Jun 9, 2020Answering 3 FAQs on the Benefits of Rowing
In a recent article with the British publication, Coach Mag, world champion rower Matthew Tarrant reviewed the benefits of utilizing a rowing machine as a form of cardio and conditioning.
There are many advantages of using a rowing machine, as research has shown that it can build endurance and improve heart health.
As the founder of the rowing training platform, RowElite, Tarrant’s first reason to choose a rowing machine over other cardio equipment is fairly straightforward.
“The big advantage of using a rowing machine at the gym is that there’s never normally a queue,” he told Coach Mag.
In the article, Tarrant answers a few frequently asked questions by those who considering incorporating a new form of training.
Why should people use the rowing machine?
“Once you try the rowing machine you’ll quickly notice that it is the most effective tool for calorie burn. It’s low-impact and offers a full-body workout. You’ll be working your quads, glutes, core, back, shoulders, and arms to name a few of the muscles involved. By switching up the resistance levels – the drag factor – and playing around with different stroke rates and durations you can quickly create hundreds of interesting workouts that target areas such as, but not limited to, aerobic fitness, power development, and lactate tolerance.”
You can use the rowing machine to hit any number of fitness goals then?
“The rowing machine is a great tool for gaining general fitness, losing weight, strengthening your core, increasing mobility especially around the ankles and hips, increasing muscular endurance and generating power, and it can also help you become more dynamic and explosive.”
How often should you use the rowing machine if you’re new to the sport?
“I’d suggest starting at three sessions per week. As with all things, when trying out a new exercise you’ll usually feel stiff and sore the following day because you’ve worked the body in areas that haven’t been worked before. Three sessions per week allow you at least one day of rest between sessions to recover and hopefully put you in a position where you may want to gradually increase the duration that you spend on the machine.
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I’d suggest that you only increase the duration of the sessions by a maximum of 50% at a time.”
To read the full story from Coach Mag on rowing, click here.
