Thinking About Getting a Rowing Machine? Here's Why It's a Great Idea
By Sara Butler
Are you thinking about getting healthier, getting more fit, getting into a shape that doesn’t resemble a low-hanging fruit? There are plenty of spin classes out there for you, and plenty of open roads ahead whether you’ve got a good pair of running shoes or a shiny new Schwinn. If so, good for you! But have you thought about rowing your way to a body to die for?
Taking care of yourself and moving more is vital, especially when you’ve entered the “happily-married-and-enjoying-ice-cream” phase of life. Plus, have you ever seen a rower with a spare tire around their waist? No, no you haven’t.
That’s because rowing is an excellent form of exercise. There are countless benefits to rowing machines that many people aren’t aware of, which also makes it the perfect gift to give to yourself or your family this Christmas (or birthday or Valentine’s Day or …) for a true gift that keeps on giving.
The Benefits of Rowing Machines
When you welcome a rowing machine into your workout plan, then you’re also signing up for several benefits to your health and wellness, including:
Full body workout - You may look at a rowing machine and think it only works out a few parts of the body, but the truth is that taking your body through the full rowing stroke will target muscles in your entire body, including the arms, legs, back, and core.
It’s a high-intensity workout that’s low impact - Rowing machine workouts can be intense but one of the best things about them is that you can feel the burn without the impact to your joints.
It keeps muscle soreness at bay - If you’re trying to get healthy and exercise more, then you may also notice your muscles are sore afterward. If you want to avoid feeling as if a band of ninjas beat you while you were sleeping, then try a rowing workout that allows you to raise your heart rate without making your muscles sore. The types of movements involved in rowing don’t break down muscle tissue for new tissue to be grown, which is why you’re not sore the next day.
It’s good for your posture - Make your mom and chiropractor proud with a rowing workout since it helps to improve upper body strength and helps you to straighten out your posture. Now, stop slouching as you read this.
It’s versatile - Both low-intensity and high-intensity workouts have benefits and the beauty of rowing is that you can do either of these types of workouts with it. You can do a mild-intensity workout to help improve aerobic capacity or a high-intensity burst, whatever you’re aiming for.
It’s personal - A rowing machine workout can be whatever you want it to be. You can change the settings to fit your ability and steadily increase as you get stronger, protecting your body along the way by not doing too much, too fast.
It’s good for your mental health - You know that workouts are good for your body, but it’s important to recognize they’re good for the mind, too. Getting into a rhythm on a rowing machine makes it very soothing for a lot of people, helping to reduce stress and anxiety. The endorphins that are released are an additional benefit.
How to Choose the Perfect Rower
If you don’t belong to a gym and want a machine for your home, then you need to know what to look for. There are a few very important things to consider:
The type of rowing machine - Do you want a water or air rowing machine? These types of machines allow you to customize your resistance and have a smoother stroke while working out. Consider your specific training goals and decide what type of mechanism can work best for you.
Noise - Some rowing machines are louder than others. If this is an issue in your living situation, you may want to try out a machine first to see how loud it is. Water machines are often quieter.
How easy it is to maintain - Think about any maintenance that has to happen on a machine you buy. Does it have a lot of detachable parts that are easy to replace? The more complicated the machine, the more costly it can be if something goes wrong down the road.
Seat comfort - Remember, you’ll sit for a while during your rowing workout, so choose one that has a comfortable seat that fits your body.
Foot straps - The foot straps should be adjustable so that you can strap your food into place snugly each time you use it.
The question all people ask themselves when they get an exercise machine for the holidays is whether it will help them to get fit or if it’ll become a glorified piece of furniture in the long run. Only you can answer that question, but rest assured that a rowing machine is best when used to improve your health and your strength, so it’s worth investing in -- especially if you do your research first to make sure it’s the right machine for you.
The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this page are for informational purposes only. The purpose of this post is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various health topics, including but not limited to the benefits of chiropractic care, exercise and nutrition. It is not intended to provide or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your chiropractor, physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this page.