J Blog

The boards are here, the instructors are trained, now we just need YOU to practice your surf moves! Join us for demo days where you can learn the basic moves from our instructors out on the boards. 

Thursday, Aug 2 | 5:00 PM-7:00 PM 
Sunday, Aug 5 | 8:30 AM-10:30 AM

These are come and go, take some time in the pool to learn how to get on the board, stand up, work the paddle, and balance. We will have music playing and instructors ready to help.  Meet us outside by the BAS pool. 

As some of you may remember, we were days away from putting on our first Oy Vey! 5k Family Fun Run at Godwin Park in Meyerland when Hurricane Harvey hit our city last year. Obviously, the J, the City of Houston and especially the community of Meyerland were in no position to even consider hosting such an event at that time.

While we made some attempts to reschedule the event, we never felt confident about the timing. Nearly a year later, our community is coming back to life, and it's the perfect time to bring this event back to life also!

On June 24-July 1 we will be hosting an event to participate with other JCCs to connect to and cycle along with the Jewish community in Krakow.  We will be hosting two book end cycle classes of 55 minutes to mark the occasion as well as times to use the spin studio on your own to complete your own 55 mile ride all week to honor the JCC Krakow. 

On Thursday mornings at 5:30 AM or 6:05 AM, come to the Fitness Center to take our new class, Express HIIT. 

What is HIIT?

HIIT stands for High Intensity Interval Training. Basically, work your booty off in intervals for maximum benefit. We will work in bursts of energy and short bursts of rest for a short amount of time.

This type of work out is well suited for all fitness levels and modifications, and you are expected to work 80-90% of your max. The workouts are efficient because you burn a high amount of calories in a short amount of time. 

The Splash 'n Dash, benefiting Justins TRIumph Over GAN, an organization that raises funds and awareness for Giant Axonal Neuropathy (GAN), was held on Sunday, May 6 at the J. The event was organized for kids aged 7-15:  7-10 year olds swim 100m and run 1/2 mile, and 11-15 year olds swim 200m and run one mile. 

The J hosted the event, race packet pick up and provided lifeguards. One very determined child and his mother shared their experience with us: 

Summer is almost here and with the Outdoor Pool now open weekends, it’s time to think about preparing your child to pass the swim test.  All swimmers under the age of 18 must pass the test, which allows them to use any area of any pool past the 3 ft. depth marker rope line. 

It’s fairly common for kids to have the jitters about passing the swim test, especially if they haven’t been in a pool since last summer. 

To help our young swimmers build their confidence and review the skills needed to pass the test, we’re offering a NEW Swim Test Class beginning May 22. The class will be offered on Tuesdays & Thursdays from 4:15 PM—4:45 PM or from 4:45 PM—5:15 PM for four sessions. 

This Memorial Day our Fitness Center will host an outdoor Murph Challenge and an indoor circuit workout for all who want to participate.

In honor of Memorial Day, athletes across the world complete a “Murph” to honor our service men and women.

The workout itself is designed to honor a specific lieutenant named Lt. Michael P. Murphy. He put himself into the line of fire to save his team and call for back up.

From May 15-31 we are challenging you to a 500m row challenge.  As a Fitness Center member and exercise enthusiast, challenge yourself to beat your best time and the times of others while rowing, perfecting your form and getting some quality work in. 

The winners will be announced after the end of the challenge, so keep rowing until you get a time you are happy with. We will keep track of them at the Fitness Center front desk. 

Walking into a new gym can be an overwhelming experience: so many machines, big dudes by the dumbbells, and what the heck is that contraption that looks like I could break a limb trying to use?!

At our Fitness Center, we are holding periodic challenges to get our members interested and educated in the different machines and offerings we have, while upping that competitive spirit! The month of May will lead off with a 500m row challenge on our new skill row machines. The world record for the fastest 500m row is 1 minute and 14 seconds. 

While choosing new equipment for the Fitness Center at the J, Director Robin Fortenberry wanted to ensure we had a wide range of functional fitness equipment.  We want to keep members engaged and educated on all that we have to offer.  We held demonstrations on Sunday, March 25 on the new Escape equipment located in the far back corner of the fitness center floor.  Trainers Vince and Ulises showcased their training styles while incorporating the new pieces with functional exercises.