fitness 2u2019
by Vicky Waite
I do receive mail and email with some nice comments on my column, “Staying Fit at Any Age.” I just recently received a letter in the mail regarding whether I ever reviewed the WaterRower. I got interested since it was a rowing machine with water. I called Martina, the gal who wrote the letter. She answered and I found her to be very pleasant to talk to.
I asked Martina, where could I go to test it out? She was quick to say that she has one and would be happy for me to come over and try it out. She lives in Philadelphia and since I am not good with directions or using the GPS, I needed Bill who always is my Chauffeur. He always is willing to tag along with no complaints. He’s better than a chauffeur, right? Besides, there is no assembling involved. That was enough to put a smile on Bill’s face.
Our meeting day came and I met Martina and this unique WaterRower. It is handcrafted in a solid ash wood, stained Honey Oak, and finished with Danish Oil. The wood absorbs sound and vibration enhancing the WaterRower’s smooth quietness. It features adjustable footrests, a comfortable seat and a soft easy-grip handle. The water flywheel consists of two paddles in an enclosed tank of water that provide a smooth quiet resistance.
The Series 4 performance monitor tracks workout intensity, stroke rate, heart rate, zone bar, duration and distance. I start to row and I feel that this is much more like a natural rowing, as if I am rowing a boat in water. The harder I pull, the more the resistance. It’s body friendly. The rowing stroke uses 84% of your muscle mass. Other common aerobic exercise equipment such as the treadmill, cycles, elliptical and even other rowing machines use far less muscle mass, burn fewer calories and produce less exercise benefits.
The WaterRower is for all, both young and old, male or female and big and small. Moving the joints through a full range of motion aids joint lubrication and joint mobility for overall joint health. The rowing action involving little to no impact on the joints. Rowing is the best exercise for arthritis. The amount of resistance placed on the joints is controlled by the user’s performance when rowing, not their body weight.
I would like to point out that there is no jerking or jarring like there is with conventional rowing machines. This is smooth, easy on the body and relaxing to the mind. It has a low center of gravity that keeps the rower in place while in full rowing power. It’s your choice whether you want an intense workout to tone your physique or a workout to keep fit.
This is a great calorie buster. You can easily burn about 600 to 1000 calories depending on your resistance per hour. The WaterRower works out many of your major muscles in both your upper and lower back. This is much kinder on your joints than other forms of cardio such as running. You can burn as many calories without putting your joints under stress. Rowing is a safe exercise that moves the joints through a complete range of motion with minimal impact.
Because rowing removes our body weight from our ankle, hip and knee joints, we can protect them from injury and wear and tear. Never a worry about the weather, you can “row your boat” safe and sound right in the comfort of your home.
The WaterRower is one of the most effective full body workouts you can do. Throughout the movements, your core is continually engaged to keep your back in a straight position. Rowing has been proven to improve your cardiovascular fitness much more effectively than other exercise machines. The weighted movements help to keep your joints healthy and avoid the risk of developing conditions that effect your mobility later in life such as arthritis, and they do this without the high intensity impact.
What’s my make of this WaterRower machine? I don’t care for rowing but I do love this! Always contact your physician before considering any exercise program. For more information go to waterrower.com.