Articles of Interest

If you're serious about fitness, I'm sure you've thought about putting together a home gym. It could be a Zen sort of place where you can suffer and improve yourself in peace and quiet away from the chaos of the outside world, or a raucous corner of the world where you can workout with just your friends and no one else.

I'm certain you've given some thought as to which fitness equipment you want installed in your gym. You've probably done a lot of reading on Internet fitness sites and discovered most of them have little information and a few are actually unsafe. When you look at glossy ads, trying to make a decision, you find it difficult to determine which equipment will benefit you and which can cause you harm.

One piece of equipment that will give you the most bang for the buck over the long run is a rowing machine. While it may not provide the versatility of something like an exercise ball and is a bit more costly, it's is nowhere near as expensive as a decent treadmill.

Part of the huge price difference between top of the line rowing machines and top of the line treadmills are the complicated mechanics and motors and ultra-sturdy frame of the latter that have to withstand pounding from people weighing 300 lbs or more. The former, on the other hand, can use simple parts made well, which always cost less than well-made complicated parts.

You may think a rowing machine offers only a single set of exercises, and the only thing you can vary is repetitions. However, it is possible to perform the same types of sprints and distance training you do on a treadmill or stationary bicycle. The significant difference with a rower is the workout you give your arms and chest.

A rowing machine, however, does have limitations. It is not particularly useful for developing abs, triceps, chest, or shoulders. Those beach muscles will need additional work in order to balance out what the rowing machine will do for your back, biceps, legs, and butt. Regarding your legs, however, there is generally only one movement pattern involved with using the rowing machine. Therefore, you should vary your leg exercises so that you don't run the risk of developing strain injuries from too much repetition.