Rowing- my new go to in the gym!

[milkysmum]

Anyone else just love the rowing machine?
Never thought much of it before, but in the past month since I re-joined the gym I've found a new love for the rower!
My knees and hips struggle with running and cycling and I'm just not getting that pain with the rower.
Have download an app called WithU and have been rowing along to programmes on this- so motivating rather than just rowing away without a purpose so to speak.
I'm slowly trying to build up some upper body strength with a body pump class and sone free weights also ( very slowly though as I'm pretty weak!) - how often and for long long is a decent rowing workout do people think ( trying to see what I can fit in- I work full time/ single parent etc..)

I enjoy the rowing machine - but not for long. This morning I did a quick 10 minute row straight after Body Pump, and it felt good. Think I’ll try to build that in every Sunday from now on!

I love it! About six months ago I started doing at least one 30 minute row a week (I spin, run or do weights on other days), and I really enjoy it. I watch something on my phone whilst on it

The machine says I row about 5,500m in that time. So my aim is to improve that each time

Try to this
100 m 1 burpee
200m 2 burpee
All the way to 1 km and jump over the rower in your burpee (make sure you up the rowing by 100m each time)

It takes me 30 mins to do 5000m. When I've googled this it seems to be coming up that this is pretty slow, and a decent distance for 30 mins would be nearer 75000!! I literally feel like I'm rowing with as much power as I have to get that time, will i just naturally get faster as I do more- or am I pacing wrong I wonder?

bjjgirl- the rowers are next to each other in the gym, not sure I could really jump over one without risking landing on the person next to me 😂

I love rowing, but I had a PT who showed me how to do it properly and much more efficiently than I had been doing before. Basically, on the stroke where you pull backwards, you explode backwards with a very strong push of the legs and pull of the arms at the top of the stroke. Then return to starting.

You can actually go quite slowly this way because all the movement is coming from that very strong push back. It burns so many more calories / covers good distance.

I always set the rower to see calories per hour and aim for about 800 for an end of workout session.

Something I love to do is 200m then grab a 10k/ 15k plate and lift it from the floor to above your head x 10, back on the rower and repeat

Worth watching some YouTube videos or speaking to one of the gym staff to get good technique

If you're going very slowly it's probably technique. You mention upper body training but the power should be coming mostly from your legs. It might go better if you take the resistance right down to 2 or 3 (the lever on the side of the drum) and try to get your technique right.

If you have a rowing club near you I really recommend giving it a go in a boat. It brings extra things in like balance and rhythm. It's like yoga when you get it right, a perfect zen state! Being out and so close to nature is amazing too

Thanks for this. Yes I've been trying to do the technique as you say, power through the legs and then pull back at the end. I don't think I've been altering resistance from the top (10 😂) - I'll try to knock that down tonight and see how I get on.

I do too, joined a gym after 2 years off , mainly for cardio as I have joint issues , tried the rowing machine and loved it .

This is so interesting. I can't run anymore either and have just sold the peloton with a view to re-joining the gym. Is rowing a good cardio alternative to running?

I definitely feel like I'm getting a good cardio workout.
I've been following some of the programs on this app an find it really helpful for staying motivated when in the gym, and there is loads of stuff that can be done at home too.

withutraining.com/

I like it as a warm up and do 1km, but I think I'd get a bit bored if doing it for my main cardio which is outdoors running.

I bought a water rower during the pandemic and love it.
I can easily do an hour on it whilst watching TV and it's done wonders for both weight loss and toning up

I bought a rowing machine a few months ago and love it too!

I row 6000 meters twice a week and also aim to do two 20 minute sessions.

Depending on how you row, doing fewer strokes a minute can actually make you go a lot faster. It sounds counterintuitive, but by doing fewer strokes your technique is often better and you can put more force behind it = a faster time. So it’s worth experimenting a bit with stroke rates (1 minute at 20 strokes/minute, 1 minute at 22 s/m etc) as trying to go faster might actually be holding you back!

Thanks for that crazzzycat. I'll have a good go at slowing strokes down and see how I get on 😊