Very Warm water pool/hot tub with daily charge, not yearly

**phillysleuth** · 10-04-2010, 01:05 PM

I have arthritis, degenerative disc disease and a few other problems which would benefit from being in warm water (not just a shower or bath). I'm really sensitive to cold water and need a temperature much higher than any pool I've tried locally (center city and nearby), except for the Sheraton Hotel near 2nd, and they only allow hotel guests and members to use it. There is also a city pool, Carousel House, on Belmont Ave, which actually is free if you qualify, but I have to confess to being put off by the cleanliness. Are there any other facilities anyone can think of? Every lap pool I've ever been in has been too cold for me, so it would probably have to be a place that is geared for either elderly/disabled/rehab crowd. Since I already have a gym membership, I can't afford another full membership in a different place that I won't use that much,maybe once or twice a week, so I'm running out of ideas.

Thanks.

**phillycat** · 10-04-2010, 01:38 PM

have you tried this place? it's a bit of a drive, but very clean and has hot tubs and saunas. Russian Baths - Turkish Baths - Russian Bath - Turkish Bath - Philadelphia (PA) - Southampton SPA

**Sycamore** · 10-04-2010, 01:41 PM

Many YMCAs and gyms out this way have therapy pools (warm, shallow pools). I would start calling around those kinds of places.

**Marty B.** · 10-05-2010, 12:02 PM

Most lap pools are kept within a standard temp range which I doubt is high enough for your needs.

The Sporting Club at the Bellevue has "whirlpools, steamrooms and saunas" according to their site, though I understand they are also one of the more expensive fitness centers in the city. That said, most health/fitness clubs do offer a "daily rate" if you really don't want to pay for a full membership. I don't know if the YMCA's in the city have therapy pools, but I agree you should follow up Sycamore's suggestion as a Y would be your most affordable option.

**phillysleuth** · 10-05-2010, 01:07 PM

sounds interesting but too far to drive in my condition.

Originally Posted by phillycat

have you tried this place? it's a bit of a drive, but very clean and has hot tubs and saunas. Russian Baths - Turkish Baths - Russian Bath - Turkish Bath - Philadelphia (PA) - Southampton SPA

**phillysleuth** · 10-05-2010, 01:11 PM

Where is "out this way?" I haven't checked many Ys, but I vaguely remember Ardmore (too far to be practical) only had a lap pool. Not sure about Roxborough, which would be much closer, but I do remember their lap pool was freezing [to me]. I'll check around in Philly but I have not encountered any place with any kind of pool that allowed a daily rate so far.

Originally Posted by Sycamore

Many YMCAs and gyms out this way have therapy pools (warm, shallow pools). I would start calling around those kinds of places.

**phillysleuth** · 10-05-2010, 01:18 PM

I agree about the temperature setting of lap pools. Lap swimmers generate enough heat that they complain if the water is too warm.

I had some PT long ago at the Sporting Club and they had a variety of pools,some of which would be very comfortable, but unless things have changed, I don't remember any daily rate (however outrageous). The club associated with the Sheraton Hotel near 2nd wouldn't go for the idea. I could be making a mistake to assume, but I don't think the Jewish Y's, either in center city or out towards Wynnwood allow daily use either. The hotels generally charge something like $10 for guests to use their facilities, but that's not going to help me. Time to drag out the phone book.

Originally Posted by Marty B.

Most lap pools are kept within a standard temp range which I doubt is high enough for your needs.

The Sporting Club at the Bellevue has "whirlpools, steamrooms and saunas" according to their site, though I understand they are also one of the more expensive fitness centers in the city. That said, most health/fitness clubs do offer a "daily rate" if you really don't want to pay for a full membership. I don't know if the YMCA's in the city have therapy pools, but I agree you should follow up Sycamore's suggestion as a Y would be your most affordable option.

**Sycamore** · 10-05-2010, 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by phillysleuth

Where is "out this way?" I haven't checked many Ys, but I vaguely remember Ardmore (too far to be practical) only had a lap pool. Not sure about Roxborough, which would be much closer, but I do remember their lap pool was freezing [to me]. I'll check around in Philly but I have not encountered any place with any kind of pool that allowed a daily rate so far.

Everyone's location (if provided) is listed to the top right of each of their posts. Mine says Chadds Ford. So, that's where "out this way is."

I know that the West Chester and Middletown YMCAs have a therapy pool, as done the Springfield Healthplex. Or, you can have your doctor send you to aquatherapy, and you can use the therapy center's therapy pool.

**Reader** · 10-05-2010, 07:09 PM

In the interest of full disclosure, I am a Y employee. Not sure what your location is, but the Philadelphia Association has Ys in the city at Broad & Master, 52nd & Chestnut, 17th & Christian, and in NE Philly, Abington, Ambler, Ardmore, Hatboro, Roxborough, and Media. Our lap pools most likely won't be ideal for you (most are 84-86 degrees). There are therapy pools at Rocky Run in Media and the Ambler YMCA. Abington YMCA's pool is also kept slightly warmer than the normal lap pool, but I don't think it's as warm as a therapy pool. BTW, one membership includes access to all the locations, but nobody offers a "pool only" membership, so I don't know if that is an option for you since you already belong to a gym.
We allow 3 guest visits at $10 per day or a one-week free trial per year with a photo id, but after that you do have to join. There are different membership rates depending on age, income, etc, and we work with a lot of health insurance providers to offer other benefits. PM me if you have other questions about specific locations.

**phillysleuth** · 10-05-2010, 11:09 PM

Sorry, I didn't notice the top right of the posts, just the top left. I'm very limited in how far I can drive, so must stay in the center city and very near suburbs. I'm probably going to need aquatherapy for a whole range of conditions, so maybe I can find a city therapy center with a warm enough pool if I can't find anything else.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Originally Posted by Sycamore

Everyone's location (if provided) is listed to the top right of each of their posts. Mine says Chadds Ford. So, that's where "out this way is."

I know that the West Chester and Middletown YMCAs have a therapy pool, as done the Springfield Healthplex. Or, you can have your doctor send you to aquatherapy, and you can use the therapy center's therapy pool.

**phillysleuth** · 10-05-2010, 11:12 PM

Thanks for the information, but you're correct that the lap pool temps are too cool for me, and most of those Ys are beyond my driving range. I live in the Fairmount section of Philadelphia.

Originally Posted by Reader

In the interest of full disclosure, I am a Y employee. Not sure what your location is, but the Philadelphia Association has Ys in the city at Broad & Master, 52nd & Chestnut, 17th & Christian, and in NE Philly, Abington, Ambler, Ardmore, Hatboro, Roxborough, and Media. Our lap pools most likely won't be ideal for you (most are 84-86 degrees). There are therapy pools at Rocky Run in Media and the Ambler YMCA. Abington YMCA's pool is also kept slightly warmer than the normal lap pool, but I don't think it's as warm as a therapy pool. BTW, one membership includes access to all the locations, but nobody offers a "pool only" membership, so I don't know if that is an option for you since you already belong to a gym.
We allow 3 guest visits at $10 per day or a one-week free trial per year with a photo id, but after that you do have to join. There are different membership rates depending on age, income, etc, and we work with a lot of health insurance providers to offer other benefits. PM me if you have other questions about specific locations.

**toxigal** · 10-08-2010, 10:41 AM

Originally Posted by Reader

In the interest of full disclosure, I am a Y employee. Not sure what your location is, but the Philadelphia Association has Ys in the city at Broad & Master, 52nd & Chestnut, 17th & Christian, and in NE Philly, Abington, Ambler, Ardmore, Hatboro, Roxborough, and Media. Our lap pools most likely won't be ideal for you (most are 84-86 degrees). There are therapy pools at Rocky Run in Media and the Ambler YMCA. Abington YMCA's pool is also kept slightly warmer than the normal lap pool, but I don't think it's as warm as a therapy pool. BTW, one membership includes access to all the locations, but nobody offers a "pool only" membership, so I don't know if that is an option for you since you already belong to a gym.
We allow 3 guest visits at $10 per day or a one-week free trial per year with a photo id, but after that you do have to join. There are different membership rates depending on age, income, etc, and we work with a lot of health insurance providers to offer other benefits. PM me if you have other questions about specific locations.

hey! i have two questions for a nice Y employee:

1) do any of the philly area Y's have an MS program. as you may (or may not) know people with MS have pretty much an opposite need..pools that are not kept too warm (ideally it needs to be <85). overheating can exaccerbate MS symptoms. In baltimore there was one Y that had an MS program so their pool was great!

2)does the philly Y allow non-members to pay for individual classes. again, in philly i could pay to just take a specific aquatics class, but that does not seem to be an option in philly.

**Reader** · 10-11-2010, 06:57 PM

Originally Posted by toxigal

hey! i have two questions for a nice Y employee:

1) do any of the philly area Y's have an MS program. as you may (or may not) know people with MS have pretty much an opposite need..pools that are not kept too warm (ideally it needs to be <85). overheating can exaccerbate MS symptoms. In baltimore there was one Y that had an MS program so their pool was great!

2)does the philly Y allow non-members to pay for individual classes. again, in philly i could pay to just take a specific aquatics class, but that does not seem to be an option in philly.

Unfortunately, the answer is no to both questions. We do offer a an Arthritis Aquatics program through the Arthritis Foundation that I know individuals with MS utilize. The water temperature in most of the lap pools should be pretty good for you, though. (Arthritis Foundation recommends 84-88, so we're always right on the bottom edge of their range). I personally know several folks w/ MS who use the pool at the 17th and Christian Y and are pretty happy with the temperature.
In terms of the second question, the membership rates include access to all classes. The guest pass or 1 week trial I mentioned before does include access to the classes, so you are welcome to try them before you decide. We used to do a pay by class option, but that was eliminated about 5 years ago. We found there were very few adults using that option, and most actually did better with the flat monthly fee than the drop in option.