24 | Washington Athletic Club Magazine | FEBRUARY 2009

ith todays stressors, the rst instinct many of us have is to cut costs and stay glued
to the computer to get work done. But Peter Carpenter, Ceo of ClearPoint, an employee
benets consulting rm, knows better. Te opposite is true: What you need is a reliable
place to exercise regularly. Physically t employees help keep a companys health care costs
and sick days low. Tey also possess the energy to conquer challenges that come their way.
By Aaron Corvin and Emily Maher | Photography by Brian Francis
R.O.I.
W
The bottom line: Good health leads to good business
a WaC member for 14 years, Peter leads by example.
he lifts weights as part of an exercise regimen aimed
at allowing him to perform at his peak. in tough times,
youre dealing with a lot of stress do more with less, he
says. its imperative that you blow o steam in a healthy
way. his WaC membership is no luxury. its a need, he
says; a need for everybody whether they realize it or not.
For Bob Rupp, a Principal with Lucid advisors,
hindsight was 20/20. When i looked at our family
budget to see where we could tighten up, i initially
felt i could get along without using the services of my
trainer Nate Armstrong. however, i soon found myself
missing not only the great help he provides me in keeping
t and exible, but also the time i spent with him.
although i had to cut down [the number of] my training
appointments, i will cut out many other things before i
give up training altogether.
We are Living longer, so we need
to live stronger. a regular exercise
program keeps the eects of aging
at bay and helps us handle everyday
stresses. a strong body can better
fend o illness, and exercise can help
us back on our feet after one. in the oce, all of this has a
trickle-up eect: Te better we take care of ourselves, the
better we can take care of business.
Jim Judson, a partner at davis Wright tremaine, is
banking on it. Te Club is so valuable to Jim after 39 years
of membership that he convinced his law rm to oer
a WaC membership dues subsidy for professional sta,
knowing they would benet from active participation at the
WaC. he says the investment pays o in big and small ways,
from keeping employees t to keeping them involved with
the personal and professional connections made at the Club.
WHEN THE
GOING GETS
TOUGH,
THE TOUGH
GET MOVING

FEBRUARY 2009 | Washington Athletic Club Magazine | 25
exercise helps your brain deal with todays strains, too.
regular exercise actually boosts brainpower, enabling you to
remain productive and happy at work. according to Dr. John
Medina, author of Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and
Triving at Work, Home and School, people who incorporate
exercise into their daily lives are doing their brains, not to
mention their work performance, a favor.
Medina proposes that since the brain evolved under conditions
of almost constant motion, Te optimal environment for proces-
sing information would include motion. to his point, studies
found that with regular aerobic exercise, subjects cognitive, spatial
task, executive function, memory, reaction time and quantitative
skill scores increased. so, according to Medina, to improve your
thinking skills, your brain needs you to get up and go.
its easier to get up and go when youve got somewhere close
by to work out. For Norm Seabrooks, vice President of sales
and services for aetna, who works in downtown seattle, the
WaC lls that order. i can walk over there in ve minutes.
Convenience has nancial and physical impact for Ann
Humphreys, a paralegal for Lane Powell PC. ann doesnt want
to join a golf club with actual real estate and expensive dues,
so she participates in the WaC golf Club. Tis allows me
to kill two birds with one stone, and i only pay dues for one
club membership. Make that three birds Te only reason
i work out regularly three times a week is because i work in
downtown seattle and the WaC provides close and convenient
access to the gym, as well as a quick, close place to shower
and freshen up after work without going home on nights she
attends an evening event.
Medina says, if you wanted to create a business environment
that was directly opposed to what the brain was good at doing,
you probably would design something like a cubicle. if you
wanted to create a business environment that supports the job the
brain was built to do, you would probably design the WaC.
<>
Above: Rick Page, Bob Rupp
and Tina Pappas in the Sports Caf.
Far left: Deborah Yand and Jon
Peterson in the Group Cycling class.
Left: Heather Rooney, Gary Hunter
and Lisa Noji in the Scaylea Room.

26 | Washington Athletic Club Magazine | FEBRUARY 2009
JiM Was struCk by something a friend and
fellow Club member once told him: i dont
need an oce, he recalls his friend saying.
Te WaCs got everything.
Tere have been many times Jenn Ty, the
north american representative for transocean securities Pty.
Ltd., has spent her whole day at the WaC. Likely to work on
her laptop in between tness classes, its how she ts in her
workout while getting her work done. its a way to balance
my hectic schedule.
norm adds that the WaCs role as a second oce has
an indirect and positive impact on a companys bottom line
because it allows you to get to know fellow professionals over
time. he explains that you end up talking about sports or
politics while you exercise or have lunch, and that builds trust
and allows you to understand your business partner. Plus,
when you face tough economic times its good to know you
have the Club with you, norm says. ive made a wealth of
contacts here.
on any given day you can see members making business
deals over lunch at torchys, checking email on one of the
stations on the 1st, 4th or 9th oors, or writing business plans
on laptops in the sports Caf. Te WaC serves as an extension
of your oce, whether you seek a break from your desk or
need a boardroom for an important presentation.
Tats where the WaC team of Rick Cardona and Karen
Weitz Curtis step in. director group sales and Lodging
sales Manager, respectively, consider rick and karen an
extension of your sta. karen makes the inn at the WaC
your corporate hotel. rick is the details go-to guy. What
sets the WaC apart in meeting planning is our access to a
wide variety of facilities in one place [like the gym, pool, spa,
hotel and catering]. as a private club, we pride ourselves in
the ability to oer personalized service. to rms hosting a
meeting or overnight guests, that means that they become
our no. 1 priority. We are able to cater to their every whim,
whether it is team building with a Wii or arranging a round
of basketball for an afternoon break.
having everything in one place is a win for the individual,
too. Jenn explains, When i lived in new york i joined a yoga
studio, a Pilates studio and one of the best gyms in new york
City for cardio classes and training. it was a lot of money for
me to do three memberships at once, and a lot of travel time
because they werent all centrally located.
Te WaC Wellness Center also oers services you would
usually have to visit dierent oces around town to get. right
here, on-site, you can have physical therapy, an injury screening,
acupuncture, hands-on bodywork, a visit with a naturopathic
doctor, a nutritional consultation, a body fat analysis, and a
vitamin B
12
shot. Whatever support you are looking for, the
WaC has it or is dedicated to helping you nd it.
Wellness Manager Tamela Tomas is proud of the
programs and services the WaC oers its members. Te
feedback that comes to us about how peoples lives were
changed is nothing short of amazing. From physical recovery
from injury to gaining control over weight to feeling supported
through cancer recovery, we have a very gratifying role to play
in supporting members in a myriad of areas.
Moving your brain forward
We invented computers to solve a variety of problems, automobiles to reach various
appointments, and the Internet to organize and gather information at a moments notice.
But all too often we use our human inventions sitting down. And that ies in the
face of how evolution designed our most important human asset the brain to
work: moving nearly all of the time.
In fact, a growing body of scientic evidence shows that exercise boosts
brainpower, improving your performance at work by enabling you to solve workplace
problems, maintain attention and keep your emotions in check. Thats according to
Dr. John Medina, a renowned brain expert and author of Brain Rules: 12 Principles
for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home and School.
The brain is a survival organ intended to overcome challenges in an unstable
outdoor environment and to do so in nearly constant motion, Medina writes. The
strongest brains survive, not the strongest bodies. And in a troubled economy such
as this one, it becomes even more important to exercise regularly to strengthen your
brain and maintain a competitive edge.
Aaron Corvin

TIME IS
MONEY
(WELL
SPENT)
R.O.I.
FEBRUARY 2009 | Washington Athletic Club Magazine | 27
the CLuB FoCuses on supporting
its members social lives, too. healthy
relationships are another cornerstone
of good health. Te body responds
to loneliness in the same way as
stress, which lessens with connection to others. studies have
found that healthy relationships boost your immune system,
sharpen your memory and increase your lifespan. taking
it a step further, a recent study published in the British
Medical Journal followed more than 4,700 people for 20
years and found that happiness is, well, contagious. it
found that there is a ripple eect, and that you eect, and
are eected by, happiness around you by three degrees of
separation.
Bob doesnt need a study to tell him the intangibles.
Te feelings i get whenever i am at the WaC are the
same feelings i get when i am with a good friend. Tere
is a sense of joy involved in the good atmosphere that the
WaC always has and shares. i need it just as i need other
good relationships to keep my sense of life positive and
productive.
Jenn will tell you that ties keep you moving, too. a
diabetic and self-professed couch potato, she is a regular in
the group Cycling class. explaining how a group mentality
has its benets, People make a tough workout fun. Te
big plus is having a really good instructor like Jon Peterson.
he makes sure the time is well-spent working smartly to
achieve our goals. if you nd really fun people here to do
things with, even if you hate doing something thats good
for you, youre going to do it.
among the hundreds of preplanned social events a year
at the WaC, there are stories of members meeting, nding
common interests and forging new endeavors, all for fellow
members with interest to join in. Te newly formed tri/
Cycle Club is gaining momentum and now hosts monthly
athletic Mixers. young families meet at swim lessons and
banquets like the annual Mother son and Father daughter.
Clubs like toastmasters have been meeting at the WaC
every tuesday morning since 1950. if knitting is your
niche, WaCed knitters is a knitting and crafting group
that meets twice a month at hagertys. Co-founded by Jenn
and Deborah Yand, Jenn says one can expect lively and
humorous conversations. its a pretty amazing group.
its the Clubs legwork that Jessica Pearlman, a partner
with the law rm k&L gates, appreciates. Tanks to the
Club, whether she feels like attending a lecture, a sporting
event with WaC Concierge tickets, or a taste of downtown
progressive dinner, a night out can be arranged with a phone
call, freeing up valuable time. Juggling a busy career and being
a mom, its part of a need for eciency in my life, Jessica
says, and it ts into that.
its all part of the WaCs character. Like a rock-solid
partnership, its a personal and professional support system,
here to back you up, ready to adapt to your needs and to
serve dierent purposes sometimes at the same time.
Aaron Corvin is a freelance writer based in Tacoma.
Emily Maher is Managing Editor, WAC Magazine.
How exercise boosts
brain function
Early studies on animals indicate that
exercise also stimulates one of the brains most powerful
growth factors, BDNF (Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor).
BDNF aids in the development of healthy tissue by exerting a
fertilizer-like growth effect on certain brain neurons. The protein
keeps existing neurons young and healthy, rendering them
more willing to connect with one another. It also encourages the
formation of new brain cells. The more you exercise, the more
fertilizer you create.
GET BY WITH
A LITTLE HELP
FROM YOUR
FRIENDS
Author John Medina is a
molecular biologist at the
University of Washington
School of Medicine and the
Director of the Brain Center
for Applied Learning Research
at Seattle Pacific University.
Brain Rule #1:
Exercise boosts brainpower.
> Our brains were built for walking 12 miles a day.
> To improve your thinking skills, move.
> Exercise gets blood to your brain, bringing it glucose
for energy and oxygen to soak up the toxic electrons
that are leftover. It also stimulates the protein that
keeps neurons connecting.
> Aerobic exercise just twice
a week halves your risk of
general dementia. It cuts
your risk of Alzheimers by
60 percent.

28 | Washington Athletic Club Magazine | FEBRUARY 2009
W

Firms hosting a meeting or overnight

guests become our no. 1 priority.
We are able to cater to their every whim.
our brains were built
for walking 12 miles a
day. to improve your
thinking skills, move.
R.O.I.
>
>
Swimming, court sports, Pilates and
free weights with ve oors
dedicated to athletics, the WAC has
plenty of ways to get you going.
Mens, Womens and Coed Conditioning areas
Strength training equipment and free weights
Group exercise studios offering more than 80
tness classes per week, including Pilates, yoga,
cycling, judo, kickboxing and core strengthening
Private lessons, including boxing, dancing,
self-defense and swimming
Functional training room
Gym with basketball, badminton and volleyball
Sport courts for handball, racquetball, squash
and International Court Soccer
Running track
Swimming pool
Fitness assessments
Personal training
Junior and teen programs and camps
Athletic leagues and clubs, including
the competitive WAC Basketball League and the
popular Handball, Tri/Cycle and Golf Clubs
> wac.net/athletics | 206.464.3074
206.464.4621
kwcurtis@wac.net
Lodging Sales Manager
Karen Weitz Curtis helps
local rms use the Inn as
their corporate hotel. She
helps reserve blocks of
rooms for corporate retreats
and represents the Inn in
major reciprocal markets.
206.464.3051
rcardona@wac.net
Director Group Sales
Rick Cardona helps nail
the details and entertain
clients. Whether its
transportation, tickets or
wine tastings, Rick can
make it happen.
> View our remodeled luxury suites and rooms at wac.net/innrooms | 800.275.3775

happiness is contagious.
Tere is a ripple eect
you eect and are eected
by happiness around
you by three degrees of
separation.
The Club offers endless ways for you
to connect share a common goal,
make lasting friendships and have fun!
Mingle at a member Mixer
Tee off with the Golf Club
Get into the swing with a racquet club
Join a conditioning class
Sign up for a committee
Check out a Club Programs event
Attend a Winemaker Dinner
Sample a Tasty Tuesday in Torchys
Shoot a round of pool in Hagertys
Better yet, sponsor a friend to join so
you can do things together.
> wac.net/club-programs | 206.464.3060
if you wanted to create
a business environment
that supports the
job the brain was built
to do, you would
probably design
the WaC.
28 | Washington Athletic Club Magazine | FEBRUARY 2009
W
>
>

Te feedback
that comes to us
about how peoples
lives were changed
is nothing short
of amazing.
Noble Room
Dimensions: 34' x 55'
Capacity: 140-250
Lobby Lounge
Dimensions: 29' x 54'
Capacity: 80-130
Crystal Ballroom
Dimensions: 28' x 65'
Capacity: 140-250
Scaylea Room
Dimensions: 14' x 24'
Capacity: 18-25
Heritage Room
Dimensions: 22' x 44'
Capacity: 50-100
Meisnest Room
Dimensions: 22' x 35'
Capacity: 40-80
Legends Room
Dimensions: 15' x 19'
Capacity: 18-25
Gold & Silver Rooms
Dimensions: 14' x 13'
11' x 18'
Capacity: 8 & 10
Board Room
Dimensions: 12' x 33'
Capacity: 18
Top of the WAC
Dimensions: 40' x 32'
Capacity: 75
Inn at the WAC
109 guest rooms, luxury
suites and premier rooms
which meet or exceed
Four Star standards
CRYSTAL BALLROOM
NOBLE ROOM
GolD RooM
BOARD ROOM
TOP OF THE WAC
INN AT THE WAC
The WAC is in business to help you do business. Whether
it is a bigger boardroom or conference you need for
groups of 2 to 300, we house three foors of banquet
and conference facilities, three full-service restaurants
and a creative culinary team above the rest.
on-site meeting planners and catering specialists
State-of-the-art audio/visual equipment
Wi-Fi access and open computer stations
Free stretch breaks led by certied WAC Personal Trainers
i dont need an oce.
Te WaCs got everything.
Members receive event room discounts of 10 percent, including
a 20 percent discount (up to $500) on their rst event.
> wac.net/catering | 206.464.3050
FEBRUARY 2009 | Washington Athletic Club Magazine | 29
We know that tness isnt simply a
physical state but a balance of mind and
body. Offering a full range of services
in one convenient, comfortable location, our
Wellness Center and our full-service Spa are
the envy of private clubs across the country.
Acupuncture
Naturopathic medicine
Nutritional counseling
Physical therapy and injury screening
lifestyle coaching for career development,
smoking cessation and weight control
lunchtime lectures by specialists
Massage and refexology
Skin and full-body treatments
Medi-Spa services
Hair cuts and styles
Nail services
> wac.net/wellness | 206.839.4780
> wac.net/spa | 206.464.3090