We have been going to JCC in San Rafael for almost three years now.  Our son learned to swim there and they have many well qualified instructors.  We have checked out  a few other places and we think they're the best .  The staff at JCC are very friendly and they always keep the place clean.  Highly recommended.
Review Source:It's becoming increasingly frustrating during the summer months to swim laps outdoors at this facility. First there are the camps during the week that take away lap lanes. Now there are family days both Sat and Sunday where all the lanes come out of the pool from noon to 4. The hours before that the lanes are packed with swimmers trying to make the noon deadline and you have to circle swim. At 4 pm only 4 lanes go back in so again those lanes are packed. Why not split the pool down the middle all day? Â This is not an inexpensive membership. I would like to be able to use the pool without the frustration. Had they had the Saturday and Sunday hours as the are now when I first joined, I would never have joined.
Review Source:I had my daughter birthday party at the JCC and it was the best birthday party ever! Â The organizer, Michelle Cook did an amazing job, she asked me for a theme and then ran with it. Â We picked Fairy Garden Party there were two fairy's at the door to meet our guests, three art projects, face painting (that was only an additional $25), outside games and so much more. Â Michelle even had her friend make huge flowers to decorate the room, I wanted to take one home with me! Â All I had to do was show up with food and cake. Â I have a 5 yr old and it was the first drop-off party in the group, ALL of the parents were so excited. Â Some stayed and all said it was a WONDERFUL party. Â I have told our entire school about the JCC and think every birthday party from now on needs to be there!!!! Â
I HIGHLY recommend the JCC for birthday party's!!!
Caveat - Â Beware of the Guided Tours! Â The facility is wonderful. Â Guided tours are offered to various places from Santa Fe to Paris. Â An acquaintance went on a tour and had a very unpleasant experience. Â When complaints were registered with the JCC, they did not respond favorably and reimbursed her for a small portion of her expenses. Â Professional tourist operators have guides who are familiar with the guidelines and requirements, whereas the JCC does not.
Review Source:I had my wedding reception at the JCC this summer & couldn't have been happier. Â From planning through implementation, the staff was extremely helpful, flexible, accommodating & knowledgeable. Â The facility is fabulous - so many different beautiful spaces are available. Â We had live music & hors d'oeuvres in the lobby, set up the dinner buffet in Pell Atrium, had a continuously running video in an adjacent meeting room, ate dinner outdoor in the beautiful courtyard, and danced the night away in the spacious Hoytt Theater. Â The price for all this great space was unbelievably affordable. Â Everything about this experience was so wonderful and easy. Â I highly recommend the JCC as a venue for whatever event you're planning.
Review Source:I love the Marin JCC! Â The pool is definitely the BEST in the county. Â The staff is always SO helpful, the facilities are clean and well cared for. Â The gym is never OVERcrowded (you know that waiting for a machine non-sense). Â
Steam room, sauna, group classes, yoga room, pilates, the list goes on and on! Â Even a sweet coffee shop down stairs (that I wish had an organic milk option-get with it guys!)
Awesome trainers who REALLY know their stuff (go see Robert!). Â Fantastic Massage therapists too!
It's basically top of the line across the board. Â The ONLY thing that bums me out is the hours... They close at 9pm on the weekdays- ok. Â And 6pm on the weekends! Â There were several occasions I found myself wanting to go use the hot tub, etc right around their closing time on the weekends! Â :(
As an event planner I have used the Osher Marin Jewish Center to host our annual charity event for the past 4 years.  The staff is very professional and available for any problems that might come up for such a large event.  Their knowledge for set up and  lighting is a great  help.  They can provide all the chairs and tables which is a big cost savings  for sit down dinners and the kitchen is large enough to prepare and serve large groups.  It has always been a joy to work with them.
Mary W.
Friendly staff, good equipment, clean ... but some things you should know. There are a lot of families here and little girls with their dads in the mens locker room. Breast feeding pool-side. Diapers in the pool. It all makes me uncomfortable. Â OK...8 lap lanes, but family swims and aerobics classes often take over the pools. Rarely are there ever 8 lanes open. Indoor or Outdoor, senior water aerobics rule. Life guards cater to their favorite customers for open lane preference. This may not be the best place you can find for a regular workout.
Review Source:Went to see "Rupa and the April Fishes," a hard-to-describe World Music ensemble that was out of this world, last night. (Imagine folk/jazz/reggae/klezmer/cabaret in English, Spanish and French, with social commentary thrown in.) The Center has musical events every Saturday night during the summer, at reasonable ($20/person) prices. The venue is outdoors on a balmy Marin night, and all seats (your own blankets and beach chairs, on the lawn) have good sight lines to the stage. The musical choices are almost always danceable, and there is space to dance up front. There is a bar and a rotating food concession (last night it was the delectable Sol Food, Puerto Rican ecstasy - get the "maduros" - fried plantains!) but you can bring your own picnic. If you have kids, there's an outdoor play area (Rupa commented, "I don't often play where there are kids on monkey bars.") It's delightful to see every age, from babies to the Greatest Generation, enjoying themselves. The one thing I deleted a star for is the approach to the venue. Parking is sparse (we parked across the street, as the lot was full, 45 minutes before start time,) and then you have to climb some steep stairs inside the Center to get to the yard. (I hear that there is an elevator, but no one offered information on that.) Also I find the web site hard to navigate. They don't tell you what time the gate opens and you just can't find it there.
Review Source:The JCC has such great facilities and events but the customer service is greatly lacking. Â We are a family of 4 in Marin and have taken several of the Splash Swim classes with our children and truly do like the classes--but registering and dealing with the people who work the phones and desks is painful. Â Each and every time there is a reason why they cant answer a simple question like "what time does the class start" Â or "can you confirm that we are registered"....After this has happened again and again I felt I must post. Â So frustrating and makes us want to find elsewhere with more competent staffing.
Review Source:I've hesitated to write a review for the JCC. Â Why? Â Purely selfish reasons:
1. Â I do not want more people to know about this place because it is the best gym in Marin County, by far. Â Very far.
2. Â I love the outside pool. Â I do not want to share my swimming lane with more swimmers regardless of how cute they look. Â Â
3. Â I am not part of the Tribe, and sometimes think of myself as not worthy. Â I am told this is a fault of my Gentile ways. Â I am still in recovery. Â
My alliance to Yelp requires I let the public know my opinion. Â So, I shall be brief:
Clean, quality service, loads of free weights, machines, two pools, steam, saunas, hot tub, basketball court, massages, cafe, tons of classes. Â Very family friendly.
Like Bridget says, this is more like a club than a gym. Â It's the JCC.
My husband and I got married here last weekend and the community center was a great venue for our 200-person wedding. There are many great options for all sorts of events, big and small. The Events Manager Pam Day was extremely helpful and accomodating throughout the whole process. Thanks for some wonderful memories!
Review Source:I attended a music event here. The sound system was horrible, the audience yaked through the whole performance, and the food vendor ran out of food. They advertise grass but it's astro-turf. I don't know about the rest of the center but I would never go here for another outdoor music event...what a disaster!
Review Source:We attended the Great Broadway Sing-A-long at the Kanbar Center courtesy of <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fgoldstar.com&s=b6950a2709804d536369ae4230f19e9fee5434ba02e8e56be5b9018064279249" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://goldstar.com</a> Â
We were warmly welcomed at the will call table. Â The refreshment table had a great assortment of hot and cold drinks. There were also snacks available.
The inside of the Kanbar Center was organized with chairs and tables. Â We sat in the fourth row with an excellent view of the stage.
The show featured live piano accompaniament with three talented singers who performed solos as well as lead the audience in two hours of singing selections from musicals from the last 100 years.
I love this place. Â I once belonged to a gym that shall remain nameless...but I hated going because there was no air circulation and the place smelled like an arm-pit. Â Not too mention the pool always looked green. Ewe!! Â
Enter the JCC...clean, pristine, fresh...ahhhhhh. Every treadmill has it's own fan. Â (YES!) You have your own space...plenty of room for stretching, no lines for equipment; no grumpy old men telling you that you have 5 minutes left on the treadmill. Â Everyone seems...happy. Positive vibes in a gorgeous setting. Â And did I mention the pools? Â They have 3...indoor, outdoor, kiddie and a jaucuzzi too. Outdoor area has a lovely setting with a grassy area you can bring a picnic. Â Better yet- pick up something in the on-site cafe...the food is healthy AND scrumptious!! I had the arugala-corn salad today and it was amazing. Â Big fan of the chinese chicken salad too; it's ALL good! Just do yourself a favor and join...you'll never want to leave!
Gyms are gyms, you don't really want to be there, but you have to. I've been a member for years and it's generally a very good health and fitness center. Very modern, lots of equipment & weights, TV's with cable everywhere, classes, basketball, swimming, hot tub, massages, the works really.
Very diverse crowd- young and old. There's been days where I hear more people speaking foreign languages than English, which is kind of cool I guess. It can get crowded but it's usually not too bad.
Some things I wish they'd improve on: more machines would always be welcome, more convenient parking (the events sometimes make it impossible to park here). Forcing rude/inconsiderate people to wear deodorant (okay they can't, but come on people). Also a major thing that I don't like is that you have to climb a huge staircase to get here, I wish it were on the ground floor (and I'm not taking 2 elevators thank you). The cafe downstairs which isn't great sometimes has food smells which aren't so appealing when going for a workout.
VERY nice staff. I hear people say they wish they could afford to belong here, and that this is a nice place. So overall, this is probably Marin's best gym.
I love the Marin JCC. Â I've been a member for a couple years now. Â I love the pools. Â I love the machines. Â I love the room where you can use exercise bands. Â I love the classes. Â I love the early hours and the late late hours (swimming outdoors at 8pm in August!) Â I love the relatively clean showers and the extras like q-tips and lotion. Â I love that I don't feel like I have to dress up to work out. Â I love the little old ladies talking in Russian in the waiting area. Â I love the groups of children laughing in the cafe as I leave. Â I love the Adults Only dressing room. Â I love walking past bingo on Tuesday nights, on my way upstairs. Â I love the helpful staff and the friendly people.
If only I could get my butt there more often. ;)
I belonged years ago and left with a positive experience. So when I was looking for a gym to join in Northern Marin, the JCC seemed like the obvious place to go.
I was never even able to get into view the new facilities. I emailed, called, dropped by. Nada. I left voice mails for the sales people and never heard back.
Overall, just a real bummer that the customer service was so poor that I never even got a chance to get in and sign up despite numerous attempts on my end. Guess they don't need new members?
Let's state this important fact first: I hate the gym. I hate working out. I hate sweating.
Which is why when I first walked into the JCC in Marin I assumed I would hate this gym as I had with countless others. Although as much as I tried to despise it, every time I walked in, I started to love the JCC just a tad bit more.
Why do you ask has one, single gym changed my view on working out & sweating? Here is the rundown: feels more like a country club than gym, staff are super courteous, every machine has it's own cable channeled flat screened TV, every machine is nearly brand new if not brand new, it is never packed, there are multiple lockers, one male and one female locker room is "adults only," indoor pool & outdoor pools with constant lifeguard supervision, pools use UV radiation instead of chlorine, each locker room has a private sauna plus hygienic amenities, all towels are free and the list goes on and on.
But secretly, I must confess, the number one reason I love the JCC is that while working out I can distantly smell matzo ball soup cooking in the deli below. My perfect gym.
Confession: I'm kinda lazy. For me, the hardest part of working out is getting there. The Marin JCC is such a pleasant experience, I can always  convince myself it the right decision to go.
I have three words for you: Rose of Sharon. Hands down the greatest classes at a gym ever. And I have belonged to a few. Her spin class on Weds has a soundtrack that you would pick yourself. Its so fun. challenging and the hour flies by. She teaches an abs class right before, so you can get some tummy toning in before you hit the bike.
Then, keep your momentum up and join her at yoga on Thursday. Its like a real yoga class (not weird "gym" yoga).
the facility is gorgeous, it boasts an indoor and outdoor pool, and a grand staircase upon entrance.
It's very central marin feeling-really nice but not pretentious. The cardio machines have tv's, and its hardly ever crowded.
Go check it out and see for yourself! You will want to join!
What a great gym and facility. I've been going for about 9 months now and have yet to have a bad experience. Â The gym is very clean, staff are extremely friendly and they all know your name. They also have an "adults only" locker room with private sauna downstairs that is always empty. Â Each cardio machine has its own tv so you don't have to worry that your favorite show is not on the big screen. Â Although I am not a swimmer, they have both an large indoor and outdoor pool as well as a toddler swim area during the summer.
Only really negative is the fact that I am not jewish and sometimes forget that the gym is closed on major Jewish holidays. Â In addition, the cafeteria on the ground level is privately owned. Â Although the food is very good, the customer service is not that great. They know they have a monopoly on the place and therefore consistently forget to brew coffee, take a while to serve you are at times rude. Â In one instance, I was only able to fill up 1/2 a cup of coffee from the dispenser. Â I brought the canister to the front desk and informed the owner. Â He saw my cup and rather than say, here is your money back or I'll comp you next time, he said "sorry about that" and that was it.
I'm an exercise yo-yo. Â My fitness habits are exemplary of how to fail at an exercise regimen.
?: Ever felt motivated to join a health club? Check.
?: Ever buy a "package" of classes thinking that you'll use them up in a matter of days/weeks? Check.
?: Ever shop for a new exercise wardrobe to accompany this burst of fitness resolve? Check.
It's only after the expiration of unused classes, the "shrinking" of the new wardrobe, and questioning the cost of a gym membership that only sees use once or twice a mon...I mean, week, that it's all-too-apparent I've fallen off the exercise wagon. I'm going to go out on a limb and theorize that I'm more the norm than the exception (at least, my waning ego would have me believe that).
I joined the Osher Marin JCC roughly a year ago because everything seemed too good to be true.
- Rates were cheap relative to the Bay Club, and they had comparable amenities;
- They boast an indoor and an outdoor pool;
- The entire complex was redone about two years ago;
- The cultural events and other aspects/privileges of the JCC meant that I was getting more than just a gym membership;
- It's family friendly, but they have separate adult locker rooms equipped with saunas;
- Spin, yoga, meditation, core-strengthening, and Pilates classes are all included in the membership;
- I look ripped relative to the Jewish grandmothers that I work out alongside (though they're ruthless and intimidating when it comes to nabbing a stationary bike); and
- They even have a basketball court that also serves as a volleyball and gymnastics area.
This was IT!! I had finally found a North Bay substitute for my beloved San Francisco Equinox and Sports Club LA. I was going to get in great shape (again) and keep fit in time for the Marin Triathlon in November. Â Sign me up!
(aaaaand scene - fast forward 12 months to the present)
"It's not you, it's me." I tell the sales rep. Â "I'm canceling my membership because...I...I'm moving. No, that's not true. Â I've just lost my motivation...Yes, your place is fine, really, it had nothing to do with it. Â Granted, the classes I wanted to take were never at a convenient time of the day for me. Â And, I kind of found it difficult to motivate when the only other people in the gym are twice my age...no, it didn't help that Edna could out bench me either. THAT had NOTHING to do with it. Â Edna's huge! Â Ok, so she's scary huge for an 80 year old woman, but she must be on roids...oh. She is? I didn't realize she was your wife, I'm sor...yes, well, please give her my best. Â Thanks for everything."
It's time to shop for a new wardrobe.
I went for a tour of this facility with a jewish friend of mine. Â COOL PLACE!!
The Center is a work of art with an outstanding fitness center and pool.
The classes and seminars that are offered are very cultural, informative and intellectually stimulating.
If I was jewish, I would definitely be a member. Â As a chinese-american, I may still join to participate in its wonderful programs and enjoy the beautiful facilities.
While I wait patiently for Richard Simmons to come and cry with me ,I will continue to work out at JCC.The staff is incredibly  warm and helpful.I love "Paula's Kickboxing & Sports Conditioning." When I leave her class I leave with the knowledge I have had a great workout.This place also has a steam room,a seperate "childfree" dressing room,and a therapeutic hot tub with jets so strong they could loosen a kidney stone.Yeah this place is a great gym.
Review Source:I've been a member of this gym for about 5 months, and I I love it! Â The outdoor pool is nice, although it does get a bit crowded on weekends. Â The equipment is all very nice and new, with personal TV's on each machine (which I constantly rave about!)... I wasn't working for about a month, and I took about 2 classes a day, which are awesome!! Â They have a big variety of different classes - the only problem is that most of the ones I like are during the day, and now I work! Â I think my only complaint is that they should have more classes at night. Â Also they close really early on Friday and Saturday, which means I can't go to the gym after work =( Â But overall very nice.
Review Source:What a beautiful facility! Â I saw Kronos Quartet here last night, ordered my tickets only a week ago and got second row seats. Â Incredible view from our seats. Â I mean, it's not like it's The Herbst Theatre or anything, but the lighting was great, and the seating arrangement is really convenient (tables, not rows of chairs, so everyone basically gets an aisle seat).
The volunteers were friendly and it was a pretty laid-back atmosphere, although really sophisticated for a "community center." Â I will be back to see more of what this place offers (from what I understand, there's a lot going on here).
I used to be a gym fanatic and a gym snob. Â Now I have a kid and am carrying an extra 5 pounds around and I am not nearly as motivated to work out. Â However, that aside, the JCC is gorgeous and I am so glad I joined! Â The grounds are beautiful, the equipment new, the classes as good as the snobby gyms in the city (try kickboxing and spinning!), service is extremely friendly, and it is very clean. Â On a plus note, massages with Leah Rogers are exceptional. Â And every Sunday is family day! Â I can't wait to take advantage of the outdoor pool with the Luna girl this summer!
Review Source:I joined this gym a few months ago for the usual New Year's resolution reasons, and I'm glad I did. They just renovated and everything is new! I can't speak for the group classes, but the machines are great, with individual cable tvs on each to make that workout shorter.
It's a family affair, with people of all ages working out together, and that's not a bad thing -- kids are cute!
At the cafe, I really love the Chinese Chicken Salad, to replenish any freshly burned calories. Yum!!
I have to give this one a good rating. Â I grew up with it, and still sometimes drop by. Â This location is focused on an elderly crowd, so I do not recommend hitting it up on a Saturday night. Â It has a Brandeis school attached and a kick ass summer camp for kids that I used to work at, so bring your kids (if you have any).
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