How Hydrow Became the Heart of My Family’s Fitness Routine

This blog is a guest post from a Hydrow Member. 

In our house, fitness isn’t just a personal goal—it’s a family value. It’s how we stay connected with others and keep showing up for the lives we want to lead. My wife and I have always made movement a priority, not just for the physical benefits, but because it gives us energy, resilience and an outlet to combat the other stressors in our life while building mental fortitude along the way.

But keeping that rhythm alive for all three of us, including our son, hasn’t always been easy. My wife has multiple sclerosis, and the Arizona heat takes a toll on her overall health and energy. Meanwhile, our 19-year-old son is on the autism spectrum and isn’t drawn to fitness the same way we are. He’s a gamer through and through, and like many teenagers, he’s not exactly thrilled by the idea of getting up early to work out (or any time of the day, for that matter…).

We wanted a piece of exercise equipment that could meet all of our needs. For my better half, it had to be low-impact, but full body engagement and usable year-round (vs. an unheated pool). For our son, it needed to be both structured and straightforward, with enough consistency that he could get used to it. 

And for me? I needed something that could complement my outdoor workouts, help me continue building full-body fitness to meet my obstacle course racing goals, and still fit into my busy mornings before a day of video calls and coding. 

Why we chose Hydrow

We researched multiple types of equipment, including treadmills and spin bikes, and eventually narrowed our search down to just rowing machines due to their whole-body engagement. Hydrow stood out for one key reason: its on-the-water workouts. I grew up on the water, and watching real Athletes row in real-time on rivers and lakes, in picturesque settings, was very compelling.  It made the experience feel more authentic and engaging, especially when compared to studio-style classes.

These days, Hydrow is a fixture in our weekly routine. My wife and son use it three to four times a week, and I’m on it a couple times a week, whether for a recovery day Breathe workout or a fitness-building HIIT session, depending on my biking and running schedule. 

Getting my son started on the Hydrow wasn’t seamless, though—we had to move from a “minutes” goal to a “meters rowed” goal because he quickly figured out how to coast through a session. But once he found an instructor he connected with (shout-out to James!), things clicked. It’s not about speed or intensity for him—it’s about movement, habits, and health.

A tool for longevity 

Turning 50 gave me a lot to reflect on. I don’t need to be as fast as I was in my 30s, but I do want to stay capable. I want to be the guy who can say “yes” to a mountain bike ride or a long hike without hesitation—not the guy who says “yes” and regrets it halfway through (my people-pleaser tendencies prevent me from turning those invites down when better judgement probably would!). 

Hydrow helps with that. It builds core strength, improves stability, and fits in perfectly on days when I’m not running the local trails or mountain biking along the nearby singletrack. It’s not just a workout—it’s a way to stay strong, consistent, and ready for whatever comes next.

More than a machine

At the end of the day, Hydrow is about more than fitness. It’s how we stay connected—to our health, to others, and to the routines that support us and the goals we strive toward. Whether it’s helping my wife power through the Arizona heat, giving my son a structured and accessible way to build strength and cardio fitness, or giving me a full-body alternative to biking and running, Hydrow checks all the boxes. And it’s something our family has come to count on.