Rowing - The Therapy We Need In Our Lives

When talking about this rowing club to new parents I am always proud to mention the colleges where many of our high schoolers go on to attend. We currently have students attending Harvard, Stanford, Duke, and Princeton. One of our rowers went on to be the first African-American woman to captain a Division I rowing program in the United States when she attended Clemson University. And it always amazes me that UNC Chapel Hill is considered a ‘back up’ school for so many of our high school rowers.

But this is not just the case for rowers at our club. All across the country, youth rowing programs are seeing similar results for their participants.

And there is a reason for this.

Sport is the great social worker in our communities and the sport of rowing is the most potent of them all.

In rowing we move backwards, not always knowing what is behind us that lies ahead. Studies suggest that moving backwards can activate the prefrontal cortex, positively affecting cognitive abilities such as memory, reaction time, and problem-solving skills. Moving backward, particularly in the context of rowing can also have positive effects on mental health by enhancing cognitive function, improving body awareness, boosting mood, and generally challenging the brain by requiring increased focus and spatial awareness due to the unfamiliar movement pattern.

Rowing backward is also an exercise in trust: Trust in the coxswain, trust in the bow seat, and trust that each member of the crew is rowing technically well and pulling their weight.

Trust exercises are used extensively in both school and business life. Trust falls and blindfolded walking are two examples we are all familiar with. We know from doing these exercises that participants overcome vulnerability, develop empathy, enhance their communication skills, and build team cohesion. So, it is no surprise that rowers, who do this every day as part of their sport, are well balanced and successful in life.

Rowing is a daily dose of therapy that brings out the best in our youth and adult rowers alike.

I feel blessed to share the rowing experience with this club. We are fortunate to have such a beautiful place to row in Oak Hollow Lake and I hope many more will experience the benefits of rowing with us in 2025.

Happy New Year!

Gene