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Rowing machine FAQ
What to look for in a rowing machine
The size is the most important thing, according to British Rowing’s Matt Gleed. You need to be realistic about what will fit into your exercise area and you may find a foldable option like the NordicTrack best.
Cardiff University rowing coach Morgan Moriarty, meanwhile, advises looking out for smart connectivity. “A more modern one will have better software on the screen so you can connect a heart rate monitor,” he says. “It will tell you how many calories you’re burning, your speed, and how that changes over time.”
Both Matt and Morgan recommend looking for a machine with a decent warranty.
What is a rowing machine good for?
Toning, weight loss and increasing fitness levels, says fitness instructor and founder of outdoor fitness initiative Our Parks Born Barikor. “With every stroke, you’re using nine muscle groups” Born says. “That’s good whether you’re trying to burn calories or increase your fitness level. A rowing machine is also a good way to tone up with no impact on the joints – unlike running, for example.”
How to use a rowing machine
Hydrow athlete Mike Dostal cites four parts of a rowing technique, ‘the catch’, ‘the drive’, ‘the finish’ and ‘the recovery’.
- The Catch – the moment you are fully compressed (or as compressed as your body will allow)
- The Drive – the time you spend pushing on the foot stretchers, swinging your core, and squeezing the handle towards your body
- The Finish – the moment that the handle is closest to your body
- The Recovery – the time you spend returning to the catch
What muscles does a rowing machine work?
“You’re using your big muscles – your quads, your chest, your shoulders and your biceps,” fitness instructor Born Barikor says. “You can change the grip positions to work different things. You can even do your abs, using the rowing machine almost like a Pilates reformer to do crunches. You can get a really good all-body workout from a rowing machine.”
What are the four types of rowing machines?
Water rowers, air rowers, magnetic rowers and hydraulic rowers. The amount of resistance can depend on which of the four types of rowing machine you buy. Water rowers use water tanks to provide resistance, directly simulating rowing on a boat. Air rowers, the most popular, use wind to create resistance. Magnetic rowers are more modern, using a flywheel that works against an electric brake for a quiet and more compact design. Finally, hydraulic rowers pull a lever attached to a piston and are typically more affordable.
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