The personal training studio where I train clients recently purchased a Wooden Water Rowing Machine. Not only is this piece of cardio equipment fun and easy to use, it's also compact, high quality and more affordable than most high end treadmills plus it challenges every single muscle in your body.
According to Dustin Ordway author of Row Daily, Breathe Deeper, Live Better: A Guide to Moderate Exercise
"rowing uses the whole body working together on a sliding seat. You do not sit on a stationary bench as you would in a row boat, where you brace your feet and row with your arms and back. Instead of your seat being still, it moves and your feet are “tied in” to the foot stretcher of the rowing machine. As you row, your seat slides toward your feet on the recovery in preparation for you to push or drive your seat away from your feet with your legs. While rowing uses the core, the back, and the upper body muscles, the legs are the main power source."Best Way to Get Started with Rowing Machine Workouts
Whether you're going to use a rowing machine at the gym or one that you've purchased for your home, the first step to getting started is learning the basic rowing stroke. This is very important for an effective rowing workout since rowing involves using many muscle groups as well as good coordination. The basic rowing stroke consists of 4 parts: the Catch, the Drive, the Finish, and Recovery. Any good book or dvd on rowing machine exercises will show you how to master the basic stroke plus how to progress once you are ready to advance from the basics. A simple rowing machine workout you can try once you master the stroke is an interval workout. Try 30 seconds of intense rowing following by 60 seconds of moderate to easy rowing and repeat for 15 min.
What Type of Rowing Machine to Buy
There are two basic types of rowing machines including wind resistant and water resistance. All good rowing machines allow the seat to slide back and forth on a smooth track. They also include foot plates that keep your feet in place and a handle that is attached to a wheel that offers wind or water resistance. Rowing machines vary in price from $300 to $1300 and most fold upright so you can push them into a corner or into a closet when not in use.
The most important thing to consider when choosing a machine is the value of the type of machine you prefer. If you prefer a water rowing machine then look in your price range and be sure that the machine in your price range is a good quality machine that feels smooth and is going to last. Look for a good warranty too (i.e. 30-day money back guarantee, limited 1-2 year parts, 5-year or lifetime frame warranty). Secondary to value in your price range look for versatility and features. Find out if the rowing machines in your price range fold up, come with a monitor and programs that you will use, have extra padding, etc. Be sure to comparison shop and read reviews from users who have purchased the machines you are considering. Amazon is probably one of the best places to read excellent unbiased reviews.
Work every muscle in your body and burn tons of calories without all the impact with the H2O Fitness Seattle Wooden Rower WRX-1000 Water Rowing Machine
