G … row fit

If you’re looking for a great workout—one that involves just about every important muscle group—try rowing. As anyone who’s ever tried it can attest, rowing is a sport that looks simple but that requires the combination of a whole set of body mechanics in just the right sequence to manage any results (and stay upright and dry)—a little like the deceptively simple sport of whacking a small dimpled ball with a skinny metal club.

But for anyone who’s stuck with the sport, the rewards are immense. Quite apart from participating in a collegial community where those who compete meet each other at regattas just about anywhere in the world, the sport of rowing is one of the best forms of exercise one could ask for.

According to fitness experts, rowing is a low-impact sport that burns more calories than cycling or treadmill running—between 400 and 1,000 calories per hour depending on intensity—and activates all the major muscle groups as well as the cardiovascular system. All this and it’s low-impact as well, meaning that people with joint problems can have an excellent workout without any negative impact.

The benefits of this great sport aren’t confined to the water, however. If you’ve been to a gym you may have seen the indoor rowing machines along the wall. These machines allow you to mimic the motions of rowing on the water—without the learning curve (and the possibility of a cool dunk).

Look for a fitness trainer at the gym to show you the correct technique, so you can get the greatest (fitness) distance for every rowing stroke.

Enjoy another exciting sport that requires water and paddles in the article "Kayaks".