If you are looking for a fun and exciting way to work out, you should consider investing in a rowing machine. We know what you are probably thinking that you need to be a competition-level rower or professional athlete to really get the benefit of rowing. But, that’s simply not true, as rowing machines are perfect for working out most of your body. In fact, they use around 85% of all your muscles. So, they improve muscle mass and tone, and your endurance level. If you are still on the fence about rowing though, check out the following benefits of using a rowing machine.
Whole Body Workout
Most people think rowing is just focused on the arms. As noted at the outset, however, it actually works around 85% of your muscles. The AFPA or American Fitness Professionals Association states that the stroke used in rowing consists of 25 to 35% upper body work and actually 65 to 75% leg work.
The main muscle groups rowing targets include:
- Obliques
- Abdominal muscles
- Arms
- Pecs
- Upper back
In terms of the leg muscles, rowing targets and strengthens the:
- Glutes
- Calves
- Quadriceps
Low Impact
One of the great things about rowing is that despite the fact it burns a serious number of calories, it does not put your joints under too much stress and strain. You can fully control the pace and movement as you exercise and if you are in a state of recovery, this is an ideal workout choice.
In fact, due to its low impact nature, it is often cited as a great choice for people who need to work out who are in the beginning stages of osteoarthritis.
Great Exercise for Lung and Heart Health
Rowing is a cardio exercise so helps to improve your cardiovascular system, including your blood, blood vessels, and the heart. Due to the intensity of a rowing workout, your heart needs to work much harder to transport greater volumes of blood around your body, thus improving the strength of your heart.
This makes it especially good for people who are at risk of or who have had serious heart problems.
Suitable for Anyone
It doesn’t really matter what level of fitness you are currently at, as rowing is the perfect choice for just about anyone. It is even considered a safe form of working out if you have poor vision or are blind.
Some of the best brands are covered in this post comparing Ergatta rower vs Hydrow, Concept2, and NordicTrack.
It Involves a Connection Between the Mind and the Body
Do you appreciate the opportunity to meditate and reflect? Rowing offers you calm, despite how grueling it may physically feel. Obviously, the best way to get the real peaceful calming benefits of rowing is to do it out in the fresh air on an open body of water. However, that’s not really practical on a day to day basis.
The calming effects are created by the smooth gliding motion created by the ergometer in combination with the repeated movements. Your mind can gently drift into an autopilot-like state.
Effective Alternative to Elliptical Trainers and Treadmills
Most people tend to disregard the rowing machine when looking for a piece of home gym equipment. The first items most look to are elliptical trainers and treadmills. However, if you are really looking to target most of your body while participating in one daily exercise, the rowing machine is a better choice than the treadmill, as a treadmill focuses on your lower body. You may think as the lower and upper body are both targeted by elliptical trainers and rowing machines, that an elliptical is still the better choice. However, if you are looking to work on your abs, in addition to wanting to maintain good health overall, a rowing machine will do more for you.