Row Yourself Fit!

-
Rowing, one of the oldest sports around, is rapidly gaining popularity in the fitness world. Indoor rowing classes are popping up at many local fitness centers and receiving rave reviews. The good news is that rowing is not just a trend but a very effective exercise.

Why Try Indoor Rowing?
 
Anyone Can Do It -- Indoor rowing classes are designed to bring the benefits of rowing to the masses. Participants range in age from 10-94, consist of all different body types and athletic abilities.
 
Total Body -- The biggest myth about rowing is that it is an upper body workout. Rowing works 9 major muscle groups: quads, hamstrings, glutes, lats, core, shoulders, triceps, back and biceps. In addition rowing is an amazing cardio workout.
 
Josh Crosby, indoor rowing, rowing, Indo-Row, group fitness, exerciseLow Impact – Rowing is great for injury prevention, rehab and runners because it is a low impact alternative to other activities. For those who are overweight, the sliding seat displaces ones weight so the load on their body is less and they can make a smooth transition to other activities as the weight comes off.
 
Team Work – Rowing in a group setting provides a huge motivational booster through the community spirit. Classes are taught with the same team mentality you find in an actual boat, racing together.
 
Easy to Learn – The basics of indoor rowing can be learned in 10 minutes or less.
 
You’re In Control – Resistance is created by how hard you push or pull, so you control the level of your own workout. Some rowing machines actually use 17-liters of water to give you the resistance similar to being on a boat. Simply, the harder you push and pull, the faster the water moves and the more resistance you feel. Your time and pace improves as you row harder.
 
Calorie Burn – In the average rowing class, people burn between 400-800 calories in a little less than an hour.
 
Measurement Is Motivation – Typically indoor rowing machines have monitors displaying your total time, distance, calories, and pace. This allows you to actually know if you are getting. Having milestones provides motivation to continue working hard.

Rowing workouts can be done on your own or as part of a group exercise class, similar to spinning. Classes are a great place to start if you are new to rowing. The instructor will help you with setup and using correct form. Classes are set up in intervals and usually followed by a strengthening exercise off the rower. Rowers stay in sync with each other but are all working at different levels. Unlike spinning, which only has resistance in one direction, rowing has resistance in both directions; making you much stronger and increases the caloric burn.

Not interested in a class or do not have access to one? Try alternating easy rowing for 2-3 minutes with 1 minute of all out effort. Repeat that 3-5 times depending your desired length of time. If you typically exercise for 30 minutes you may want to try rowing for half the length of time. Make sure to play some great music to make it fun.

As with any workout regimen, you should always check with your doctor before trying a new activity.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Developing a Workout Routine

-
Image
Developing a routine when working out is important for achieving fitness goals and protecting your body from injury. Below are some tips and tools on developing the perfect workout routine. Use these tips to customize a workout routine that works for you! Tip 1: Consistency Building a strong fitness routine does not happen overnight. You must develop a process and work at it regularly. Decide how many days you are going to work out each week and commit to fitting it into your schedule. Tip 2: Recover Your muscles need time to recover to completely benefit from your physical efforts. When creating your routine, make sure there are days for rest! You do not have to remain completely inactive on recovery days. Long walks, light yoga and casual swimming are all things that get your body moving while still allowing time for your muscles to recoup. Tip 3: Variety Consistency is important when you are thinking about duration and frequency of exercise. Variety is import...
Read more

The "Unhealthy" Fruit

-
Image
We all know that a healthy diet consists of plenty of fruits and vegetables. You may not be aware, however, that choosing just any "fruit" may not be the best way to meet your fruit quota for the day. Below is a list of foods that you may want to limit or avoid: Fruity, sweet cereals. Fruity, colorful cereals that leave your milk pink, orange or blue are definitely void of nutrition. But what about the cereals that contain dried fruit? Sure, they may taste good, but most are also filled with added sugars and unneeded calories - even if they supposedly have real fruit flavors. Begin weaning yourself from the "fruity" cereals by chopping some real, fresh fruit into a bowl of healthy, non sugar-containing, cereal. Fruity Desserts. Strawberry ice cream. Raspberry cheesecake. Cherry Pie. Yum! We know they have fruit in the name, but it doesn't mean they're healthy for us. Opt for healthy fruit-based desserts such as fruit parfaits and fruit sorbet. If you mu...
Read more

Welcoa Well Balanced: How to Protect and Maintain Eye Health

-
Image
When it comes to eye health many adults mistakenly believe that as long as nothing is bothering their eyes, there’s no need to get them checked out. However, getting regular eye exams is very important, even if you think your vision is fine. Eye exams allow an eye care professional to monitor your eyes for common vision problems and signs of disease. There aren’t early warning signs for the most common eye diseases, so by identifying diseases early, you have the best treatment options and the best chance of preserving good vision. If you haven’t had an eye exam in more than a year or at all, schedule one now. A comprehensive exam will often include eye dilation. After checking your vision sharpness, your doctor will place drops in your eyes to dilate (widen) the dark center of your eyes, called the pupil. This allows more light into your eyes, just like opening a door lets light into a dark room. The doctor can then examine the inside of your eyes. Your eye doctor will tal...
Read more

Support Your Body, Mind, and Spirit this Season

-
Image
To balance out the dark, cold, windy, and dry qualities of winter, here are some tips to keep your body, mind, and spirit thriving: Move every day in a way that you enjoy; walk outside and get some winter sun, try yoga at home, swim at the local indoor pool, cycle, etc. Cook seasonal vegetables, make soups and stews, eat a warm breakfast like oats, and incorporate healthy oils like olive oil or ghee into your meals. Keep warm colors around you to combat the winter "blues". Orange, gold, deep reds, encourage a cozy feeling. Cover up with a hat and scarf not only keeps you warm but also provides a sense of safety and calm when it's cold and windy. Head to bed a little earlier and/or wake up a little later when the sun is rising if possible. Get extra rest and sleep as the environment is darker. Go within and practice meditation. Winter can be a good time to reflect on yourself. Try something new! Get creative and pick up a new hobby, book, puzzle, something that excites you...
Read more

How to Build a Low Cost Home Gym

-
Image
So many of us wish we could get more use out of our gym memberships, but with hectic lives and unpredictable schedules, it's not always so easy. If you find it too hard to get out of your house every day for a workout, why not bring the gym to you? Creating a gym in your home can save time and money -- there's no need to own the same heavy, expensive equipment found at a standard gym. You may be surprised at how easy it is to tailor a home gym to fit you personal needs. All you need are a few tangible pieces and a motivational vibe! Below are five necessities to start building your home gym. Atmosphere: Think about what you like most about the gym and figure out how to bring some of that atmosphere to your own space. If natural light is a must have for you, find a space upstairs with great windows to create the look you want. If you like to watch TV while you sweat, set up your gym in a room that has screen access. Need a little visual motivation? Try something simple like...
Read more

Stay on Top of Your Holiday Spending

-
Image
Spending money in a way that feels good means aligning your purchases with your values and priorities while staying within a budget. This approach lets you enjoy the holidays without the stress of debt or overspending. Choosing thoughtful, meaningful gifts, setting limits on each purchase, and focusing on experiences over material items can create a fulfilling holiday season without financial strain. Spend intentionally so that you feel good about what you buy, know that it's within your means, and brings joy to you and those you care about. Here are some ideas for staying on top of your holiday spending: Set a budget and track spending: Decide on a total holiday budget, covering gifts, food, decorations, and any travel expenses. Break down the budget for each category, then track each purchase to stay within your limits. Give personalized, low-cost gifts: Consider giving thoughtful personalized gifts that don't cost much, like handmade items, or baked goods. Meaningful gifts ...
Read more

Last call to log your points!

-
Image
  For all our friends participating in the Wellness Incentive Program through Virgin Pulse , we wanted to remind you that this quarter is short! All points must be logged by 12/1.  This quarter is short to allow time to pay out incentives during the calendar year.  During the month of December, you won't earn points. If you do choose to log activities because that is best for you that is fine, but we want to be sure you understand that this won't be working toward an incentive.  If you have any questions, please reach out to the Wellness team at dhr.livewellvermont@vermont.gov. 
Read more