Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA

Terrible communication.
I visited this YMCA to get information membership and their summer camps. There were two girls at the front desk. Girl #1 provided all the camp options with and without membership. I told her I would choose the camps in the next few days and enroll online for membership and camps.
I was asked to fill out a medical release form so that I could sign up online. Perfect, I went over to a table to fill out the form. When I returned to the front desk, girl #1 had gone to break. Girl #2 told me I filled out the wrong form and gave me the correct one. She pointed out which sections of the new form to fill out. When I returned, girl #2 said she needed the entire form filled out. I thought, boy I need to be cautious with these girls and ensure we are talking about the same thing.
Girl #1 was back and was the only person available when I dropped off the correct medical release form. More than once I asked her if I was ready to enroll online. She responded that yes, everything was ready. I told her I would sign up later that evening and thanked her.
The following day I tried to purchase a membership on their website but quickly realized the only option to buy memberships is in person. No way could this be happening. I called their office to confirm their enrollment process. Sure enough, their only option for purchasing a membership is in person.
On my first visit, I spent 45 minutes at their front office asking questions and completing their forms. How did we end up going in circles? Why was this information not provided to me in person?

The YMCA has pretty much been around longer than most of us have been alive. I remember going to the Y as a kid.
My review comes with a sizable background in fitness. I’m a former university asst. athletic director, a personal trainer, and have coached for many years. That having been said, my perspective encompasses the overall usability of this facility.
So. Three stars. Why such a mid grade rating? It’s just okay and here’s why.
This place is huge and it has over 17,000 members. If you’re looking for cardiovascular conditioning it would take months to hit every treadmill, step climber, elliptical, etc. here. So why is there only one lat pull down machine? Why are there no weighted curl bars? Only a rack of straight bars. Why only one cross over cable station? No shoulder shrug, no shoulder raise, etc. I’ve seen hotel exercise facilities with a more complete set of resistance equipment.
Granted, there are two sets of multi stations and the circuit of Hoist machines downstairs are good stuff. The machines thrown in the corner upstairs have light weight stacks and less usable depending upon the type of strength conditioning being done.
Maybe I get a bit salty when it comes to overall training but there’s more to fitness than cardio. Granted, light resistance is available via a number of methods including classes but this Y is strewn with treadmills in every corner and crevice. I’m a huge advocate of resistance training because of the benefits gained in bone density, connective tissue, the hearts ejection fraction, (let alone muscle) just to name a few. Get some Hammer Strength stuff or any of the vast number of resistance equipment available! I digress.
This place could be amazing but right now its lacking some very basic equipment and the weight room truly requires expansion.

I would give 0 stars if I could, don’t go here with a friend who’s a beginner at the gym. Little blond man nearly kicked us out saying I can’t «train» her. Basically forcing me to get on a machine next to her
Am I supposed to let her get on the squat rack alone not even knowing what to do? Hell no, this place obviously doesn’t care if someone gets injured. Lost business from me & Her! Never recommending this gym to anyone. Their equipment sucks too no variety. Customer service was horrible from the beginning at the membership counter. Vibe here was horrible.

I love their selection of group fitness classes! Always keeps me motivated to come back and keep moving. The dance classes and Pilates are my favorite. The yoga class was too crowded for me, but I have enjoyed many other classes there and will keep going back! Membership isn’t too expensive and if you have kids there are family classes and child care. This YMCA is huge. Love it there.

It’s unfortunate that the Y has lost sight of their original goal of providing for the community when they decided to do away with their youth membership. Our only option now is to pay almost $ 800 for the Family membership. My husband and I don’t use a gym (we live in San Diego and exercise outside). So we have decided to go elsewhere for our sons’ activities and swim lessons. We loved their swim lessons. They changed instructors a bit more than we liked but we did like most of them. I would also suggest that they ask their instructors to introduce themselves to the kids when they meet them for the first time. It helps break the ice instead of just, «Ok, get in the pool!» Sorry you lost our business Y. I know many of our friends with kids feel the same way.

The ymca gym is okay. I give the camp a F. They are so unorganized and the prices are rediculous. They charge for before and after camp. Which other Ymcas do not. There are so many kids that when pick up time comes they do not even know where your child is. My son likes everything but he said he wants to go back to the oceanside camp because they have more fun. His friends are in Encinitas but he says he still would rather go to oceanside. The registration office messes everything up. You pay one day and the next day they are calling saying you didn’t pay. It’s a joke and a lot of money.

This is my home gym, and it is awesome!
There are always people of all ages and sizes and levels working out, which makes it a lot less intimidating than other gyms. And the staff is extremely friendly!
There is a wide diversity of facilities and services, which keeps me coming almost every day of the week. There are a ton of free classes offered for members, and they are welcoming to all. The machines and other available resources are modern and efficient. It’s never too busy either so there are machines available.
Side note: I love the Zumba classes! They are super fun, and great exercise. The instructors keeps the class fun and interesting.

I love the Y. It’s like a resort — here’s Y…
1) FREE child watch. It’s the reason why I signed up. It’s 2 hours per day per kid. I have two children and I watch them full time. It’s amazing to drop them off to a place with nice people with lots of crafts and indoor and outdoor activities and know they are safe and happy. I get to read, take a nap, eat in peace, and take fitness classes 7 days a week if I want. Those two hours just help me as a mother to two young children. It changes the dynamics of our days.
I go here 3 – 4 times a week and if I counted the cost (at $ 10 an hour) of a babysitter to do the same thing at home, I am saving $ 60-​$ 80 per week in childcare. That’s $ 320 in savings per week so I can have some peace and quiet. The cost of classes — if going elsewhere — could start at $ 15 apiece. That’s about $ 50-​$ 60 a week in classes if going somewhere else. But really, the combined savings of classes and childcare is what does it for me and if I want, I can do other activities with my kids, like swimming or watching them play in the courtyard) at the Y instead of leaving (like at other gyms).
2) The lobby has free tea and coffee. It’s not the best in the world, but it’s a nice touch. You can buy other foods, snacks, and drinks there if you want or bring a lunch and eat it there — I do.
3) It’s open from 5:00 am — 10:00 pm M-​F, and weekends 7 – 7. You could live there.
4) The staff are pretty friendly and accomodating. They’re humans, but they try their best to make people feel comfortable and to be understanding.
5) The various fitness classes are great — there’s something for everybody — pilates, yoga, kettlebell, cycling, etc. I take 3 – 4 different classes per week and the hours are pretty varied so mornings, afternoons, and evenings are covered.
6) The facilities are pretty clean. Yes, it’s pretty laissez faire in the locker rooms as far as nudity is concerned, so just pretend you’re at a nude beach in Europe and take a chill pill. I love that the locker rooms have blow dryers to use.
7) The heated pool is great. Lots of babies go there and it’s fun for the whole family.
So here we are — just 7 very good reasons to like the Y. The childcare is what makes it special and makes me a very faithful member. Getting a break and taking care of myself is a wonderful by-​product of the membership in a community like setting. Go take a tour!

As the mother of an infant, the Y is my saving grace. I could not be happier to belong to Magdalena Ecke Y in Encinitas. The location right off the freeway makes it easy to get to, despite the traffic that backs up and that exiting intersection occasionally. I haven’t attended any classes there yet, because a baby makes it difficult to live life organized, but never have an issue using the equipment in their cardio or strength training rooms.
The infant care is great — the gals are friendly and know me by first name now. Though they suggest reserving a spot 24 hours in advance, they are pretty flexible to accommodate you that same day, if you call in the morning.
Overall the facility is always very clean, the vibe is very family friendly which makes your work out casual, yet comfortable enough to really apply yourself. I don’t ever feel intimidated or uncomfortable. I highly recommend the Y, and especially this location for young families.

This is by far the BEST YMCA I have ever experienced. I have my child attend here every summer and what an awesome experience it is. the kids come home happy, full of stories about the day and best of all they are tired! Remember those days as a kid, you felt like this is what summer is all about. FUN FUN FUN! That’s what they get every week. Then half way through the week a camp rep calls, to see if you have any questions or concerns, fills you in on the progress of your child and how the week will end. I feel like a great mom. I chose the very best summer camp for my child!
Thank you! Tonya

This is a great family oriented place. It feels more like a country club then a gym.
There are great family classes, sports, gorgeous facilities, pools, skatepark, you name it. They even have complimentary coffee for their guests. High morals and a great little toddler park too. Childcare is included in family membership and the staff is very balanced, friendly.

Been a member for few months, and I love it. Great and fresh place for any type of workouts

Look at 50 I found a place that I enjoy going to. It’s like Cheers were everybody knows your name. All types of classes with great swimming programs. Great price and free coffee and tea. Love this place

This is a great YMCA. Free childcare! There is something for the entire family here: swimming, tap classes, basketball, gym… I could go on.
We go as an entire family, it is worth the 70 something a month for all of us to attend. My child has been taking swimming lessons since he was six months old.
We think it’s great and one of the better family gyms here in Encinitas.

My kids have been coming here for many years enjoying the various sports and summer camps run through this YMCA. In particular the summer camps are very well run and reflect a thoughtful process in how the children are dropped off and picked up each day. The range of activities in the summer camps is quite diverse as well ranging from ice skating, soccer to skateboarding. Now that my oldest is of age to participate in the LIT program (leaders in training) he is having a blast helping the younger kids enjoy their summer camps.
This overall is a fantastic YMCA and has provided and incredible experience for my children.

Love this place with the friendliest staff around…
Everything you need is here…
The pool and masters squads are 1 of the best in america with some of the best swim coaches based at this pool…
Totally recommend this facility!!!

This facility is top notch! I truly enjoyed the classes, friendly staff and clean equipment. The coffee bar is also a great bonus. The reason for the 3 stars is because of the price of the child watch. I loved every staff member that worked in both of my kids’ rooms, and I have no complaints about anything but the price. When I signed them up, I thought the price sounded steep but to have unlimited child care a month was a must for a mom whose husband works out of town a lot. I just thought that because of the great hours and nice facilities, that is what all ymcas charge. I was wrong! I recently moved and have two North County ymcas closer to me and NEITHER ONE charge for child watch. The two hours a day are free! I paid $ 55/​month on just child watch at the Ecke Y. That is a crazy difference!

I was a member of this YMCA for several years and held an «AWAY» membership that allowed me to use other YMCA facilities around the country.
The Magdalena Ecke YMCA was hands down the best of ANY of the YMCAs I visited and is pretty much my standard to judge all other exercise facilities by,
The Ecke YMCA has very active exercise classes, yoga, etc and great facilities and equipment. Also an Olympic pool, I think it was 12 lanes, open as late as 10 PM. I used to do laps at 9 PM and it was practically deserted.
All for a measly $ 45 a month! Best exercise facility I have ever used in my life. Got great results there.

my 4 yo has been in swimming and dance lessons for a few months now
He’s already swimming the width of the pool, very happy w/​all instructors, some are better than others but overall very happy w/​all of them.
LOVE his dance instructor.
They just fixed up the lobby to make it more open and welcoming.
free coffee and tea all day while we wait for the kiddos
the only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is that the activities for my 2 year old are very limited, wish they had more for that age.

going to have my kids bday party here this month.
$ 200 (member rate) for an hour in the party room and an hour in the indoor heated swimming pool! sounds amazing! we can have up to 50 folks in the pool… hopefully no adults want to go in b/​c i invited 50 kids (between both my children… combined party!).
we bring everything we need… we clean up… but its not in MY HOUSE!
seriously gonna be cool…
will update after the party