Row for Fitness

Indoors or outdoors, rowing is an amazing sport for fitness. Using the whole body, rowing is good for cardiovascular conditioning and toning muscle groups all over the body, including the shoulders, arms, back, abs, butt, thighs and calves.

A low impact exercise, rowing can be practiced from youth all the way into the later years; one of the oldest rowers (indoor) of record being 96 years old! It is a perfect way to maintain health and vitality throughout life without risking knee or hip injuries. It is also ideal because rowing can be practiced at a variety of intensity that can appeal to an advanced athlete, as well as to someone recovering from an injury, or someone just starting out.

Rowing indoors is a perfect solution for those who don’t want to wake up before dawn, as generally is the practice of outdoor rowers. With this advantage, the rowing machine has had a rise in popularity, appealing to a broad range of non-rower, fitness-seekers.

Initially created as an exclusive training tool for rowers, ergometers (rowing machines) were primarily found in boathouses. Since the indoor scene of rowing has emerged, ergs quickly found their way into gyms and specialized fitness studios. Erging has become a sport of its own, with indoor competitions now held all over the world.

In my home town of Los Angeles, a brand new indoor rowing studio has recently hit the scene: iRow Studio. iRow Studio owner, Iva Boteva, is an experienced rowing coach and championship rower. She brings to her studio a unique balance of workout and technique that sets iRow Studio apart.

Open to all level of rowers, Iva is skilled in giving individual attention to all of her students. However, she does not limit her valuable instruction to rowers only. She also offers a weekly class specifically geared towards non-rowers to introduce them to using the rowing machine with proper technique.

Although rowing is a low impact sport, like any exercise, it does require some knowledge of technique to prevent injury. Not only does knowledge of proper technique prevent injury, but it also allows a person to engage the proper muscle groups to condition themselves in a productive and efficient way. Using poor technique on a rowing machine is far less effective than using good technique.

iRow Studio is a great addition to the fitness community of Los Angeles. Whether you are new or experienced to rowing, Iva’s studio is a perfect place to not only get involved with rowing indoors, but also surround yourself with unique people, achieve personal fitness goals and be a part of a productive and fun-loving community in Los Angeles.

Get fit and find a rowing community in your area!

For information on technique and training tips on the erg, visit: http://www.concept2.com/us/training/technique.asp

For more information about the rowing community in Los Angeles, visit: http://www.larowingblog.com

For more information about Iva and iRow Studio, visit: http://www.larowingcoach.com

To learn to row (on the water) at Los Angeles Rowing Club, visit: http://www.larowing.com/learn.php

Photo in this hub by Jessica Ann Jacobs, copyright 2009. http://jessicaannjacobs.com