The humble rowing machine – the cinderella of the fitness center.
While the fancy treadmills and the high-fashion elliptical machines entertain the guests, showing off their incline adjustments and their new digital displays the rowing machine sits off to the side, all alone. Exiled to the corner as if it were a bad child in a classroom.
In a recent UK survey, 44% of women found men that row as ‘sexy’ . Fellas – do you need more motivation than that?
(I personally use and recommend the Concept2 line of indoor rowers. They are near indestructible!)
The occasional gym-goer will wander over to play briefly, but only for a bit of a warm-up before they are on their way again. Generally speaking, the rowing machine gets left alone in the corner to gather dust.
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Shame on us for not giving this excellent machine the respect it is due.
The rowing machine is one of my favorite machines in the gym. It helps to develop cardio, strength, flexibility and all the muscles you need for great posture.
A common problem I hear from runners and cyclists is that that have great cardio, nice legs but a flabby upper body.
Problem solved.
Still need convincing that Rowing is a great sport for the total body?
Enough said. Moving on.
2 reasons why you want to integrate your local rowing machine into your workouts and cardio days:
1. Better fat burner
Rowing with proper technique works both the upper as well as the lower body. More muscles worked means more calories burned in the same period of time, which means more fat burned for your cardio dollar!
2. Better for posture
Imagine the view when you see someone walking on the treadmill – especially if they are reading their US Weekly or the new People mag. People tend to have poor posture on the treadmill, bike and elliptical machine.
If you are hanging on to the rails as if you are ready for the machine to spontaneously switch into rodeo mode – then chances are you are leaning forward and your posture is suffering.
Take the the normal treadmill/elliptical/bike user:
Are they a picture perfect model of posture or are they a hunched over hunchback of hunchville? (So I’m channeling Dr Seuss?! What’s it to you?!)
Would you, could you, in a rowing machine?
The downside of the rowing machine is that it is not magazine friendly (which might be an upside, depending on your perspective).
This means that instead of catching up on the latest hairstyles and dog handbag fashion, you will actually have to do some real work (but that’s why god created the ipod – so you can listen to your music/Harry Potter on tape/best of John Denver as you happily row away).
Rowing works the legs as well as all the muscles of the back
It is fantastic for strenthening the biceps, shoulders, upper and lower back as well as all the major muscles of the legs.
The major drawback is that you probably don’t know how to do it
But thats about to change: You can learn about rowing technique here.
Or if you would rather have the visual, here is a 3 minute vid:
There are different ways to row, but just pick one and go for it. Your body (and your posture) will be grateful for it.
Once you have the technique down, for my vote its the best fat-burning machine in the gym that also works the upper body in such a way that your posture will never feel better.
Do you row? Put in your two cents about what rowing does to your body to help others understand just how good this machine is.
Jamie Atlas
Live in Denver? Go to WWW.FITNESSBYATLAS.COM to get a free pass to one of our classes
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Fitness Insights by Jamie Atlas 