Ohio Jewish Chronicle, 1991-01-17

              I
ft
i i
I (i
!
\
I'
, I
r
'1
!?
THF
JL JL J.JLi
The Ohio Jewish Chronicle
,   ,  Serving Columbus and Central Ohio
Jewish Community for Over 60 Years
VOLUME 69
NUMBER 3
JANUARY 17, 1991
2 SHEVAT 5751
DEVOTED   TO   AMERICAN   AND   JEWISH   IDEAtS
Telethons to contact
2,500, Jan. 20-24
h  %%
page 2
Community College
Winter Semester opens
. page2
The center is holding
' '-- <:; " \   • page 3
'Shlock Rock' coming
to central Ohio     ;
page4
Rabbi to address
reform jews
pagM
NCJW members to
see 'Fitness Fashions5
page 5
Mission participants
brief news media   ]
page 12
mmmm In The Chronicle ■■■■
'    At TaW JC#V#   j. . . . ,«,.,«».... , * « „ 4 < < »   il1
; Community ... .".'V. :\. r,,".'..'».'.. 4-6
-, Federation "...>.'.»._..;'. v....7,."..,,.}\..'. 12
FrontPage  ,,.,,,.,... I .-.*_;,,..%>»._,.',,»,j', 2
^Xjiecyclc*,».••»_« * «._♦«».■...«. ^«• »**•»»"•«•» »'"
Marketplace '....'..,;" ♦.; -. i«;...,'. 7
' New Generation ..,..',.„, * V.. .• s.'i,,;. ♦ f,'. ,10 ;
- Synagogues '.....'«{]......•*s"1,.. .V, .;..,*.,..8
' Viewpoint  ...'..,■£,';< '..v. 3
',!«,' -   ,/.<     •    ., ■ "~ „'"';Vv ' \'*v    *■*.'"■' ,'
Oh i o  Hast. Soca et y   L 3 bi •
l'.)G£  Vnlm<;t  five.
Co.). urn buy,
4351 1
Dh i o
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
'Wellness* goal of LYJCC programs
By Ina Horwitz
Most health clubs sell "fitness," but at the Leo Yassenoff Jewish Community Center,
their 28 fitness classes for tots
to seniors encompass an area
they call "Wellness." And that
doesn't include all the swimming and recreational activities in which a member can
participate, such as racquetball, basketball, volleyball
andsoccer. ;* ■_■■■
The Wellness programs run
the range from physically
educating people recovering
from a heart attack to having
personal trainers prepare an
individual for a triathlon.
Laura Sussman, director of
Recreation and Wellness, and
Susan McDowell, Wellness coordinator, agree that program-wise, the Center offers
something for everybody and
"that's what makes it so
unique. The whole family can
come over on a Sunday afternoon and find fitness activities
that they can do together. It
truly enhances a family's lifestyle."
A Jewish Center member
has access to the gym; pool,
including the outdoor pool during-the summer season; two
workout rooms — one with
free weights and one multistation area which has universal machines and a variety of
exercise bikes.
With an additional membership in the JCC Health Center,
one can use the Nautilus
equipment, electronic or aerobic bicycles, Iifecycles and
Stairmasters, which simulate
the activity of stair climbing.
There are televisions placed
strategically in the workout
rooms and health centers.
"It's an outside stimulation
that keeps your mind off
working out when you are indeed working out," according
to Sussman.
The locker rooms of the
men's and women's health
centers each have their own
whirlpool, sauna and steam
room and there is always an
attendant on duty. Additional
member services are offered
such as massages and from
time to time, special services,
such as blood pressure screenings and diet consultation.
"I think that we have the
most complete recreational
and fitness facility in Columbus and some of the best
trained staff in the city," said
Sussman. "Some Ohio health
clubs are strictly fitness oriented, whereas we are more
community and family oriented. What can be frustrating is
that some people still don't
seem to know that we exist."
This month, the JCC Wellness and Recreation Division
is promoting its health facilities by opening them up, by
appointment, to the general
public. "We'll try to invite as
many people as we can accommodate," said Sussman.
"A certain camaraderie also exists here," added McDowell "Members come not
just to work out, but to stay in
touch with each other. We
know many by name and will
ask them how they are doing.
This personal touch is important for members and staff
alike."
Because programs are so
plentiful, individuals have the
advantage of working out as
early as 6 a.m. or as late as 11
p.m. most days of the week.
The Wellness Program currently has seven instructors
for fitness and aerobics
classes. They all have a background in exercise physiology
(how a person's body responds to exercise.) "A member can work with an instructor on a one-to-one basis," said
McDowell "We're not just a
facility where you do your own
thing and leave. Regardless of
your needs and goals, an individual can come to the Center
and those needs and goals will
be met."
One of the most popular programs, according to Sussman,
is Swimnastics. It is mostly a
walking program, in which 40
to 50 seniors currently participate. The resistance of the water is used for toning and getting the heart rate up without
the need to worry about loss of
balance. It is designed to improve range of motion, flexibility and muscular strength.
This program is being expanded from three to five days
a week and will include two
different levels — light and
advanced. These classes are
being taught by Jean Zahoruj-
ko, an Arthritis Foundation
certified instructor.
Another program being
highlighted at the Center is
Teen Conditioning for ages 13 .
to 17. "At that age," said McDowell, "teenagers can harm
themselves if they don't work
out in safety. This activity can
help them with a specif ic sport
at school and/or just help
them get into shape."
All class members develop
their own individual activity.
After completing a safety orientation, participants will receive a card enabling them to
use the weight room and general conditioning room. Children under 18 are currently
not allowed to use the weight
room at the Center.
Three new programs added
to the 1991 schedule are adaptive aerobics, senior strength
class and children's aerobics.
Adaptive aerobics is set up for
the mentally retarded and de-
velopmentally disabled, and
participants are first required
to get permission from a physician to join. It is structured
to improve their flexibility,
strength and aerobic capacity.
"The regular aerobic
classes are too fast paced for
individuals with special
needs," said McDowell. "This
class will slow the activities
down and allow them to get into a proper conditioning program."
The senior strength class is
a combination of exercise and
stretching. Its purpose is to
improve a senior's capability
of performing everyday activities, such a picking up a
grandchild or throwing a ball.
Children's Aerobics is for
ages she to ten. "By giving the
children a good outlook on fitness," said McDowell, "it improves their body awareness
so that they can grow up
thinking fitness is fun, in addition to being good for you. We
feel it is important to realize
the need for fitness early in
life."
The Center also offers a
Cardiac Rehabilitation Program, "which is the largest
phase three program in Columbus," said Sussman. The
class is for people who have
already gone through a monitored program. The individuals are supervised but not
mechanically monitored on
EKG's. It is designed to assist
persons with a cardiovascular
disease in their recovery toward a healthier lifestyle.
Other classes that help
round out the Wellness Program include: aerobic coed
energizing fitness classes,
Forever Young exercises, personal trainer programs,
"Heart Saver" CPR classes,
Infant and Child CPR (especially for parents), L'Chaim
Club (membership is based on
reaching various fitness
goals), smoking cessation,
weight loss programs and
classes for those suffering
from low back problems.
"Three years ago, our pith
grams were called physical
education classes," said Sussman. "Obviously, it is not just
that at all anymore. We wanted to change our image so we
changed our name to 'Wellness.' "
Erika Reichek, 23, a new
member of the program appears to echo this statement
"I like the social atmtisphere
as well as keeping in shape. It
gives me self-confidence. I
have more energy and feel
better, both physically and
mentally," she said.
With the Center's programs
emphasizing mental and
physical fitness, good health
and safety, "Wellness" seems
to be a good term to describe
the Health Center's objectives
as they move into the decade
of the'90s.
Ina Horwitz is a local freelance writer.
S^WH^ajftag^fc^^ajS^^