Melrose Family YMCA — Local services in Melrose

This is THE THIRD TIME that this comment was hidden from the reviews for no reason. Repost for visibility.

Updated: I am being threatened by their staffs' weird behavior especially Jay Berger, who works at the 2nd-floor front desk and is the son of Cynthia Berger, the instructor here. At Aug 11 2025, he already had been speaking to a lot he knows within his inner circle at this facility, which made me feel unsafe to reenter the facility despite I'm still paying my membership.

We have direct email correspondence from the CEO of YMCA Metro North confirming my status. So it is unclear why YMCA Melrose would previously deny my membership in their comments—this inconsistency is deeply concerning.

Also worth noting: Most of the Glowing Reviews seem to come from white members. So, the nickname does not only represent myself—it also speaks for several other POC members at Melrose YMCA. We share the same concern that certain practices here seem to prioritize white adults over others, which goes against the values and principles that a local YMCA should uphold.

[I don’t know how my previous post disappeared from public view, but Google’s system allows me to re-edit it using the post history. ] Repost it below: I’ve always had great experiences with YMCA instructors—except for Cynthia Berger.

I was the only Asian in her recent mat Pilates class. When I asked what equipment we needed before class, she responded with ignorance while smiling chat with others about her son, someone named Jay (I am not sure but heard from others that might be someone who also works part-time at YMCA Melrose). As an instructor, her repeated refers to her son (Jay) during class felt both unnecessary and unprofessional. I couldn’t understand why personal matters were being prioritized over the actual session.

During class, she stepped directly on me. She clearly realized it, acted surprised, and just awkwardly laughed without offering any apology. It felt deliberate, since the two people practicing on either side of me in the same row were actually closer to her, but she avoided both and stepped only on me.

I’ve taken her class months ago, but this time I was definitely treated differently as the only people of color at that class. It made me feel singled out and uncomfortable. I don’t feel safe taking her classes anymore.

I don’t know if she had a bad experience with other non-white people before and took it out on me, but the change in her as an adult instructor is hard to understand. Not sure what happened during this summer here.

Several other members have also mentioned issues with Cynthia and one front desk staff’s cold attitude towards non-white adults.

Cynthia Berger also stumbled after stepping on me, if cameras installed in the studio is on, it should be clear that what happened was completely...

I want to start by saying that our family has been loyal Y members for many years. We love the community and the programs they offer. My entire family has taken classes there, and we’ve always enjoyed being part of it.

However, I feel it’s important to share a recent experience that left us very disappointed and concerned. This past week, my 3-year-old son cut his foot during his swim class on the metal stand that children are required to stand on during lessons. Since parents are not allowed to stay and watch until the last five minutes, I only realized something was wrong when my son came up to me crying (without any staff assistance) and showed me his bleeding foot.

I immediately sought help, but the staff’s initial reaction was surprisingly unconcerned until I showed them the extent of the injury. The first aid care provided was poor; the person assisting did not appear to know proper first aid procedures, and I ultimately had to step in and care for my son myself. When I asked the instructor how the injury occurred, she tried to place blame on my son for “jumping in the water.” He is three years old, and it’s clear he was injured by the stand.

After speaking with the supervisor on duty, I expected some reassurance that the issue would be addressed or that steps would be taken to prevent future injuries. Instead, the response was dismissive and lacked accountability. There was no discussion about inspecting or covering the equipment, and no acknowledgment of the need for better staff training in both safety and first aid.

We had to take our son to urgent care after the lesson for proper medical attention. I completely understand that accidents can happen, but the response and lack of concern from the staff and management were unacceptable. At this point, I do not feel comfortable entrusting my children’s safety to the program unless these issues are addressed.

I hope you take this feedback seriously and ensure that safety protocols, staff training, and equipment checks are reviewed so no other family...

I’ve always had great experiences with YMCA instructors. Except for 【Cynthia Berger】, she have a clear bias against Asian faces. I took her class months ago and thought she was professional that time. But in her mat Pilates class recently she acted very strange …I simply asked what equipment we needed before class, and she replied with clear annoyance, while smiling and kept talking about 【her son seems named Jay what what】…with others.— almost like she was trying to form little cliques with people she knew for years. During class, she clearly realized she stepped on me and then just laughed it off awkwardly without saying sorry. It seemed odd, considering there were two persons positioned closer to her. Seems like she was looking for a reason to mess with me. I don’t know if Cynthia had a bad experience with other people of color before and took it out on me, but I was 【the only POC】in that class and 【definitely treated differently】. It was disappointing . Her behavior as an instructor is hard to understand. Honestly, I now feel unsafe to take any of her classes. Not sure what happened here while I was away for a month trip, but I really hope the other instructors at Y are still just as kind and...