Rowing Machines: Great For Exercising Your Whole Body

Rowing machines offer a great way to strengthen your back, legs, thighs, and buttocks, but you must be careful to use the correct rowing technique to avoid injury.  Your back particularly is susceptible to injury if the correct form is not used.  It is the same form that is used on a boat in the water.

The first thing you need to do before using a rowing machine is to talk to your doctor and get an "all clear" before starting any exercise program.  Then you will need to slowly stretch your legs, back, and arms to warm them up and allow you to complete the whole range of motion without causing any injury.  As you are beginning, make sure to concentrate on performing the whole motion smoothly without jerking and carefully move with calculated awareness (make sure you are aware of your body's position).  You will also want to carefully consider the resistance that you have the machine set at.  If you set the resistance too high, you will not receive the benefits of the cardiovascular workout.  If you set the resistance too low, you will not receive the benefits of the strength training and muscle toning.

To begin the rowing motion, you will want to sit on the machine's seat in the most forward position gripping the oars firmly, but relaxed.  Then using your legs, push the seat back until your legs are nearly straight and using your arms pull back on the oars.  Once you have reached the apex of the stroke, allow your body and oars to return to the beginning position.   You will need to allow two to three minutes of warm up strokes before you begin any power strokes.  Once you have warmed up, you are ready to begin a rowing machine workout.  You should plan on 30 – 40 minutes of power rowing to account for a cardio workout.  After you have completed the 30 -40 minutes, you will need to spend several minutes rowing slowly in order to cool down.

One of the best types of rowing machines you should consider if you decide to purchase a machine is an air resistance rowing machine.  These types of rowers use air to provide the resistance.  One of the best things about the air resistant machine is that it is very smooth and the stronger the stroke being used, the more air resistance you will encounter.  This makes the workout change based directly on the amount of power you put behind your strokes.  Also because the mechanisms are so smooth, the likelihood of injury is reduced.

The workout provided by a rowing machine is great because it covers both cardiovascular and strength training.  This will not only allow you to lose weight, but you will tone and strengthen your muscles leading to a better, fit you all over.  Just make sure that you stretch, see your doctor, follow the workout appropriately, and cool down to avoid unnecessary injury.  Enjoy your rowing machine.