| Rowing machines offer a great way to strengthen | | | | oars to return to the beginning position. You will need to |
| your back, legs, thighs, and buttocks, but you must be | | | | allow two to three minutes of warm up strokes before |
| careful to use the correct rowing technique to avoid | | | | you begin any power strokes. Once you have |
| injury. Your back particularly is susceptible to injury if | | | | warmed up, you are ready to begin a rowing machine |
| the correct form is not used. It is the same form that is | | | | workout. You should plan on 30 - 40 minutes of power |
| used on a boat in the water. | | | | rowing to account for a cardio workout. After you |
| The first thing you need to do before using a rowing | | | | have completed the 30 -40 minutes, you will need to |
| machine is to talk to your doctor and get an "all clear" | | | | spend several minutes rowing slowly in order to cool |
| before starting any exercise program. Then you will | | | | down. |
| need to slowly stretch your legs, back, and arms to | | | | One of the best types of rowing machines you should |
| warm them up and allow you to complete the whole | | | | consider if you decide to purchase a machine is an air |
| range of motion without causing any injury. As you are | | | | resistance rowing machine. These types of rowers |
| beginning, make sure to concentrate on performing the | | | | use air to provide the resistance. One of the best |
| whole motion smoothly without jerking and carefully | | | | things about the air resistant machine is that it is very |
| move with calculated awareness (make sure you are | | | | smooth and the stronger the stroke being used, the |
| aware of your body's position). You will also want to | | | | more air resistance you will encounter. This makes the |
| carefully consider the resistance that you have the | | | | workout change based directly on the amount of |
| machine set at. If you set the resistance too high, you | | | | power you put behind your strokes. Also because the |
| will not receive the benefits of the cardiovascular | | | | mechanisms are so smooth, the likelihood of injury is |
| workout. If you set the resistance too low, you will not | | | | reduced. |
| receive the benefits of the strength training and muscle | | | | The workout provided by a rowing machine is great |
| toning. | | | | because it covers both cardiovascular and strength |
| To begin the rowing motion, you will want to sit on the | | | | training. This will not only allow you to lose weight, but |
| machine's seat in the most forward position gripping | | | | you will tone and strengthen your muscles leading to a |
| the oars firmly, but relaxed. Then using your legs, push | | | | better, fit you all over. Just make sure that you stretch, |
| the seat back until your legs are nearly straight and | | | | see your doctor, follow the workout appropriately, and |
| using your arms pull back on the oars. Once you have | | | | cool down to avoid unnecessary injury. Enjoy your |
| reached the apex of the stroke, allow your body and | | | | rowing machine. |