J Blog

Contributions by Caitlin Cecil, Health and Fitness Coordinator

As is the case with so many things in our lives today, people are turning to online assistance when it comes to weight loss and fitness. Who among us hasn't typed in key search words such as "building muscle," "toning arms, butts and legs," "best ab workout" or "quick weight loss.” In fact, "how to lose weight" is in the top 10 of most asked questions online and is searched online about 1,300 times a day.

Along with an overwhelming amount of nutritional information, that may or may not be accurate, there are countless programs and workouts that can be found online. As you filter through search results, it's difficult to know what is legitimate and what can actually work for you. Below are some guidelines  you can use as you search for the right fitness program. 

When I was first offered the marketing internship at the J, I was ecstatic. A summer job in my field of study? Yes, please. However, I did have one small concern: what were the people like? I attend a religious college where there, ironically, isn’t a very accepting and loving sense of community. I was worried that this would also be true at the J but, within the first week, I was gladly proven wrong.

In the 1920s, Joseph Pilates introduced his method of exercise to help injured athletes and dancers return to fitness and health. In today’s fitness world, many places offer Pilates, but may not appear to offer the foundation that J. Pilates had in mind. 

It is overwhelming with the number of studios, boutiques and formats to choose from. Pilates is for people of all ages, backgrounds, and is as much a mental workout as it is a physical one. Concentration is important, as is form while slowly repeating the movements.   

My son has graduated from Pre-K like his sister before him, and our seven years at BAS are coming to an end. I am overwhelmed with emotion at the thought that next year we won't be returning to BAS as a family.

That, as a part of the BAS community, we have experienced our very last drop off and pick up. That I can no longer take secret joy in absorbing all of the beautiful creations that decorate the walls of the hallway and the doors of the classrooms. That my children will no longer be protected by the loving arms of the people we have together trusted and loved, cried on and celebrated with. That we will no longer see those cherished faces that we have confided in and collaborated with.

When I was younger I enjoyed drawing horses and tried out watercolors and colored pencils at one point, but never really had the time to take classes and develop my skills. I’ve always enjoyed looking at art work and photographs of plants and animals and dreamed of creating beautiful images myself. Last fall I started in the Studio Painting class with Susan Wingfield as the teacher.

Seasons and celebrations always seem to have a relationship with food. With summer being the most popular season for BBQs, picnics, weddings, graduations and, of course, travel vacations, there are plenty of opportunities to make poor food choices and overeat.

Here are some tips to enjoy your summer while maintaining a healthy weight.

Volunteers like Michael Brown sustain the Meals on Wheels program at the J. With the summer here, many of our regular volunteers go on vacation, and our local homebound seniors still need their daily hot meal and a friendly face. We need regular volunteers just as much as we need a casual volunteer to come help once or twice each month.

Michael shares his rewarding experience about the program.

The slower summer months are the perfect time to try a new class or return to the dance classes of your childhood. Ballet and tap are two disciplines that many learned as children and now seek the opportunity to revisit as adults.

We offer beginner through intermediate/advanced adult dance classes. Join instructors Sofia Aranha for ballet and Dorena Battaglino and Cathy Marmolejo for tap.

Whose Side Will You Take to Get in Shape?
In the spirit of summer competition, our next fitness challenge, Trainer vs. Trainer, starts next week. Angela and Ulises face off in a challenge to get you in beach body shape in no time. Once you choose your team, either Team Angela or Team Ulises, you can choose to train with your group either once or twice a week for the duration of the challenge.

The educators never stop learning at the Bertha Alyce School! Much like the children they teach, these educators never stop spreading their enthusiasm as they make new discoveries and grow in their abilities. With a culture emphasizing continuous professional development and collaboration, it is a natural next step that the educators of Bertha Alyce will now be educating professionals from across the nation.