Y Club

Getting fit at this time of year has become a cliché for many of us. You’re tempted to join one of the many main stream gyms and health clubs who are offering a New Year deal, without giving much thought to if it’s really the right gym for you.

The Y Club gym is an exception to this as you won’t come across any pushy advertising or pestering phone calls. Situated in Castlefield, Y Club is there to be discovered: a hidden gym or hidden gem, if you like.

The gym space is vast for what looks like an average sized building from the outside. Space is broken up into sections with a cardio room with rows of treadmills, fitness bikes, rowing machines and cross trainers, lined up in front of mirrors. This may seem like a minor addition, but mirrors provide a reflection of the development of an exercise as well as allowing you to see your form change as you go on. Y Club is a hall of mirrors and the logic is simple: if you start seeing results, you’ll strive to maintain them.

For the weight lifters, there is a separate area for dumbells and other free weights. On the other side of the cardio room is the area for those who prefer machine weights, and Y Club has a system which allows you to have a personal trainer with you throughout.

The FitLinxx programme lets you key in a password at each piece of equipment. It coaches on speed, form, heart rate and tracks the workout session, taking note of your individual progress; something all new year gym enrollers need. But your not just left with the electronic trainer; there are fitness instructors on hand to give advice or show you how to use equipment. They're very knowledgeable and don't just baffle you with gym jabber. Then there's the fitness studios which are the hub for classes such as yoga, pilates, tai chi and high energy workouts such as aerobics, body conditioning and spin. The size of the space means you don't have to book and there will always be room even in the busiest classes. The same goes for the 18m swimming pool and relaxing sauna and steam room.

All gyms have weights and cardio equipment. That’s a given. Not all gyms have a 100 metre running track. Y Club is the only gym in Manchester to have this facility. The track also overlooks a huge sports hall which is used for a wide range of classes. These include five-a-side football, badminton, circuit training, basketball/wheelchair basketball, trampolining, wrestling/junior wrestling, volleyball, junior Y activities, netball, short tennis and table tennis and can be used at no extra charge to your membership fee. The classes are extremely welcoming and you’ll find plenty of banter and a good range of characters to enjoy sports with, so don't be shy. The five-a-side football for one, has team decorum and spirit unique to the Y Club, according to the regulars.

The list of exclusive resources continues with two Rugby fives courts. This sport is a cross between squash and handball and absolutely nothing to do with rugby. Although strange at first, after witnessing booked up courts and real competitive action, you see how it’s not only fun but also a great strategy for fitness. Y Club offers free lessons to get you going along with free equipment. And that brings me on to the most impressive thing about this gym: as part of the YMCA, one of the biggest Christian charities in the world, Y Club isn’t about herding in the members like a cattle market. Most gyms want to fix your health and damage your wealth, but here you get nothing but total value for money.

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