floated together, the life guard yelled that there was no picture taking allowed. The swimmer in the swim lane, who apparently was a long time member for years, even questioned the directive as we both were under the impression that their rule was, as it reads, PHOTOGRAPHYTo protect everyone’s privacy, we ask that you refrain from taking photos of the pool. If a photo can be taken in a manner inwhich only yourself or your children are in the frame, you may take photos. During swim lessons, we ask that you only takephotos on the last day of class in the aforementioned.... I even mentioned having read the rules, but the lifeguard wouldnt listen. Disappointed and disgruntled, I packed us up and left.

I like the weight room and there’s plenty of cardio machines. The pool is nice and the locker rooms are well kept. The only thing missing is a sauna or steam room

I am also trying to stop my membership at this gym. The pool was closed over Thanksgiving break and the pool and workout facility was closed over the Winter holiday. All the while, I was paying for them to be closed while I have extra time to workout and the desire to be healthier. It was my goal to maintain my weight loss over the holidays and so I learned how to workout at home using YouTube for free since the gym I pay for was closed. The staff actually turned me away at the door twice in this process and suggested that I drive to a location in Santee during this time but it is inconvenient to drive that far from my house. How is this promoting a healthy lifestyle? Like most people, I have a very demanding schedule so when I make time in my day to workout and I have paid the membership, I expect to exercise and not be turned away. When I did go to another location and I went through the front door, the staff there asked me to wait because they said I had an NSF charge- which is completely ridiculous! They did not apologize for the accusation or for detaining me at the front door - that was the City Heights location on El Cajon Blvd. The only reason that I did not gain weight was because of my own determination. When I went into the La Mesa YMCA when it was finally open again, I didnt give them 10 days notice to cancel, I gave them 9 days and they still couldnt cancel and charged my account again so Im stuck. No one even apologized for the further inconvenience. So that I dont waste my money, I am forced to drive out of my way because I dont want to continue to deal with this incompetent staff. They sure could charge my account immediately when I set up the membership but couldnt cancel it within 9 days. DO NOT JOIN THE LA MESA YMCA- you are better off on your own!

If you are a swimmer--DO NOT COME HERE! The staff is completely incompetent when it comes to the pool. It is not a one-time thing. This week alone, their pool has been closed 3 days out of 4, and the weekend before last I spent 45 minutes driving around East County to find a Y whose pool WAS open because they couldnt give enough notice that they were closed again. I have been a swimmer my entire life, and not only is this pool one of the most poorly maintained I have ever seen (never vacuumed/cleaned, they FORGET TO ORDER CHLORINE, and the jacuzzi has ben under construction for over TWO YEARS because they cant get their act together) but they treat swimmers like second-class gym members and our complaints to staff and the aquatics director fall on deaf ears. Once, the pool was closed for 3 months (after telling us it would only be for a few weeks) and even though I am signed up for text notifications, they usually come in the middle of the day, very late notice (I am a morning swimmer) and vague--along the lines of we SHOULD be open but just call tomorrow in case we arent. Many times, the lifeguards dont show up (at least two have to be working for the pool to be open) and one time they called in a replacement who then announced to his coworker in front of the entire deck that his certificate had expired that day and he shouldnt even be working! When swimmers have complained to the lifeguards about the pool being dirty, or why YMCA staff cant keep the pool open, the lifeguards have made rude comments in reply, along the lines of well I can kick you out of the pool now and clean it. One time, the only way us swimmers were able to convince the staff to vacuum was by threatening to call the health department.The showers are old and since you cant control the temperature, there are days when they have been very cold and theres nothing we can do about it. My broke high schools pool from the 60s was better maintained and open more often than this one. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. Since joining the Y, I have not been able to work out as much as I would like. Many have mentioned that this Y in particular has a culture of laziness and that would certainly explain why they try to skate by on doing the bare minimum and take forever to get simple things done. The swimmers constantly have to remind the lifeguards to even put out the pace clock. My coworker also tries--TRIES--to swim here with her two daughters, and when the pool actually is open and she is able to get in, the lifeguards will harass her and say that she cant swim with two children at a time, even though both have passed the swim test MULTIPLE times.I really am thinking of quitting soon--the only reason I have stayed as long as I have is because of the friends I have made here. But this has gone on for too long and I am sick and tired of missing my workout for the day simply because this pool cant be bothered to care.

Amazing place to get a relaxed, low key workout, on great NEW machines with TVs so i never miss my sports! they have done a great job keeping this facility clean and tidy and the staff are extremely friendly! i highly recommend!

The trainers here are really amazing!

They have not updated their water aerobic classes in years. Only one class at 1030 am which in the summer is dangerous because of exposure to ultra violet light. Pm and Sat classes many times u share pool with small children. They need to think of their seniors more and offer more aqua classes and get good instructors. The rest of the place is very good. Just poor aqua and directors change however remain inefficient and uncaring about seniors.

Big dog friendly field. Tennis courts. Open area great for walking with trees so you can walk in the shade.

I would not recommend this place to anyone serious about weight lifting. I was accosted by some elderly employee the first time I grunted while deadlifting. If you have a noise policy, that should probably be mentioned when people sign up or at least posted in the weight area. Also, if its your first time talking to a new client, perhaps a friendly introduction would be more appropriate than just rudely reprimanding someone who is simply minding their own business. I think perhaps they forgot what YMCA stands for. Its not supposed to be a retirement home.

Really enjoy going this location equipment is always clean and it it typically never crowded. The pool is also very nice.

This YMCA is very small, with not too big of a selection of weights, and workout space. In addition, they only have one stair master, but a ton of available treadmills and stationary bicycles. The stair master is always in use when Im there, and its frustrating to not be able to use it, since its my main form of cardio due to my knees. The staff is friendly, but this is not worth the high monthly cost. Most likely will be switching gyms soon.

I’m looking for a new place to work out. I get off work at 7 am and would like to work out before going home. The two people working at the desk wanted to second ID me- like my photo on my ymca is not good enough. I guess I’m not white enough to be trusted to be the person on my ID. Awful treatment won’t be coming back here.

It doesnt have the fields that the Santee ymca has, but the staff and atmosphere are excellent!

For working out, swimming, and playing basketball, this place rocks!

I love the YMCAs its amazing

Many classes and a clean environment but an outdated facility with limited operating hours.

Unwelcoming atmosphere.

Nice place

Almost never too busy