“If you’re willing to say, ‘I need to learn this’ … you’re probably going to be willing to open up the rest of your life to say, ‘I need to learn other things. Farmer says the slight learning curve of an erg could actually change your outlook on life. Rowing is unfamiliar to many folks, so it takes patience and vulnerability to learn the ropes. Unlike other exercise equipment, rowing machines fold up to easily slide under the bed or get tucked into a closet. You’re probably home a lot RN, and that could include gym time. Hopping on your rowing machine could reduce stress, boost happy chemicals, and even combat cognitive decline. There are so many reasons to exercise - and most of them have nothing to do with a bangin’ bod.
In case you haven’t already heard, rowing machines knock out two birds with one stone (or two essential types of exercise with one sweet machine).Įrgs consistently strengthen your guns and pins while getting your heart pumping. Rowing sits somewhere between moderate and vigorous, so just 20 minutes a day more than covers your minimum. The CDC recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous movement per week. It’s the MVP of jam-packed schedules everywhere. You don’t need to spend half your life at the gym to reap results with an erg. You can still binge-watch “Gossip Girl” while you row - but you might be feelin’ yourself too much to notice Chuck’s antics. Basically, it takes just enough effort to keep things challenging and fun. Since rowing works most of your muscle groups, you really have to stay engaged while doing it. Well, here we are.”Įven if you don’t care about what’s trending, at least you’re likely to have a friend or two who can compare rowing #goalz. “And I started with the idea of, I’m gonna make rowing cool. “I’ve been putting out videos since 2015,” Farmer says of his rowing channel. So, #rowing is the fitness buzzword of the moment. But if you’re trying to lose weight for health reasons, you need to burn more cals than you consume. We don’t have to tell you that the number on the scale isn’t everything. Health experts report that a 30-minute rowing session burns up to 377 calories. Though you’ll move through the same motions, you can raise the resistance and push your speed as you become a more seasoned rower. If you’re the type to arm wrestle someone twice your size or strain to break your PR in a 5K, try an erg. Some people just can’t resist a challenge. The rowing machine works your legs and arms in one swift move, so you can kiss your unnecessarily complicated gym schedule goodbye.īonus: You’ll torch your butt, too. Plus, if you’re swapping your gym membership for a machine, you’ll be saving money in no time. Some erg prices climb above $1k, but there are plenty of simple, streamlined options in the double digits. You can snag a quality machine for $100 - that’s basically less than a month of hot yoga. If you look at an elliptical, treadmill, etc., all of those work one very specific muscle group.” Meanwhile, “the big benefit of the rowing machine is that you get everything hit at once.” 7. Why? Personal trainer Shane Farmer of Dark Horse Rowing says, “Because it’s complete. YOLO: So many people are swapping their treadmills, ellipticals, and exercise bikes for rowing machines. Ergs are *amazing* for your heart and lungs.Ĭardio workouts get your blood pumping to every part of your body, which could potentially prevent heart probs down the road. Like other exercise, rowing releases endorphins to boost your mood kick stress to the curb. The smooth, repetitive steps of the row stroke - catch, drive, finish, and recovery - become trance-like after a while. Whether you row on the open water or in your living room, it’ll quickly become your daily dose of Zen. In a 2014 study, peeps who rowed for 8 weeks experienced 30 percent better joint rotations in their elbows, shoulders, and knees. Rowing can even be a great choice for folks with early osteoarthritis. With rowing, you get to choose your movement and pace, which is *super* helpful when you’re recovering from an injury or marathon. Get low… low-impact, that isįorget the joint stress of running on hard pavement. In a 2015 study of people with limited vision, participants who rowed 5 days a week for 6 weeks decreased their total body fat percentage and gained flexibility and strength. Rowing is also a safe, active sport for folks who are blind or visually impaired.
Rowing is great for fitness newbies because the machines can be customized to your fitness level. It’ll also strengthen those quads, calves, and glutes. It’ll shred your upper back, pecs, arms, abs, and obliques. But according to the American Fitness Professionals Association, rowing is 65 to 75 percent legs and 25 to 35 percent upper bod. 17 reasons to reach for the rowing machine 1.