J Blog

If one of your goals for the New Year is to start an exercise program or if you are looking to return to the gym after a long layoff, plan to start small. Check out this 10-exercise workout from our Fitness Director, Robin Fortenberry.

It’s the time of year where so many of us set out with the best intentions on making significant changes in our lives in the form of a New Year’s Resolution. Statistics show that an overwhelming majority of these resolutions are not successful. One of the main reasons for the lack of success is not taking the time to create a plan. Here are some simple tips to help increase your chances for success.

Most of us are ready to put the year 2020 behind us and move on to a more hopeful 2021. Don't wait for 2021 to make those small changes and most importantly, stay positive and don't get discouraged with set backs.

For the purpose of this article, flexibility has nothing to do with yoga, Pilates or gymnastics. It has everything to do with taking a different approach than your normal way of accomplishing goals and overcoming set-backs. The definition of flexibility is "the quality of bending easily without breaking". While this the definition is in the physical sense, I feel that it is relevant with what our society has been dealing with and for what may be to come. We want to bend, change and adapt but not to the point of simply giving up. The real key is to be cognitively flexible in order to improve your ability to create options.

So many changes have come about since this past spring...

The following article is by Certified Personal Trainer Ellen Goren. Ellen has worked for the J nearly five years helping clients of all ages meet their fitness goals. Below is just a short recap of Ellen’s transformation to fitness and her dedication to working with others.

The other day I was training a client who said, “I never used to be able to lift the heavy bags of mulch into my car by myself before. Today I told the sales clerk...

We are pleased to announce that members will be able to enjoy Pickleball and Recreational Basketball at the Merfish Teen Center (9000 S. Rice) starting Sunday, November 1. Please continue to the full blog post for further details. 

Tennis is a great sport that challenges us on multiple levels. It is a great tool for stress relief as well. Tennis can be played by anyone no matter their age or ability.

The fact that tennis is a non-contact sport played on a 78-foot long court makes tennis the ideal sport for social distancing. In fact, the Texas Medical Association came out with a risk chart, and listed tennis at a level 2 with 1 being the safest and 10 being the least safe activity to participate in during these trying times. It's socially rewarding while being socially distant.

Read our Director of Fitness Services, Robin Fortenberry's, update on new Group Exercise classes and protocols, changes to our water exercise class schedule and information about our outdoor pool schedule as we head into the fall season. 

In Memory of Dr. Charles Hurwitz

A long and healthy life. When I hear that phrase, the person that comes to my mind is Dr. Charles Hurwitz. In my first year as Director of Fitness Services, I had the pleasure of meeting Charles. At that time he was a bit of a celebrity at the J, mostly because of his age. Charles was just over 102 years old at that time and had been a member of the J for 20 years, regularly working out three times a week.

Fencing is one of the oldest sports, dating back to the very first Olympic Games in Athens in 1896. Its popularity in the U.S. is increasing, becoming the new "It" sport for kids. And while it may look easy, fencing is not only a great workout, it also builds your mental muscles as well. 

So why should you and your kids try fencing?