Indoor rowing is one of the most complete forms of exercise you can do. It’s great for staying healthy and, most importantly, having fun.
What is indoor rowing?
Indoor rowing is the latest big thing in schools. You can keep track of how active you have been using the monitor and take part in all sorts of individual and team activities.
How much activity should I be doing?
The Schools on the Move recommendation of daily step targets for young people is 15,000 steps a day. For adults, the daily step target is 10,000 steps a day.
Hang on a minute…how can I do steps on an Indoor Rower?
Because indoor rowing exercises all of your main muscles at once, we’ve decided that every metre you row counts as 2 steps towards your total. Just record metres rowed and enter them on the SOTM website or on the Concept 2 Schools Logbook (http://www.concept2.co.uk/schoolslogbook/)
How can it help me?
Even if you are not so keen on running or ball sports, you can still be active with an indoor rower. You can play games and learn new skills, work in teams or on your own. It is a sitting down activity and really accessible by and just as much fun for those with disabilities.
Once you’ve got your activity levels up, indoor rowing is a gate-way to a healthy life. It is a good preparation for many sports, is ideal for maintaining a healthy weight and is available in most gyms and leisure centres around the country.
How to get started
STEP1
First, find an indoor rower you can use. Any SOTM school can take part as long as you have access to an indoor rowing machine.
STEP2
Basic, safe technique is easy to learn. Get a teacher to show you or look at the technique section of Concept2’s website for some ideas.
STEP 3
Get rowing, either on your own or with friends. You might like to enter a team in the Schools Indoor Rowing League.
STEP 4
Keep track of your progress and record the number of steps you do each day on the SOTM website. From there you can take indoor rowing wherever you want to go!
