Starting with rowing exercise

AnnPT77 wrote: »

If the rowing machine you're using is a Concept 2, or another single-handle flywheel-type (or water tank) machine, the introductory information on the Concept 2 web site is an excellent source, especially the beginner videos:

https://www.concept2.com/indoor-rowers/training

If the machine you're using is an actual Concept 2, move the damper setting from 10 to around 5 (for men) or 3 (for women), for starters. It isn't resistance, so don't use it that way.

There has also been another recent thread where there was discussion of beginning rowing on a machine, from a pretty technical perspective:

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10769940/getting-started-with-indoor-rowing

Your rowing goals sound different from mine. I've been rowing for about 17 years now (started in my mid 40s, now almost 64), on water when I can, on a machine (Concept 2 normally) when I must. (My river freezes in Winter.) I belong to a rowing club, where I keep my single (one rower) and double (two rowers), and I sometimes also row the club's quads (four rowers, with or without a coxswain).

When I'm coaching people, I sometimes encourage them via Zen-ish concepts (feel the boat, be your rowing partner, let bad strokes go, relax), but it's also a pure fact that if you're going for speed or efficient distance, this is a highly technical sport that can be an intense cardiovascular and even muscular workout. It can also be an nice, easy paddle on a beautiful day.

Rowing is a great sport: Hope you enjoy it!

aokoye wrote: »

ironhajee wrote: »

Good tidings MFP!

I had a vision of Zen and often close my eyes and go to my Zen spot. Let me tell you about it...

It's a dock that walks out to a misty lake and at the end of the dock is a simple wooden row boat as it cradles and rocks with the waters slow tide

Since then I've taken up rowing in the gym to be fit for a possible row on the North Saskatchewan River this sprinf/summer season.


What are some tips for rowing you may have? 😎

Workouts insights and stories of your own rowing accomplishments are welcome.

This sounds like a very romanticized idea of what rowing is like. I mean I love rowing, but even on the calmest of days (today being an example) what you're talking about other than maybe the water conditions is not my reality. Rowing is a lot harder than it looks and a lot less peaceful in the zen sort of way. A more realistic view would be something along the lines of, "oh wow this boat is very narrow and rather low to the water...oh god I'm tipping from side to side a lot, wait how many things do I need to work on? Everything? Okay then."

It sounds like you're talking about one of these:


vs one of these:


Other things that went through my mind, and sometimes out of my mouth, included, "FFS please don't run into us" (yes I did yell to get the other boat's attention), realizing that we really needed try to be faster than the rest of the boats so we didn't .