YMCA Auckland City Fitness

Overview

With over 150 years under its belt, the YMCA is one of Auckland's oldest gyms, known for being incredibly affordable, highly community minded and offering what you would expect from a gym and doing it to a decent standard.

The Young Christian Men's Association was started by George Williams in 1844 in London with the aim of putting 'Christian principles' into practice by developing a healthy "body, mind, and spirit" (a philosophy that became known as 'muscular Christianity'). The YMCA also catered to rural folk looking for low cost housing in the city, a service later immortalised by the Village People's 1978 hit song 'YMCA'.

The health and fitness focused branch of the YMCA's services has over the years developed into a myriad of all inclusive gym sites to serve local communities' health and fitness needs across the globe. The YMCA is currently one of the most community-minded gyms in Auckland city. YMCA Auckland Fitness's community services include, for example, regularly lending their basketball court to the City Mission sports teams as well as lending the same court to pre-fame Lorde for her 'Royals' music video.

The 100% New Zealand owned and operated, not for profit gym is super tidy and pretty well equipped as well as having all the regular types of group classes you'd expect from your regular gym — spin, yoga, pilates, boxing, small group training and functional training. They also do boot camp training sessions for those motivated by gritty team training sessions or personal training sessions for those who would rather prefer one-on-one attention. At certain YMCA sites learn to swim classes; adult soccer, basketball and netball leagues; children's gymnastics, basketball and dance classes; and classes catered towards senior citizen are also available.

YMCA is a gym that has it all, but at a truly affordable price. Everything on offer at the YMCA is at a fraction of the cost you'd pay at almost any other regular gym, but if you still struggle to get your coins together for a membership, they also do confidential fee assistance to make your health doesn't fall by the wayside just because your wallet won't cooperate.