Indoor rowing on a Concept2 rower has been my solution to keeping in shape. I usually row for 30-40 minutes 3 times a week at a low load. It’s a compound exercise, working the legs, core and upper body muscles (87% of all muscles supposedly) while sparing the joints. Also very convenient, no need to get dressed like for the gym or running.
It took months to get up to speed with a lot of initial back pain, but the strength gained has done away with back issues I used to have.
Some tips:
- use a good BT heart rate monitor the like Polar H10 (can also be used to measure Heart Rate Variability/HRV as a measure of fitness) to avoid overexertion and record sessions with the Concept2 ErgData app to see progress
- follow the stretching advice from Concept2, at beginning and end of session
- ease into the workouts over weeks and learn the right technique, e.g. from YT channels like Dark Horse rowing to avoid back injury and slowly build muscle
- the newest Concept2 has a phone/pad holder. I got a second holder for my phone to be able to follow and record the session with ErgData while watching stuff on an iPad. In the lastest iteration I’ve added an old monitor with an Apple TV. But now trying to Dopamine diet and ‘do nothing’ while rowing.
It took months to get up to speed with a lot of initial back pain, but the strength gained has done away with back issues I used to have.
Some tips:
- use a good BT heart rate monitor the like Polar H10 (can also be used to measure Heart Rate Variability/HRV as a measure of fitness) to avoid overexertion and record sessions with the Concept2 ErgData app to see progress
- follow the stretching advice from Concept2, at beginning and end of session
- ease into the workouts over weeks and learn the right technique, e.g. from YT channels like Dark Horse rowing to avoid back injury and slowly build muscle
- the newest Concept2 has a phone/pad holder. I got a second holder for my phone to be able to follow and record the session with ErgData while watching stuff on an iPad. In the lastest iteration I’ve added an old monitor with an Apple TV. But now trying to Dopamine diet and ‘do nothing’ while rowing.