Healthy Body, Healthy Brain

While the brain/body connection for practices like yoga is relatively clear, the link in other fitness modalities is no less important. All are about “consciously connecting how the brain is influenced by movement, or the reverse,” says Chapman.

Nia is a cross-training practice that creates agility in body and mind; MELT is a self-treatment technique that improves muscle balance and timing while “rehydrating” connective tissue, says Caroline Kohles, the JCC’s senior program director of health and wellness. Z-Health classes boost balance and vision by strengthening the signals from our eyes and ears to our brain.

“These programs have shown me that…even the aging brain can learn new things and grow. Movement and keeping engaged is key to brain stimulation,” says Joanne Edgar, 74, who has taken Nia, MELT, and yoga classes and participated in the JCC’s women’s triathlon program..

The emphasis on the brain/body link culminated at the JCC's annual Fall Open House, held in September 2017 in partnership with the Dana Foundation and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medicine. Over 600 people attended classes that demonstrated the direct impact of fitness on brain function. In a panel moderated by Margaret I. Cuomo, M.D., a radiologist and author of A World WIthout Cancer, top neurologists discussed why creativity, sleep, and training our attention spans are key to brain health.

By focusing on emerging research, Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan is able to continue offering programs that reflect the needs of the community. “The brain is the new frontier,” says Kohles. While much remains unknown, “we are committed to providing opportunities to learn from leaders in brain science as well as enjoy workouts that enhance brain health—all under the same roof.”

Sherri Lerner is the former editorial director at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan. She has written and edited for numerous publications and is currently on the staff of the Wechsler Center.