Rowing machines can be an incredible way to get in a full-body workout. However, if you’re new to rowing, you might be struggling. Keep these tips in mind if you want to make the most of your equipment and become a more efficient rower.
Don’t Overdo It
If you’re starting to focus on fitness, you’ll want to make sure you start off with slower, less intense workouts. You don’t need to push your body to its limits when you’re a beginner. Instead, it would be best if you gradually work your way up to more reps and higher resistance levels.
You should also make sure you’re not using your rowing machine every single day. Your muscles need at least one day off a week for recovery. If you give yourself an occasional break, you’ll get much better results later on.
Start With Your Legs
When you’re moving, you should always begin with your legs. From there, you should move with your hips and then your arms. Your legs are one of the strongest parts of your body, and the momentum through your legs should be enough to carry your movements.
Your first instinct may be to move with your arms. If you can overcome those impulses, you’ll see much better results later on. Pay close attention to the way your body is moving during your workout routines. Make sure your movements are always beginning with your legs.
Focus On Your Grip
How tightly are you gripping the handles of your rowing machine? You’ll want to make sure that your grip is secure, but you won’t want to hold onto the handles too tightly. Doing this can cause you to form blisters, making it harder for you to exercise.
Take a look at your palms after a rowing workout. If you notice that they are torn up or injured, you need to change your grip. Another sign of a problem is aching forearms. While some soreness is normal, chronic aching could indicate an issue.
Push Back, Not Up
How are you pushing when you use your rowing machine? You should always be pushing back rather than up. If you’re regularly lifting yourself off your rowing seat, you’re pushing up, even if you don’t realize it. When you’re able to push back, you’ll be able to avoid this issue during your workouts.
Like starting with your legs, pushing straight back may not seem intuitive at first. However, once you start paying more attention to your movements, you’ll get a better sense of how you should move. Before you know it, these kinds of movements will come naturally to you.
Relax Your Elbows
Stiff elbows are another issue that crops up when people are training on a rowing machine. You should aim to keep your elbows relaxed. While you’ll want your elbows to be straight, you should try to keep them in a natural and relaxed position throughout your workouts.
You should make sure you’re not lifting your elbows up at your sides. If you look like you’re trying to make chicken wings, there’s a problem with your positioning. Focus on holding your elbows naturally without allowing them to stiffen. Once you get this down, you’ll notice that your rowing technique improves.
Focus On Your Posture
Having good posture can help you in many ways, and it can definitely be an asset when you’re on a rowing machine. You should try to imagine that there’s an invisible string attached to your head. Think about someone pulling the string upward. Try to maintain that position when you’re rowing.
If you work to improve your posture, you’ll notice that your form naturally improves when you’re rowing. You’ll be able to see the benefits in other areas as well. Good posture can enhance your appearance and can even make you seem more put together and confident.
Pay Attention To Your Breathing
There are a lot of things to focus on when you’re in the midst of a rowing workout, which is why your breathing could wind up getting overlooked. Try to pay a little more attention to the way that you’re inhaling and exhaling. Exhale as you move back, and inhale as you move forward.
Make sure you’re taking deep breaths do that you have all of the air that you need. You may want to imagine that you’re sipping in air through a straw. If you practice your breathing when you’re not working out, you’ll find that it’s easier to breathe properly when you’re on a rowing machine.
Consistency Is Key
More than anything else, you’ll want to focus on consistency when you’re working on getting into shape. In order to see results, you’ll need to be exercising with a rowing machine regularly. You should also make sure you’re repeating the same movements during your workout.
If you can maintain a consistent and steady movement, you’ll be able to train your body and get into excellent shape. If possible, you may want to follow along with an instructor to get a better sense of how you should be moving during your workouts.
Stick With It
This might seem complex at first, but once you get used to it, it will feel like second nature to you. Stick with your rowing workouts. Every time you work out on your rowing machine, you’ll be getting more practice in. You’ll be able to improve your movements and accomplish more.
It can take time to really see the progress you’re making when you’re focused on fitness. However, a rowing machine can be an incredibly effective piece of equipment, and if you keep using it regularly, you can expect to see some truly impressive results. And, make sure you buy one of the best water rowing machines so you will be training effectively and comfortably.
If you’re going to be training with a rowing machine, you’ll want to keep these tips in mind. It can be incredibly useful, but like with any piece of exercise equipment, you’ll want to make sure that you’re using it effectively.