| Rowing Machines and Water Rowing Machines - An | | | | you like. These machines can be used by anyone |
| Overview | | | | from youngsters to senior citizens. |
| Indoor rowing machines are a very popular form of | | | | The only caution in using any rowing machine is that |
| exercise machine. They imitate the action of rowing a | | | | you do have to beware of back strain if you overdo it. |
| boat in the water. You slide back and forth on a seat | | | | The best method for keeping injury free is to |
| as you pull on the oars, just as you would in a real | | | | concentrate on your breathing and the timing of the |
| boat. Rowing has long been acknowledged as one of | | | | movements. You must get the right rhythm, exhale on |
| the finest types of all round exercise. | | | | the drive and inhale on the recovery. The technique for |
| There are several main types of rowing machine | | | | the stroke is to use the large muscles of your thighs to |
| available. The earlier rowers used cheaper hydraulic | | | | do the majority of the work in the stroke. Do not make |
| pistons. These are not recommended nowadays.They | | | | the mistake of using your upper body to do all the |
| tend to give a high resistance at the start of the | | | | work. Non-rowers frequently make this mistake. Make |
| stroke and less as you pulled through. The newer | | | | sure that the upper body never goes too far forwards |
| types of rower give a much better sense of really | | | | or backwards, which will help protect your back. Keep |
| rowing through water. They achieve this by use of | | | | your elbows close to your body. Remember that you |
| graphite composites and using flywheel tanks filled with | | | | do not have to attack this like a maniac to get the |
| water. Other machines use air resistance or magnetic | | | | benefit. Be sensible and build it up bit by bit and you will |
| resistance. Water rowers have the big advantage of | | | | reap the rewards. |
| offering a constant even resistance. The water rower | | | | Sometimes home machines can be folded up for ease |
| emulates how a boat moves through the water, as | | | | of storage, but the better water filled rowing machines |
| though you are simply overcoming the drag of the hull | | | | are probably best left set up. You are more likely to |
| in the water. The resistance is constant throughout the | | | | use a rower if it is there and ready for use in an |
| movement. Some rowers have a resistance knob or | | | | instant. Most machines, particularly the water rowers, |
| adjustable resistance, but in most cases you do not - | | | | are very quiet in action, which is always good in a |
| you increase your exercise workout by simply rowing | | | | home environment. |
| faster. When you have experienced rowing on a | | | | Indoor rowing has now become so popular that there |
| 'water rower', you will not want to use anything else. | | | | are a large number of championships around the world. |
| Rowing is a actually a very efficient burner of energy, | | | | Lots of different classes in these allow entries from of |
| up to possibly eight hundred calories an hour. It gives | | | | all age groups, teenagers through to rowers of over |
| an total body cardiovascular workout. You will have | | | | ninety. It has moved on from simply a form of |
| the benefits of toning up back, arms, shoulders and | | | | exercise. The resistance on the machines can be |
| your abdomen muscles. It will stretch and tighten up | | | | individually adjusted to make it fair to everyone |
| your legs wonderfully. | | | | involved. |
| One of the big advantages of an indoor rower is that | | | | So, in summary, rowing machines are probably the |
| because of the sitting position, the users body weight is | | | | most effective cardiovascular exercise available, used |
| removed from the areas of the body that are injury | | | | in a responsible manner. As a fun and enjoyable |
| prone, such as the hips, knees and ankles. This is one | | | | exercise, indoor rowing has elevated beyond simply |
| reason that many competitive rowers are still rowing | | | | working out, to a worldwide competitive sport. |
| well into their seventies. The exercise can be very | | | | It really is just like going for a row down the river but in |
| gentle and even relaxing, or it can be as vigorous as | | | | your own home and without getting so wet! |