Rowing is ideal exercise equipment for a full-body workout that burns around 800 calories per hour. Working out on a rowing machine for even a few minutes will be worth your while and deliver results within a few weeks. If you are on the lookout for the best rowers, you should visit: https://www.northernfitness.ca/collections/rowers
But is a rowing machine effective for building your abs? That is what we will explore in this article. Many people believe that abs are a secondary muscle used while rowing and thus do not get much attention.
But that is not the case as rowing engages your core and abs throughout your workout on the rowing machine. There are many ways in which you can work your core while rowing and gain maximum abs benefits. Keep reading to know more about it.
Does Rowing Machine Benefit Abs?
With every rowing stroke, your core and abs are fully engaged, providing you a full-body workout. It hugely helps you in burning calories and tones your body. Your start developing your abs once you get rid of the fat on your stomach.
Rowing machine tones your stomach as it works your abdominal muscles and burns fat. With each rowing stroke, your abdominal muscles are engaged, which strengthens and tones them.
However, to build your abs you must engage your core correctly while rowing. Below are some ways that ensure your abs are engaged properly.
The Right Way To Engage Your Abs And Core While Rowing
Rowers unable to get a flat stomach from rowing is usually because they perform the rowing stroke incorrectly. You must ensure that your core and abs are engaged throughout the rowing stroke. Only then will you receive the desired outcomes.
Here is how you should engage your core and abs:
- Throughout your rowing stroke, tighten your abdominals and move your torso forward.
- Tighten your upper body when you push back with your legs and pull the handle toward your upper abdomen. Maintain an upright posture and keep your abs engaged.
- As you near the end, slightly move your back backward with your abs stabilizing your body’s movement.
- Now, return to the initial position with your abs moving the torso forward.
How You Can Gain Maximum Abs Benefits From A Rowing Machine
Some tips to develop your abs during rowing are as follows:
Straight Back Throughout Rowing
Keep your back straight when rowing. Avoid having a hunched over or rounded back as it may affect your performance.
You can fix a rounded back by sitting upright and core tightened. You would not hunch over with your abs engaged. Make sure your shoulders are pulled back while rowing.
Avoid Pulling With Only Your Arms
A rowing stroke may not be effective if you apply all your force in pulling the handle with your arms and may lead to injury. Your rowing should involve 20% of pulling with arms, 20% of engaging your core, and 60% of pushing with your legs. This way, you would not put an excessive burden on your arms and make your workout effective.
Avoid Rushing Your Row
Make sure you do not rush your row. If your body is moving around or your lower body keeps coming toward the rower, it indicates you are in haste while rowing. Doing so will render your workout ineffective and would not deliver the best results.
At the end of every rowing stroke, slide forward gradually, ensuring that your core is firm enough to stabilize your body. Sliding forward works your abs, so make sure you tighten them and maintain the right posture.
Lean Back Slightly
If you want to tone your core and abs, lean back a little when you push your body backward with your legs fully extended. Stay in the position until your abs tremble. Further, to exercise the sides of your core, you can pull the handle toward the right and then to the left during rowing strokes.
It will work your obliques and strengthen your core and abs. You could tone your body much better with these additional rowing moves.
The Bottom Line
Hopefully, now you are familiar with the correct use of a rowing machine to gain maximum abs benefits. Rowing regularly will surely help you achieve your goal of toned abs and a flat stomach. Bear in mind that getting the desired six-pack abs takes time and patience until you start seeing results. So, plan and execute your exercises efficiently and keep rowing!
