CRSD

Rowing is one of the best forms of exercise. As a low impact sport that uses 86% of your muscles, rowing is accessible for people of all ages. Because rowing engages your entire body in both a cardio and muscle-building workout at the same time, you get full body fitness benefits in a fraction of the time commitment of other popular workout routines. Many people mistakenly believe that rowing is primarily an upper body sport. While that is true of many paddle sports, rowing is actually a 60% leg, 30% abs and lats, and 10% arm sport. Using primarily the body's largest muscles, rowing burns more calories in less time while the mechanics of rowing place less strain and tension on joints than the majority of other sports. This makes rowing a sport that can be started and enjoyed at any age, and a perfect form of fitness for both beginner gym users and elite athletes.

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Rowing is a very versatile sport as it can be done indoors and outdoors, on land and on water. Rowing allows you to enjoy the serenity of a sunrise or sunset on your favorite body of water, revel in the camaraderie of training hard with your crew, or feel the adrenaline rush at the start of a regatta, all in one sport.  If the weather is inclement or you are not in the mood to face water, rowing can be enjoyed indoors on an ergometer. Invented in the 1980s, air resistance based indoor rowers have become so popular, indoor rowing is now a competitive sport with national and international competitions. Original manufacturer, Concept2, also hosts online challenges to keep athletes engaged with the growing indoor rowing community, and group fitness gyms like Row House add a social element to the sport of indoor rowing. Leisurely sculling in a single in search of dolphins, training with your crew in an 8+, racing with your crew in a quad, or pushing toward a new personal best on an erg--rowing offers endless opportunities for fitness, friendship, and fun.

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Rowing teaches important life lessons of persistence, motivation, teamwork, being in the moment, and connecting with your inner purpose. A sport that demands precision, even the best rowers in the world never reach perfection. While a student can quickly learn how to move and maneuver a rowing shell, the timing and synchronization required of the row stroke engage rowers in a lifetime of practice. Students quickly learn that repetition brings progress and skill. ​Whether rowing on the water or on an erg, alone or with a crew, there is always the split to drop, the endurance to build, the rhythm to improve. We aren't going to lie to you--rowing is a challenging sport. There are so many challenges to face--fear of flipping the boat, throwing the rest of the crew off, being the slowest on the crew, utter exhaustion, callouses on your hands. But facing those challenges builds character and grit and leads to so many benefits, including a fit body and mind, the healthy joy of sunshine, fresh air, and water, and the boost in confidence that you can succeed in a challenging sport.