Best Place to Be a Part of Something Good, Plus Get Pumped

It's not only for the young, nor is it exclusively for men, nor is it particularly Christian, and it may not even be an association anymore. But really, the Embarcadero Y has just about everything a gymgoer could want: weights, racquetball, swimming, spinning, aerobics, dance classes, yoga, martial arts, basketball, volleyball, indoor soccer, personal trainers, plus community programs -- from summer camp to the Y's private, non-tuition Youth Chance High School -- that you just don't find at for-profit health clubs. For those who want to make a difference, volunteer opportunities abound. Or, if you'd rather focus on more personal matters, four floors of top-quality equipment mean the only thing between you and those killer abs is a lot of hard work.