Sports & Wellness

JCC Association forges relationships with national and international organizations and businesses for the benefit of JCC fitness facilities and children’s and youth departments. Partnerships with the NFL, NBA/WNBA, the Women’s Sports Foundation, Major League Soccer Camps, Krav Maga, Stott Pilates, and others enables JCCs to offer users a diverse and exciting array of programs. Program Partners is designed to help JCCs present the most up-to-date fitness and recreation programming to their users at reasonable cost.

Our Sports & Wellness department helps to create guidelines and program manuals, and acts as a resource for Sports & Wellness departments in Jewish Community Centers throughout North America. For more information about our programs, please contact Steve Becker at 212-786-5105 or send an e-mail.

Fitness Tip

Garlic May Ward Off More Than Vampires

Two reviews of studies examining the effects of garlic suggest that it is not only good for the heart, it may also help ward off stomach and colon cancers.

A review of 13 studies in the Annals of Internal Medicine concluded that garlic has a modest effect on cholesterol levels, generally reducing them by about four to six percent (or about 15.7 milligrams). But garlic may help the heart in other ways, such as reducing clotting tendencies.

Another review of 18 studies published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition concluded that garlic may have a protective effect against stomach and colorectal cancers, but it is not clear exactly how much garlic is needed or what form is most effective.

It probably isn't necessary to consume garlic every day; most researchers believe five cloves of raw or cooked garlic per week is sufficient.

The jury is still out on garlic supplements, which are more convenient (and less odorous), but may not offer the same benefits. Brought to you by American Council on Exercise

Alert! Rosh Hashanah Food Is Good for You

A new study suggests that apples and tomatoes may help prevent respiratory disease. Researchers in the United Kingdom studied 2,633 adults in 1991 and again in 2000 and found a link between the intake of apples and tomatoes and the subjects' respiratory health. Those who ate five apples or three tomatoes per week scored highest on a test that measured the amount of air a person can expel from the lungs in one second. Lead researcher Emma Broadfield and colleagues theorize that the high levels of antioxidants in these two foods may have a beneficial effect on lung function. So dip another apple in honey and take a second helping of that sweet-and-sour stuffed cabbage in tomato sauce. It’s good for you! Brought to you by American Council on Exercise

General Water Safety Tips from the American Red Cross

• Learn to swim. The best thing anyone can do to stay safe in and around the water is to learn to swim. Always swim with a buddy; never swim alone. The American Red Cross has swimming courses for people of any age and swimming ability, as do most JCCs.

• Swim in areas supervised by a lifeguard.
• Read and obey all rules and posted signs.
• Children or inexperienced swimmers should take precautions, such as wearing a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal floatation device (PFD) when around the water.
• Watch out for the dangerous “too’s” – too tired, too cold, too far from safety, too much sun, too much strenuous activity.
• Set water safety rules for the whole family based on swimming abilities (for example, inexperienced swimmers should stay in water less than chest deep).
• Be knowledgeable of the water environment you are in and its potential hazards, such as deep and shallow areas, currents, depth changes, obstructions and where the entry and exit points are located. The more informed you are, the more aware you will be of hazards and safe practices.
• Pay attention to local weather conditions and forecasts. Stop swimming at the first indication of bad weather.
• Use a feet-first entry when entering the water.
• Enter headfirst only when the area is clearly marked for diving and has no obstructions.
• Do not mix alcohol with swimming, diving or boating. Alcohol impairs your judgment, balance, and coordination, affects your swimming and diving skills, and reduces your body's ability to stay warm.
• Know how to prevent, recognize, and respond to emergencies.

Back to Departments page | Privacy policy | Contact us | Home