Whether you’re out on the water with your boys (or girls) in the boat, or going it alone at home on a machine, the health and fitness benefits of rowing as a fitness routine are undeniable. In fact, those benefits are so profound that rowing is often described by rowers of all capabilities as the perfect workout.
Call it the fitness trend that no one predicted, but there are at least ten good reasons why boutique rowing studios are opening at a fast pace across America and that rowing clubs suddenly have more applicants than capacity.
Rowing is not a quick fix or a cure-all to your exercise issues, but it can make a dramatic difference over time, so let’s dip into the reasons affirming why it has become widely known as the best form of exercise around:
1. Promotes Healthy Body Composition:
Rowing is predominantly an aerobic sport, and able to burn up to 600 calories per hour.
2. Enhances Cardio-Respiratory System:
30 minutes of rowing enhances your lungs’ ability to provide oxygen to your blood, heart and body.
3. Offers Low Impact Exercise With High Results:
Rowing exercises all of the major muscle groups with a relatively safe and sustainable athletic motion.
4. Offers a Full-Body Workout:
Rowing works out the whole body – focusing on the lower and middle back, hamstrings, calves, gluteal muscles and biceps.
5. Promotes Weight Loss:
Competitive rowers expend twice the calories on a 2,000m course as competitive runners in a 3,000m race.
6. Helps The Heart:
Rowing is the rare non-weight-bearing sport that requires regular, uninterrupted large muscle usage.
7. Builds Muscle Strength:
The primary muscles worked by rowers are the quadriceps – strong quads aid with walking, jogging, lunges and squats.
8. Reduces Stress:
Consistent, rhythmic activity, especially on calm waters, has an unparalleled impact in reducing stress.
9. Stabilizes The Body:
Rowing strengthens stabilizer and neutralizer muscles, improving off-balanced movement.
10. Improves Muscle & Joint Mobility:
Rowing employs a wide range of movement, which minimizes stiffness and increases flexibility.
Intrigued? To try the perfect workout for yourself, join the next Bainbridge Island Rowing Learn To Row session…