How to Row on a Rowing Machine

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If you’re looking for a full-body workout, rowing might be the choice for you! Rowing machines work your core, legs, arms, and back muscles all at the same time. While rowing machines can seem tricky at first, they’re fairly easy to use. When you’re using the machine, extending your legs to push away from the base is called your “drive” and sliding back to start is called the “recovery.”

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Getting into the Starting Position

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  1. Make sure your bottom feels comfortable on the seat and adjust yourself if necessary. Bend your knees so you can get closer to the base of the machine. Look for a flat surface near the bottom of the base where you feet will go, which is called the footplate. Then, find the handle that's attached to the cord on the machine. [1]
    • The handle will be in the center of the base or near the top of the base.
    • Be careful as you sit down because the seat slides.
  2. The balls of your feet are the only area that will maintain constant contact with the footplate, since you’ll likely need to lift your heels when your knees are bent. Pull the straps across the top of your foot until your feet feel secure. Make sure your feet don’t slide around on the footplate as this can mess up your form. [2]
    • It's best to wear rubber-soled shoes like sneakers, running shoes, or cross trainers while you're using a rowing machine. This makes it less likely your feet will slip.
    • Don’t tighten the strap so tightly that it hurts. If your feet feel uncomfortable, loosen the straps and try again.
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  3. The cord on the rowing machine has a handgrip that you’ll pull to work your arms. Grab onto the handle and pull it toward you. Adjust your hands on the handle so that they're in an overhand grip, which means your palms are facing down. [3]
    • Using an underhand grip rotates your arms and increases your risk of injury, so it's best to avoid positioning your hands palms up.
  4. Once you have the handle in your hand, check your posture to make sure your back and shoulders are straight. Tighten your core muscles so they’re working as you row. [4]
    • An engaged core also helps keep your posture straight. You don’t want to slump forward or lean too far back as you’re rowing.
  5. In rowing, the starting position is called “the catch.” While it might sound complicated, it’s a really natural pose to begin rowing. Pull the handle to extend the cord toward you, but keep your arms extended out away from your body. Then, bend your knees so that your seat is as close to the base of the machine as possible. [5]
    • When you're in the catch position, make sure your torso is hinged forward at your hips, your arms are straight out in front of you, and your shins are no more than perpendicular to the floor. Don't slide your seat as close to your feet as possible, as this can cause you to lean back. If you start your stroke with your shoulders behind your hips, you'll use your back in your push-off, which weakens your stroke and increases your risk of injury.
    • Remember to keep your core engaged.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Performing a Drive

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  1. Your legs will do most of the work during your drives. Use the power you have in your leg muscles to push yourself. Keep your arms and upper body neutral at this time. [6]
    • Your legs should do 60% of the work while rowing.
  2. Roll your feet down onto the footplate so that they’re flat once your legs are fully extended. Flow directly into the upper body shift just before your legs are fully extended. [7]
  3. Be very careful with this step because you don’t want to curve your spine. Instead, hinge at your waist so that your entire upper body leans back with your spine straight and your core engaged. As soon as you lean back, start pulling with your arms. [8]
    • Your core will do about 20% of the work during your drive.
  4. The arm motion is the final part of a rowing sequence. Bend your elbows to bring the handle toward you. Keep your wrists straight to protect them from injury. [9]
    • Your arms should provide the final 20% of power to complete your drive.
  5. It’s really important to follow through when you do the arm motion so you get the full upper body workout. When the handle is down at your rib cage, make sure your elbows are angled behind you and not at your sides. Keep them close to your body. [10]
    • This position is called “the finish” because it’s the end of the drive. Check that your legs are extended, your core is engaged, your upper body is leaning slightly back, and your handgrip is just below your rib cage.
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Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Completing the Recovery

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  1. During your recovery, you’ll reverse the order of the drive. Start by straightening out your elbows to push the handle back out in front of you. Once your arms are extended, go directly into the upper body shift. [11]
    • Remember to keep your wrists straight as you do this.
    • Don’t let go of the handle because the cord on the machine might snap back.
  2. Keep your core engaged as you lean back up. Remember to hinge forward at your waist without curving your spine. [12]
    • Your legs will stay fully extended until you’re sitting back up.
  3. You’re almost there! Release the tension in your legs to slide back toward the base of the machine. Bend your legs as far as you comfortably can to return to “the catch” position. [13]
    • This completes 1 stroke.
  4. A single stroke on a rowing machine has a drive and a recovery. At first, you might focus on mastering your form without worrying about how many strokes you're doing or how long you're rowing. Later, set a time limit to your workout or set a goal for how many meters you'll row. You might also use a preset rowing machine workout. [14]
    • At first, you might set a goal to row for 10 minutes straight. As the exercise becomes easier for you, try increasing your goal by 10 minutes at a time until you can do a 30 to 40 minute workout on the rowing machine.
    • For an interval workout, you might row 1 minute on and then rest for 1 minute. Do this for 30 to 40 minutes to get a full body workout.
    • You might also set a goal to row 1,000 meters. Once this becomes easy for you, try increasing the distance or doing multiple rounds of 1,000 meters with rests in between.
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  • Question
    Is a rowing machine good for abs?
    Michele Dolan
    Certified Fitness Trainer
    Michele Dolan is a Fitness Trainer based in Sidney, British Columbia. She has been a personal trainer and fitness instructor since 2002, and was certified as a Personal Trainer by the British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA). Michele is also a Registered Clinical Counselor, and uses her 20+ years of fitness coaching experience to help clients understand their mind-body connection. She is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Certified Clinical Counsellor (CCC), certified by the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. In her work, Michele uses the tools of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectic Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. She practices and teaches mindfulness and acceptance in all of her coaching work. She holds a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology.
    Michele Dolan
    Certified Fitness Trainer
    Expert Answer
    Yes, rowing works the abs and all the stabilizing muscles of the torso, as well as the psoas in the pelvis.
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  • Question
    What does the rowing machine do to your body?
    Michele Dolan
    Certified Fitness Trainer
    Michele Dolan is a Fitness Trainer based in Sidney, British Columbia. She has been a personal trainer and fitness instructor since 2002, and was certified as a Personal Trainer by the British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA). Michele is also a Registered Clinical Counselor, and uses her 20+ years of fitness coaching experience to help clients understand their mind-body connection. She is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Certified Clinical Counsellor (CCC), certified by the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. In her work, Michele uses the tools of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectic Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. She practices and teaches mindfulness and acceptance in all of her coaching work. She holds a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology.
    Michele Dolan
    Certified Fitness Trainer
    Expert Answer
    When performed correctly and with intensity, the rowing machine exercises the cardiorespiratory system and most of the major muscles in your body, building physical endurance and strength.
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  • Question
    Which muscles does a rowing machine work?
    Michele Dolan
    Certified Fitness Trainer
    Michele Dolan is a Fitness Trainer based in Sidney, British Columbia. She has been a personal trainer and fitness instructor since 2002, and was certified as a Personal Trainer by the British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA). Michele is also a Registered Clinical Counselor, and uses her 20+ years of fitness coaching experience to help clients understand their mind-body connection. She is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Certified Clinical Counsellor (CCC), certified by the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. In her work, Michele uses the tools of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectic Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. She practices and teaches mindfulness and acceptance in all of her coaching work. She holds a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology.
    Michele Dolan
    Certified Fitness Trainer
    Expert Answer
    Rowing on an erg, or rowing machine, works primarily the quadriceps, gluteus maximus, abdominals, the back (latissimus dorsi, rhomboids, spinal erectors) plus the shoulders (posterior deltoids) and arms (biceps).
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      Tips

      • Move your legs and then your upper body on your drive. Don’t move both at the same time or move your upper body first. [15]
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      • Practice using just your legs so you don’t overuse your upper body. Do several repetitions where you just push off with your legs and leave your arms extended.
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      • Try to keep your motion fluid.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.mensjournal.com/health-fitness/ultimate-guide-rowing-machine/
      2. ↑ https://www.theactivetimes.com/how-use-rowing-machine
      3. ↑ https://www.concept2.com/indoor-rowers/training/technique-videos
      4. ↑ https://www.mensjournal.com/health-fitness/ultimate-guide-rowing-machine/
      5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0dzPz0tD5I&feature=youtu.be&t=54
      6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0r_ZPXJLtg&feature=youtu.be&t=63
      7. ↑ https://www.mensjournal.com/health-fitness/ultimate-guide-rowing-machine/
      8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0dzPz0tD5I&feature=youtu.be&t=123
      9. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0r_ZPXJLtg&feature=youtu.be&t=67
      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0dzPz0tD5I&feature=youtu.be&t=193
      2. ↑ https://www.mensjournal.com/health-fitness/ultimate-guide-rowing-machine/
      3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0r_ZPXJLtg&feature=youtu.be&t=31
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0dzPz0tD5I&feature=youtu.be&t=187
      5. ↑ https://www.mensjournal.com/health-fitness/ultimate-guide-rowing-machine/
      6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0dzPz0tD5I&feature=youtu.be&t=141

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To row on a rowing machine, start by locking your feet into the straps and grabbing the handle with both hands. Then, bend your knees so your body is near the handle at the front of the machine. When you're ready, push off of the foot plate with your leg muscles. Once your legs are straightened out, lean back to a 45-degree angle and pull the handle toward your chest. Finally, extend your arms and lean forward while bending your knees to return to the starting position. To learn how to avoid common rowing machine mistakes, scroll down!

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