The Best Rowing Machine Workout for Optimum Results
August 19, 2008
Rowing is, arguably, the best workout you can give your body. Unlike other workouts, a rowing machine workout, which only works a certain body part or set of body parts at a time, rowing works out your whole body. Not only does it work your body’s muscle groups, it also works your cardio-vascular system as well. Few other workouts, save swimming, are this inclusive. There are many benefits to adding rowing to your exercise routine.
Rowing helps you to work all of your major muscle groups. Each major action involved in rowing works a muscle group when doing a rowing machine workout. Your abdomen and upper legs are worked during the catch. Your arms, back, shoulders and abdomen are worked during the pull. Finally, during the release, you work your legs, your hips, your upper body and your back. Also, because the action of rowing is technically a single fluid movement, this workout is easy on the joints and shouldn’t jar your knees or your elbows. This isn’t the case in most other kinds of exercise. You will have to remember; however, to stay relaxed and not let your muscles tense or lock up during your rowing machine workout. It is also a good idea to start slowly. As you build up strength you can adjust the settings on the rowing machine, but you shouldn’t ever try to overdo it. Rowing itself produces faster results than other exercise methods, so the need to push harder isn’t as strong when you have a rowing machine workout.
Rowing machines are one of the most popular items of fitness equipment among gym members and also those into home fitness. The range of rowing machines available and the affordable price tags allows anyone to use this type of equipment from the comfort of their own home. To benefit from the machine as much as possible though, it is important to have a rowing machine workout plan and schedule. This will help to provide a routine that you can stick to, and is also a good way to measure the progression and fitness levels.
If you are a beginner but want to reap the benefits of rowing it is a good idea to start at a low resistance setting. Many of the better rowing machines can be adjusted gradually in resistance so that as fitness increases, so can resistance settings. For heavy strength training the resistance will be high and the rowing motion will be slow, but for endurance the resistance can be lower but with more repetitions.
Starting at a resistance level that is beyond you current level of fitness can do more harm than good. It’s important that you don’t place too much strain on the muscles and joints, but you’ll also want to have a resistance setting that is actually going to work the body so you get something out of the workout.
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