| Nowadays it is hard to know what to choose when it | | | | rope jumping. |
| comes to home exercise equipment - treadmills are | | | | Rowing is an exercise that can be enjoyed by all ages, |
| the old standard as are stationery bicycles, while stair | | | | from kids right through to grandparents. |
| climbers, steppers and orbital machines seemed to | | | | With so many different fitness rowers models |
| have become more popular of late. One piece of | | | | available today, it can be quite a challenge to find the |
| exercise equipment that never seems to rate a | | | | best rower that suits your own individual requirements |
| mention is the fitness rower, and given the many | | | | and budget. Here are just a few of the features to |
| benefits that they provide it is hard to are aware of | | | | consider: |
| just why they aren't more popular. | | | | Most fitness rower models available use air resistance |
| Rowing uses all the major muscle groups: legs, arms, | | | | or magnetic resistance, with magnetic resistance being |
| back, abdominal, and buttocks, much the same way | | | | quieter, smoother and better (a combination of both is |
| that swimming does. Although the legs provide most of | | | | ideal). Belt Drive Systems also tend to be smoother |
| the power in the rowing stroke, the upper body | | | | and require less maintenance. |
| provides the remainder through the arms, shoulders, | | | | Fitness rowers should also have a variety of |
| back and even the abdominals. In fact, rowing is one of | | | | resistance levels with the more the better. The auto or |
| the few aerobic activities that can actually strengthen | | | | preset programs vary the magnetic resistance as you |
| your back. Rowing will also tone up your thighs and | | | | train, increasing your endurance, motivation and |
| buttocks, while firming up your arms and your back | | | | decreasing your boredom. |
| muscles. | | | | A rowing machine with a control panel or digital display |
| The rowing movement puts your muscles through a | | | | that shows heart rate, estimation of calories burned |
| wider range of motion than most other exercises, | | | | and the distance travelled is a must have, as this |
| helping to maintain and improve the flexibility around | | | | feedback will help you get the most out of your |
| some of your major joints. This rowing action also | | | | workout. Unfortunately, the best fitness rowers with |
| tends to give you a distinct feeling of motion, making | | | | the best displays are also the most expensive. |
| the exercise more enjoyable and satisfying. | | | | Since stationary bikes and the like usually can't be |
| Rowing is also a great calorie burner - recent research | | | | stowed away, the ability of some rowing machines to |
| has shown that rowing burns calories faster than | | | | be folded and stored away is very handy, especially if |
| biking, at the same perceived level of exertion. In other | | | | space is limited. Usually the smaller rowers can be |
| words, it feels a lot easier to burn the same amount of | | | | folded and tucked away, but as more features are |
| calories while rowing than while biking. | | | | added to a rowing machine, the more expensive and |
| This makes rowing very time efficient, as it doesn't | | | | larger they become, which also means there is less |
| take as long to get a great workout that offers just | | | | chance of them being foldable. |
| about everything. | | | | A fitness rower or rowing machine has many benefits |
| Rowing is a very smooth, rhythmic action that helps | | | | over most other exercise equipment and I personally |
| your body easily "shift" into the fat burning zone, is | | | | believe it gives you one of the best total body |
| impact free and non-weight bearing, meaning that it is | | | | workouts available and is one of the best exercises |
| much easier on your joints than jogging, running and | | | | for losing weight! |