I’m sure we have all felt the same when walking into a gym, the rowing machine at the gym has seemed more like a waste of space or an un-beneficial item rather than a valuable addition to our fitness routines. But recently the workout world has turned its attention to rowing and made the popular machine a new trend in the fitness industry.
Not only does this fascination with rowing mean that this once overlooked machine at the gym is going to be doing a lot more than just being idol and in new condition, but now you can use it to benefit you in a way to get seriously fit.
Just in case you’re a little late to the gym and still making a direction to the treadmill, here are a few of the reasons why you should get on board the rowing machine and follow the new craze!
1. Cardiovascular Health Benefits
The motion of the rowing machine is performed while you’re sitting down, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t making some pretty effective cardio. When you’re rowing, your heartbeat remains consistently elevated, which means that the workout can improve your cardiovascular health and increase your endurance. Plus, lowering the resistance level on your rowing machine can increase the speed of your motions, this increases the aerobic benefits of the workout.
2. Muscle Performance
When you’re rowing, you’re not just getting an upper-body workout or cardio. The motions that you perform on a rowing machine include the workout combination of leg press and pulling movements, this involves drive, finish, and recover, this in turn demands major effort from your legs and core in addition to your arms.
This means that through the whole workout, especially when you have your machine set to a high resistance, you’re building muscles all over your body, including your biceps, triceps, shoulders, quads, hamstrings and abs. So this taboo machine is a fantastic piece of equipment for anyone who would prefer a body workout without the heavy weights of a deadlift.
3. Calorie Burning
Even though the number of calories that you work off while rowing depends on your body and the intensity with which you’re performing the exercise, this is a workout that definitely increases your burn.
On average, though, a 60-minute rowing workout will burn between 250 – 600 calories. This makes it a worthy addition to your fitness regime, especially if weight loss is a goal and you’re looking to increase your long-term calorie deficit.
4. Rowing Is Low Impact
Even though proper form is important for reaping the benefits of rowing, this is an exercise that, when performed correctly, has a significantly lower level of impact than other alternatives.
Since the motions are smooth and are performed in a position that doesn’t put a lot of weight or strain on the body, rowing doesn’t put a lot of pressure on joints in the ankles, elbows, knees, and hips. This makes it a great way for anybody with an injury or joint problems to work in a combined low-impact cardio and strength training session.
5. Perfect For Training Partners
Rowing can be intimidating at first but also avoided as you don’t want to be the only one in the gym on the rowing machine, but when you have a friend or trainer with you, it can be more enjoyable, confidence with movement will improve and also it’s an exercise that technically is social.
Recently upbeat rowing classes are popping up in big-name gyms, rowing as a workout is taking on the team mentality that is part of what made rowing so popular as a team sport.
