Fitness Center Update as of June 1st

As the COVID-19 positivity rate in New York continues to remain low, we are excited to be adapting our COVID-19 guidelines, albeit cautiously. As you review our information, please consider that the population of the JCC includes young children, older adults, and everyone in between. We ask everyone to be considerate of those you come in contact with.
 
As of June 1st:

• When arriving at the JCC, before entering the building, you will still be required to complete a daily wellness checklist and temperature check.
• Fitness Center and indoor Group Exercise class capacity are based on keeping a distance of 6 feet between members. We ask that members continue to respect this policy.
• Masks must be worn throughout the building, but once inside the Fitness Center or when taking an indoor Group Exercise class, they may be removed ONLY if you are vaccinated and have shown proof. Upon showing acceptable proof of vaccination, including vaccination card or NYS Excelsior Pass Wallet app, at either desk, you will receive a sticker to place on your key fob/membership ID. You will be asked to show your sticker once inside the Fitness Center and/or indoor Group Exercise class if you choose to remove your mask.
• Reservations for the Fitness Center are no longer required.
• Reservations for Group Exercise are still required to attend. Classes are being added during the day and at night and continue to be available both indoors and outdoors. Click here for the schedule.
• The Basketball Gymnasium will now be available for open play. Masks must be worn as this is a close contact sport and 6 feet distance cannot always be maintained. No more than 6 people per basket is allowed. Click here for the schedule and policies.
• Key fobs/ID cards are mandatory in order to use the facility. You must swipe both in and out of the Fitness Center and facility so that contact tracing can be conducted in the event of a COVID case.
• We are excited to announce expanded Fitness Center hours as of June 1st:
  • Monday – Thursday: 6am – 1:30pm 

                                                    1:30pm – 2:30pm Cleaning Break 
                                                    2:30pm – 9pm

• Friday: 6am – 1:30pm 

                     1:30pm – 2:30pm Cleaning Break 
                     2:30pm – 6:30pm

• Saturday & Sunday: 8am – 2pm

Although we are maintaining a midday cleaning break, we still ask that members clean the equipment after use.

• All policies and procedures for the Indoor Pool remain in place. We are pleased to offer extended hours as of June 1st:
  • Monday – Thursday: 6am – 9:30pm
  • Friday: 6am – 5:45pm
  • Saturday & Sunday: 7am – 1:45pm

• Showers and lockers will be available for use. As in the Fitness Center, we will leave disinfectant to spray down the shower handles and inside lockers before and after use.
• Water fountains, towel service, sauna, steam, and jacuzzi will remain closed.

We remain committed to the health and safety of all who enter our facilities, and our policies will continue to evolve as guidance changes. We appreciate your commitment to our JCC and look forward to seeing you at and in the Fitness Center, Group Exercise classes and Indoor Pool!

On Monday, September 14, the Fitness Center at the Bernikow Building reopened in accordance with State and City regulations.* We can't wait to welcome you back to the JCC, where our staff and facility are ready for our members to return safely!
 
Our facilities and hours have been modified to create a safe and healthy environment for all. The fitness center will run at 33% capacity and will close once an hour for cleaning and sanitizing.

The Fitness Center at the Bernikow Building is open to active WellPro, Wellness, and Program Members only. Reservations are required to use the facility. Please note that the following facilities and services remain closed: Avis/South Shore Fitness Center, indoor pool, group ex classes, basketball gymnasiums, sauna, steam, jacuzzi, showers, towel service, spa, and babysitting.
 
It is important that you follow all of our protocols, as we have a zero-tolerance policy to ensure safety. Make sure to check back frequently, as protocols may change based on new guidelines from the government. 

As of January 1, 2021, in order to use the Fitness Center, your membership must be active. If you froze your membership with a membership extension from October–December 2020, it has restarted as of January 1st.  Members who paid monthly and are not delinquent or in good standing, meaning no dues owed, had their billing restarted. If you paid in full for your membership, the amount of months that we were closed will be added to your account, extending your expiration date.
 
If you would like to keep your membership on freeze for up to three more months (January – March 2021), you can pay an additional one-time fee:      

• $25 for Individual, Senior, Young Adult and Teen
• $35 for Couple, Senior Couple and Single Parent Family
• $45 for Family

Once that additional freeze is done (at the discounted one-time freeze fee rate instead of the usual monthly fee), the regular freeze policy will go into effect for future holds on your membership.
​
If you cancelled your membership and wish to use the Fitness Center, you must rejoin. 
To renew your WellPro Membership, click here.
To renew your Wellness Membership, click here.
If you wish to remain on freeze, please email membership@sijcc.com.   

*See this page for our schedule of holiday closings.

^No action is required to come off the freeze following reopening. If you wish to remain on freeze or reactivate a cancelled membership, please email membership@sijcc.com.

Check out this brief video overview of our new fitness protocols, and then review them carefully below:

Planning your visit:

Bernikow Fitness Center Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 6am-8:30pm
​Friday: 6am-6:45pm
Sat/Sun: 8am-12pm.

• Reservations are limited to active Program, Wellness & WellPro members and are required to enter the Fitness Center.
• If you do not have a reservation, you will be turned away.
• Members may reserve an unlimited number of slots per week.
• Reservations can be made:
  • Online (preferred method)
  • By email: FitnessSpa@sijcc.com 
  • By phone: 718.475.5210 - If you need to get in touch with us, email is the fastest way.
• If you need to cancel your reservation, please do so online, via email, or by calling.  If you make a reservation and do not show up twice, you will not be allowed to make future reservations.
• New reservations will be posted every Thursday for the following week (Monday-Sunday.)
• Adult slots are per person. Couples must enter a quantity of 2.
• Please use the notes section if there is something you think we should know. This is private for staff only and not for all to see.
• If slots are filled, please email FitnessSpa@sijcc.com and we will put you on a waiting list. Please let us know the (multiple) days and times you would like so as slots become available, we will email you with your reservation.
• Reservations made by non-members, cancelled members, or expired members will be removed. If you have any questions regarding your membership status, please email Membership at membership@sijcc.com.

Policies and Procedures:

• If you do not feel well, please do not come to your scheduled reservation and contact us by phone or email so that we can release your scheduled reservation time to another member.
• All members must wear an acceptable face covering at all times (including while exercising) that is over the age of two and able to medically tolerate such covering;​
  • Acceptable face coverings for COVID-19 include, but are not limited to, cloth-based face coverings and disposable masks appropriate for exercise that cover both the mouth and nose. Bandanas, buffs, and gaiters are not acceptable face coverings for use in gyms and fitness centers.
  • The face covering requirement must be applied in a manner consistent with the federal ADA and New York State and City Human Rights Laws, as applicable.
  • For individuals who are unable to medically tolerate an acceptable face covering, such individuals must wear a face shield at all times. However, the CDC “does not currently recommend use of face shields as a [sufficient] substitute for masks.”
• Members will check in and swipe their ID at the front desk to validate and make sure the membership is active. You will then check-in at the S&W Desk to confirm your reservation.
• Please bring your own towel, mat and plenty of water. (Note the café and water fountains are closed but the vending machine is operational.)
• Please come ready to work out as Locker Rooms are only available for toilets, sinks, and changing - no shower, locker, sauna or steam use. ​
• You are required to wipe down equipment, both before and after use.
• Please note that we will be blocking off certain equipment to enable social distancing, so your favorite machine may not be available on a particular day. We will be rotating “closed” equipment daily. (Equipment is on a first come first served basis so please be courteous in time used as others may be waiting, especially with a limited amount of equipment.)
• Please arrive at least 15 minutes early to be checked in. If you arrive too early, we ask that you wait in your car.
• All members must maintain a 6-foot social distance between other Fitness Center attendees. Do not hug, shake hands, or share equipment or towels.
• Please note that if you are working with a Personal Trainer, a reservation in a time slot still needs to be made to account towards the capacity limit.

Forms:

• When arriving at the JCC, before entering the building, you will be required to complete a health screening (including a temperature check.) You will be required to fill this out EACH & EVERY time you enter. The link to the health screening can be found here.
• You will also be required to sign a waiver.  The waiver only needs to be signed once prior to your first visit and will be kept on file. The link for adults is here. 
• Please have all health screenings completed and ready to show upon arrival at the JCC. If you don’t have those forms filled out, you will be moved to the back of line to prioritize people that have completed their waivers and screenings. 
• You will not be permitted to enter until all waivers and screenings are completed.

Further COVID-19 Resources: