Two Starting Points, One Solution: How LYQUID Works for Any Fitness Level

This blog is a guest post from Hydrow Member Becky Hooman.

I’ve always been an active person. Running especially has been a constant in my life—on and off since college, through different seasons and routines. Even now, in retirement, it’s still the thing I come back to.

But strength training has always been a different story. 

It’s not that I’ve ever doubted its importance—especially now, as I’m about to turn 67. At this point, staying strong isn’t just about performance: It’s about feeling capable and maintaining independence. My challenge has always been consistency. Strength training takes planning, structure, and mental effort, which has made it easy to put off, even when I know I need it. 

My husband Steve has had an entirely different experience.

After 35 years in a largely sedentary profession, exercise was never something that naturally fit into his routine. He enjoys being active outdoors—biking, mostly—but gyms never worked for him. The noise, the crowds, and the complexity of the equipment all created more friction than motivation.

So, while I was trying to make strength training stick, he was still trying to find a way to begin.

Finding something that works for both of us

We originally brought a Hydrow rowing machine into our home to support my running, especially during the winter months. When LYQUID came out, it felt like it might finally solve the piece I had been missing. 

For me, it was about building strength in a way that felt manageable—especially after dealing with sciatica and other lingering issues that had started to interrupt my running. 

For Steve, the goal was simpler: to reduce the aches and pains that come with getting older. 

Removing the friction from strength training

What stood out right away with LYQUID was how easy it was to get started. There’s no need to design a workout or think through what to do next. You’re guided through each session, with clear instructions and visuals that show exactly which muscles you’re working. 

For me, that structure added clarity—and for Steve, it has removed uncertainty entirely. 

“It’s very easy to follow,” he said. “That’s the beauty of it. It’s not complicated at all.” 

Even the isokinetic resistance in React Mode quickly became intuitive after feeling really different at first. Once you understand that the machine responds to how much effort you put in, everything starts to click. 

Two starting points, one outcome

What’s been most striking is how well LYQUID works for both of us, despite starting from completely different places. Within a few weeks, we’ve both noticed changes. 

For me, it shows up in small, everyday moments. Lifting our heavy king-size mattress to change the fitted sheets has become easier. A lingering foot issue I’ve been dealing with for nearly a year has improved. And movements that once felt difficult, especially core-related, are starting to feel more accessible.

Steve notices it differently. Going up and down the stairs now feels easier—there’s more control and less effort. Even a long-standing tightness in his shoulder and hand seems to ease after workouts.

“I don’t think it’s a placebo effect,” he said. “I really feel that I’m stronger now.”

They’re small shifts—but certainly meaningful ones.

How LYQUID is making strength training stick

If there’s one thing that keeps us coming back, it’s how quickly you feel progress. You don’t have to commit to LYQUID for months to see results. And even short sessions—think 10 or 15 minutes—feel worthwhile. 

“Every time I do it I feel like, oh my god, I’m already feeling stronger,” Steve said. “Who knows, in another month or maybe half a year, I’ll be this real Adonis, you know?” 

Just as importantly, LYQUID removes the mental load. You don’t have to plan or second-guess what you’re doing. You simply start, and the system takes care of the rest.

A strength system that meets you where you are

If you’ve never exercised before, you can step on LYQUID and feel comfortable almost immediately. If you’ve been active for years, it still has the ability to challenge you. 

That balance is what has made it work for us. 

We came to strength training from two different starting points, but have experienced the same result: a way to build strength that feels effective, sustainable, and—most importantly—something we both want to keep doing.