Health and Fitness

On September 8, the OFJCC’s very own Membership Manager Stephanie N. completed her third Spartan Beast race in Seattle! She tells us what got her into the race in the first place and what it means to her. Spartan racing is obstacle course racing. The Spartan Beast is 13-15 miles of rugged...

Getting healthy or losing weight are the two most common New Year’s resolutions that people make each year but research shows that only eight percent of people actually achieve their New Year’s goals. Why do so many people miss the mark? Master Trainer Jorge G. Contreras at the Goldman Sports...

In honor of National Bike Month, Antoinette Rose, MD, internal medicine physician and the volunteer captain of the Oshman Family JCC Expresso Bike Team, takes a moment to explain the program’s appeal and why her team is in the lead of the JCC Expresso Bike Challenge. OFJCC: What are Expresso bikes? Dr....

OFJCC Staffer Andrea Longini opens up about overcoming her fear of biking in time for Bike to Work Day. As part of National Bike Month, tomorrow, May 11, is Bay Area Bike to Work Day. Local bicycle advocacy groups are asking folks to dust off their old iron steed and take...

OFJCC Specialized Trainer Joe Kelso describes how he trained himself for long distance running with a shift in philosophy. In 2005, I saw a podiatrist for my inflamed Achilles tendon. At the time, I had been running 10ks and half marathons, but my goal was to run full marathons and...

OFJCC Garden Pedagogista Debbie Togliatti ponders the impact of small actions in the big scheme of things. It’s the eve of Earth Day, and I’m wondering how people will choose to honor the one day out of the year when we devote ourselves to thinking about our planet and/or taking action...

OFJCC yoga instructor Betty Strain shares her 50 year journey with the practice of yoga and advises us to keep going from her vantage point at 83. My philosophy is to not sit around doing nothing—get out and do something! As my mother used to say with her accent, “You...

OFJCC member Rose Hagan shares her journey to better health with Specialized Trainer Joe Kelso. When I started working out with Joe Kelso, I was at least 20 pounds overweight and had plantar fasciitis and a bad knee. I couldn’t run for three minutes on the treadmill and had a...

As a trainer, I strive to make a positive change in my clients’ lives, from their physical health to their emotional and mental well-being. I can help people tone their muscles, get in good cardiovascular shape and even lose body fat, but I believe if I can help a person...

To be fair, I had no idea what I was getting into when I picked up surfing.  The first time a six foot wave slapped my face, it was enough to make me reconsider my commitment to my new hobby.  After all, getting up at the crack of dawn, paddling...