There’s a lot more to the common rowing stroke on a rowing machine than you might think. When done correctly, rowing can be a calming, invigorating exercise routine that challenges the mind and body, bringing a sense of peace and order after a long workout.
After you read more about the meditative benefits of rowing below, you may want to consider introducing your child to the sport in a youth rowing camp to help their mental and physical development.
Repetitive Movement Helps Reduce Stress
Any vigorous exercise can lower your stress level. Physical exertion releases calming neurotransmitters, including dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins. Have you ever heard of the runner’s high? That’s neurotransmitters flowing through your bloodstream, relaxing and destressing you.
Rowing is particularly good at creating this effect, too. Science suggests that a repetitive movement pattern such as rowing can be meditative and calming, leading to improved mental health and stress reduction.
Rowing machines are an excellent way to enjoy this exercise’s mental health benefits, but it gets even better when you go outdoors. Being on the water is a calming experience in and of itself. The sound and appearance of the calm water, the beauty of nature, fresh air, and rhythmic rowing motion combine to calm the body and soul.
“You’re moving through space, with nature and elements all around you,” according to Jo Hannafin, an orthopedic surgeon in New York. “The water can be spectacularly calming.”
Rowing Can Improve Brain Health
Millions of people have dementia, such as Alzheimer’s, as they get older. To fight this growing problem, experts recommend boosting physical activity to safeguard the brain cells from aging.
A recent clinical study had subjects engage in 12 weeks of aerobic exercise, including rowing. The test group had a 2.3% increase in their hippocampal volume. The size of the hippocampus is associated with our ability to remember information.
Other studies have shown that six months of aerobic exercise, including rowing, elevates serum BDNF, which led to a 45% boost in concentration in study subjects. Another study suggests that two months of daily rowing can enhance your reaction time by 12-24%.
Other Benefits Of Rowing
Rowing has oodles of benefits for mental health. But what about the physical benefits? Oh, there are many! Here are a few:
Full-Body Exercise
You will work most of the muscles in your body when you row; in fact, it’s estimated you’ll use 86% of your body’s muscles! What other exercise does that?
Less Risk of Injury
Whether young or old, you’ll have fewer injuries when you row because there is little impact. Also, you can go at a high intensity without beating up your joints. Also, a rowing machine lets you quickly change up your distance, pace, and resistance.
Enhance Lower-Body Conditioning
Many beginners don’t realize it, but your legs and rear receive about 60% of the workout in rowing. Your arms get about 10%, and the core roughly 30%. After just a few activities, you should start to see improved strength and definition in your upper and lower legs.
Improved Posture
A rowing machine mainly utilizes the legs, back, and core, so it’s a massive help for improving posture. It also is helpful to work the muscles in your backside. It’s vital to work the muscle chain in the posterior to boost muscle strength, lower the risk of injury, and correct posture problems.
Burn Calories
Like most intense physical activity, rowing burns through the calories! Rowing involves a healthy mix of cardio and strength training, making it a highly efficient calorie burner. Depending on weight, you can burn 400 or 500 calories per hour with your rowing machine.
There’s no question rowing will do so much for your mind and body. Ready to give it a try?
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