This is an organization with principles, where no one is turned away for an inability to afford membership (which is determined on a sliding scale). A place to come to for a wide variety of classes - from yoga to swimming to senior sessions. Where kids are taken care of while you work out. A place that steroid-popping spandex freaks don't frequent as much.
I didn't think the Y really offered all that much until I went. I thought it'd be a facility with a kiddie pool and one treadmill we all had to share on rotation and with 72-hr advance reservation.
It's not. You won't find a swanky cafe for example, but they do offer massages. The equipment is kept very clean but it's probably not the uber-most top-of-the-line. You will find personal training options without the desperate sales pitch. There will also be more families and kids - which I like. Less of the psycho fitness addicts; more of the average Jane or Joe just trying to keep in shape.
As far as this particular location is concerned, I think it suffices, although I prefer the Y in Mesa if you're on the East side. The Tempe one feels somewhat...warehousey? A little spread out. I like the coziness of the Mesa facility. And I love that I can frequent more than one, by the way.
You can go to almost any YMCA with your membership (check website for details). I vaguely remember the 24 Hour Fitness jerk telling me (during a horrendous sales pitch - see review) that one had to pay more for such a privilege.
Not the Y. They make your effort to be fit and active affordable, simple, and stress-free.