Whitehall Newsletter January 2012 By Harold Aune

Wishing You Wellness Happiness and Strength in 2012

What are the three most important or most desired states that an individual can have in life? Marie Hutchinson and I thought about this and decided upon Wellness, Happiness and Strength as our best choices.

Of course these are just words and a definition of what these are is in order.

Wellness we defined as a sense of feeling balanced and at ease. Knowing that you can handle things. Being able to come into the present and to see a good future.

Happiness is a warm and energetic feeling. It is often linked by memory to an experience of feeling more connected usually by something that takes you beyond your basic neutral nature, like feeling a warm wind on your face, hearing someone sing, smelling your favorite food or flower or watching young animals play.

Strength is a feeling of being in control, walking with a spring in your step; having an erect back, fluid joints and firm muscles.

These are our natural states and although they may not necessarily be present all the time, more people are discovering that investing more time with oneself is one way to ensure more wellness, happiness and strength is available in our lives.

Aside from eating a reasonably healthy diet the other main factor to maintain wellness, happiness and strength is a means of getting exercise that doesn't harm you and a mental timeout to regain an overview of one's thought processes.

And you have probably guessed where this is leading ... nothing that I have discovered in my life so far does both of these things simultaneously, other than slide seat rowing in a nice, stable rowing boat. The row stroke itself is, for me, a meditative process. To perform a proper row stroke I find it's necessary to be centered in the present. The catch, the drive, the release, the feathering of the blade, the return, the squaring of the blade and the catch again all requires almost thoughtless co-ordination. There is a skill level that does not happen overnight of course, and practice with expert instruction is a great help when getting started.

Even for the beginner the row stroke provides a route to strength, wellness and happiness that comes naturally in the process.

There is another factor that is also part of the rowing process that is very beneficial to the body and mind and that is the turn to look ahead. This gentle twist that involves the entire body is really good for the nervous system. And in a more stable boat such as a Whitehall it's easy to do.

How I perform the twist to look ahead if, for example, I was looking over my left shoulder, is to push outboard slightly on the right oar while shifting my weight, just a little, onto my right sit bone and simultaneously lifting my left sit bone just until it clears the hole in the seat. I then start the twist from the base of my back and complete the twist with the top of my head. Gently does it in all areas. I always alternate the twist from one side to the other.

When the whole body is brought into the twist turning like this it means you can easily get far enough around to see what's ahead. But the real benefit of this twist is increased circulation that comes from loosening up the muscles on either side of the spinal column, which happens with each gentle twist. Nerves that supply all of the various organs run through the gaps between each vertebrae and the added circulation here allows the nervous system to better enervate the organs thereby keeping you younger and more flexible at the same time.

There is nothing in terms of exercise that is more beneficial than rowing a real boat. The states of wellness, happiness and strength come easily when one gives oneself the opportunity.

Whitehall Spirit® Rowing Club of Marina del Rey Opens Jan 28, 2012.

On course for a soft opening on January 28 the Whitehall Spirit® Rowing Club of Marina del Rey located in Los Angeles California is now booking its first members with close to fifty people already signed up for their initial training sessions.

Once a member you simply purchase a time bank of hours. Then you can reserve and book a boat online using your name and password or call the club by phone. Later, down at the club docks, the attendant has your boat ready for you when you arrive.

If you have friends in the Los Angeles area be sure to tell them about the club. For many ‘access is better than ownership' with rates ranging from around $20.00 to as low as $10.00 per hour depending on the time bank purchased.

Go to www.WhitehalldelRey.com to see more details or sign up yourself.

The office phone number is 310 822 7600.

Australian Solo 14 Owner finds a Small Cart a Useful Item.

Brad Abbott of Fremantle Australia recently sent word that his new Solo 14 has arrived safe and sound and he had purchased a kayak trolley that the boat balances on quite well.

He uses it to pull the boat across the road and into the Swan River. This particular dolly does not float enabling him to easily launch and retrieve the boat by fastening and unfastening the strap while the boat's in the water.

It's a New Zealand made kayak trolley called the C-tug Trolley and can be found online by simply Googling the name.

The New Solo 14 and Tango 17 Sail Rig

The Whitehall Spirit® Tango 17 and the Solo 14 are both pure open water slide seat rowing boats that are set up ergonomically identical to a racing shell. As mentioned in the last newsletter they can now be fitted with a complete sail rig conversion kit. The kit includes a mast, mast yoke and leeboard assembly, lateen sail rig, mainsheet and rudder assembly. In just minutes either model converts from a slide seat sculling boat to a sailboat with all the necessary features. The rudder, tiller, leeboards and mast support are artistically sculpted out of white maintenance free UV proof Starboard® Polymer. The complete rig including the aluminum mast breaks down and stows inside the boat allowing the slide seat rowing gear to be used. Take a closer look online at:

http://whitehallspirit.com/tango/tango-sail-kit

http://whitehallspirit.com/features/solo-sail-kit

We are available by phone Monday to Friday between 9:30am and 4:30 pm PDT Call toll free1 800 663 7481 in NA and from Europe or elsewhere call 00+1 250 361 2628. Email to info@whitehallrow.com