I enjoy using rowing machines, both air and water powered, to give me a full body workout and keep my joints from damage caused by impact exercises like jogging or jump rope. Since I have started using a rowing machine I have noticed a big improvement in my muscle tone, and it has been greatly appreciated by my husband. However rowers should be used with caution until you are comfortable using the equipment. When I first started using my rower I did not sit straight up and I ended up wrenching my back out. After two weeks of agony, and not a little embarrassment and good natured joking from friends, the lesson was learned and I have never slouched on the rowing machine again. Because of the pain I gained valuable insight, so the old saying no pain no gain was aptly true under these circumstances.

Rowing machines vary according to the make and model, so I had to try out several before I found one that felt like a good match for me personally. Some of the machines felt stiff and rough, while others had minimal resistance that did not meet my needs. I also vary my workouts on the machine, rotating between using mostly my legs some days, and mostly my arms on others, to ensure even development of my muscles. I also came to the conclusion that burning is not necessarily a good thing, unlike what some may say. Too much of a burn and my workout started to feel like that fabled biblical place filled with fire and brimstone, making me dread these sessions. By easing up I saved the pain and still got an effective workout without doing major damage to my shoulder muscles. After all, if I am hurt I can not follow my routine, and this affects the results from my workout. I also hum Row, Row, Row Your Boat while using my machine, to add some levity to an otherwise boring chore.