Exercising isn’t always easy, but that’s the point of it. Regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do – for brain health, to help manage weight, reduce the risk of disease, strengthen bones and muscles, and all this can improve your ability to do every day activities. Matt Hunter, Personal […]
You might hate to do these exercises, but you’ll love the results! Read More »
Holidays, especially Jewish Holidays, are not the best time to enforce a weight loss diet. Take Shavuot, which this year begins on the eve of Sunday, June 1, 2025. For reasons that some attribute to parsing of Jewish law and others, to a tradition that evolved amongst Eastern European Jews, dairy – cheese and one
Cheesecake – The Taste of Shavuot Read More »
Did you know there are no actual potatoes in Pringles? That’s right—just a mash-up of potato flakes, starch and additives shaped into chips. And Pringles aren’t alone. Next time you pick up a blueberry muffin or a cereal bar with berries, check the ingredients. Many of those “blueberries” are just flavored sugar bits dyed blue.
There Are No Potatoes in Pringles! Read More »
Exciting Renovations are nearing completion at the JCC Squirrel Hill! Lower Level Fitness Area Transformation – Completed! We have reimagined the lower level to bring you a fresh, functional, and inspiring workout space, featuring: • New equipment including additional squat racks, heavy bags and escape functional training equipment• Turf flooring and new sleds• New layout
JCC Fitness: Redefined Read More »
The middle of the Passover holiday, referred to as Hol Hamoed, is often a slower time at the JCC. It typically takes place during spring break and many of the young people who I am used to seeing every day for a variety of programs and activities are off with family and friends recharging for
JCC State of Mind: April 18, 2025 – Middle of Passover Hol Hamoed Read More »
What Doesn’t Kill You…Might Actually Make You Healthier (Especially if You Eat It) We’ve all heard the line: “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” It’s usually muttered after a tough workout, a rough breakup, or 45 minutes on hold with the cable company. While we recite that phrase without much thought, there’s deep biological
Whole Health Insights: What Doesn’t Kill You…Might Actually Make You Healthier Read More »
Many of you may know me as the resident Wellness Coach at the JCC, serving up recommendations on diet and activity, but I also worked as a leader in Corporate Health & Wellness and was always fascinated by psychology and human performance. I was so curious that I went on to study Leadership & Organizational
Whole Health Insights: Ready for a Mindset Reset? Read More »
The 42nd Award Celebration For information about the 2025 Event or Membership to the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, please contact us at our new email address [email protected] The Jewish Sports Hall of Fame will hold its 2025 Award Celebration: Sunday May 4, 20254 pm – Rodef Shalom SynagogueFor tickets, click HERE 2025 Inductees Local 2025
Jewish Sports Hall of Fame Western Pennsylvania 2025 Read More »
The holiday season is a magical time filled with joy, connection, and… stress eating! Between gift shopping, social events and that never-ending mountain of year-end work deadlines, it’s no wonder that stress levels skyrocket during these “festive” months. If you’ve ever found yourself reaching for cookies, candy, or just about anything in your line of
Whole Health Insights: Stress Eating Through the Holidays? Time to Break the Cycle. Read More »
Heroes in Jewish tradition play a significant role, embodying values, inspiring faith, and serving as moral exemplars. Unlike many cultures where heroes are celebrated for their physical prowess or conquests, Jewish heroes are often admired for their righteousness, wisdom, and commitment to G-d and the community. Jewish heroes serve as reminders of the power of
JCC State of Mind – December 6, 2024 Read More »
Most of us know our weight. But how many of us know our body’s balance of lean muscle, fat, and bone? Body composition is a far more meaningful measure of health and fitness, yet it’s the measurement that most people avoid. Admittedly, I was one of those avoiders! When I first faced the idea of
At the heart of our Jewish identity lies the belief in Kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh—all Jews are responsible for one another. This value is beautifully exemplified in the Partnership2Gether (P2G) program, a cornerstone initiative of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh that connects our Pittsburgh community with the people of Karmiel and Misgav in Israel and with members
JCC State of Mind – December 13, 2024 Read More »
This week’s message is written by Liza Baron, Director, Early Childhood Development As with most holidays, there are traditions associated with Thanksgiving. Things like eating turkey, playing football and gathering with family and loved ones are a few that come to mind for me. This is a space I enjoy being in, and I look forward to
JCC State of Mind – November 29, 2024 Read More »
This Thanksgiving holiday, I’m sure everyone is waiting for the wellness coach to lecture about healthy eating. Don’t worry, I am not going to warn you to avoid the pumpkin pie. (Good luck with that one.) But before we all dive into the turkey and debates, let’s take a moment to think about gratitude in
Whole Health Insights: Make Someone Happy This Thanksgiving Read More »
According to a Jewish midrash (Mechilta d’Rabbi Yishmael 14:22), when the Israelites stood at the banks of the Red Sea with Pharaoh’s army closing in, and while Moses was praying to G-d for help, Nachshon decided to take matters into his own hands and leapt into the sea. G-d then said to Moses something to
JCC State of Mind – November 22, 2024 Read More »
Pop Quiz- How many tabs are open on your device right now? Let me paint a picture for you: You sit down at your desk, ready to tackle a big project. Within minutes, you’ve checked email, replied to a random chat message, glanced at your phone, scrolled through a news feed, and—wait, what was I
Whole Health Insights: Where is Your Attention? Read More »
As members of this vibrant JCC community, each of us plays an integral role in creating the warmth, support, and connection that we all treasure. During times of change, growth, or even challenge, there’s a question we can ask ourselves that holds profound meaning and power: “How can I/we help?” Earlier this week, I saw
JCC State of Mind – November 15, 2024 Read More »
If I had a dollar for every time I’ve said “Knowing what to do and doing it are two different things!”… And, one thing that gets in the way of “doing” are habits. Habits and routines are powerful forces that we fall back on, particularly when we are tired or stressed. Take me, for example.
Whole Health Insights: Habits- It takes more than willpower to shake them! Read More »
Labor Day – Monday, Sept. 1: Fitness Centers Open 8 am-2 pm; Family Park Open 11 am-7 pm