Springfield Jewish Community Center Enhances Fitness Programs

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Jewish Community Center has announced some significant changes intended to add value for both new and current JCC fitness members.

The changes include converting a squash court into a new personal fitness studio, hiring an additional team of group fitness instructors as well as a new fitness director, initiating world-renowned Les Mills programming, and implementing a Fitness Introduction Training (FIT) program for new and current members. Other changes already in place include land and aquatic group fitness at no additional cost to JCC fitness members, and new equipment in the Katz Fitness Studio.

“At the JCC, we concern ourselves with healthy lifestyles,” said Stu Greene, director of Health and Physical Education. “Our mission states that we strive to enhance personal, social, and physical development. Through these new programs and renovation, we are empowering each member with the tools needed to develop health plans that work for them.”

Until recently, JCC fitness members paid extra for group fitness classes. Currently, JCC fitness members enjoy water and land group fitness classes with JCC instructors at no additional cost (excluding Jazzercise and cycling). They include water aerobics, swimnastics, pain-free pool exercise, over-55 fitness, aerobics, step and abs, super sculpt, cardio kickboxing, and sports conditioning.

For strength training, the JCC recently added free-range-of-motion equipment in the Katz Fitness Studio. The Star Trac Dual Adjustable Pulley provides hundreds of functional, integrated movement opportunities. Its unlimited high-low cable positioning combinations and extended cable travel offer both upper- and lower-body-oriented exercise options that can incorporate power and strength into any total body fitness regimen.

This fall, new and current members will be invited to participate in the FIT program. The first session will be an orientation on health and wellness benefits of fitness, overview of JCC tools that can help individuals reach their goals, physiology of aerobics, strength training and nutrition, and lifestyle of fitness. In the second session, individuals will receive body composition analysis as well as flexibility, strength, and aerobic evaluations. The third session is an aerobic session with a JCC trainer, and the fourth session is strength training with a JCC trainer. FIT allows members to take a proactive role in their individual health and fitness plan.

In addition to its Olympic-size pool, gymnasium, Katz Fitness Studio, cycling studio, and an air-conditioned group fitness studio, a renovation project is underway to convert a squash court into a personal fitness studio. This studio will have six stations of functional training equipment that allow participants to use their own range of motion. Small group training sessions will be offered in the personal fitness studio.

A new fitness director and a team of personal trainers will soon be hired. The fitness director will oversee all of the Springfield JCC studios, including the Katz Fitness Studio, the new personal fitness studio, the group fitness studio, and the cycling studio. The personal trainers will be on hand to offer additional one-on-one attention to JCC members.