What is a good cardio workout at home?

You already know that cardio is good for your overall health. Research has long shown that revving up your heart rate regularly can keep your cells healthy, regulate your metabolism, boost your mood, strengthen your heart, and so much more. However, with the hustle and bustle of today's world, finding the time for cardiovascular activity can be tough - especially if that means having to leave the house to get to a fitness center. 

Driving to the gym to exercise may sound like a simple task, but when you throw teacher-parent conferences, a relentless pile of laundry, and work meetings into the mix, it's easy to see how it can get thrown onto the back-burner. The good news is that with the right equipment, cardio can be done at home when you have just a few minutes to spare - but how? 

If you've been looking for a way to get in a good cardio workout from the comfort of your own home, then you're in luck because an indoor rowing machine can help. An indoor rower is a piece of equipment that mimics the motion of rowing in the water. They are easy to use and won't take up too much space in your home, unlike other popular pieces of equipment like a treadmill, which can be quite bulky. 

When used correctly, an indoor rower can provide a challenging cardio workout. In this article, we'll cover the following: - Why rowing is such good cardio - How rowing compares to other forms of cardio - The benefits of an indoor rower

Let's dive in, shall we?

Why is Rowing Such a Good Cardio Workout?

The majority of us grew up running, biking, and swimming, so the actual mechanics of the exercise are second nature. However, rowing, on the other hand, is usually a new exercise, so it's much more challenging. It will require more effort to get it right, but the cardio benefits of rowing are well worth it.  

As for the movement itself, rowing is more of a combination exercise - working both muscular and cardiovascular endurance. To row correctly, you need to use your lower and upper body almost simultaneously.

Rowing works multiple major muscle groups, like the arms, legs, shoulders, and core, at one time. The required push and pull is fairly unique to stationary machines, and the set up means that you're getting cardiovascular training and strength training in one low-impact, non-weight bearing workout. 

How Does Rowing Compare to Other Forms of Cardio?

When compared to other methods of cardio, an indoor rower proves to be superior. Why, might you ask? For starters, rowing can burn up to 600 to 800 calories per hour, and as we mentioned, rowing is low-impact, so it's ideal for those looking to cross-train. 

In addition, rowing also provides a much greater range of muscle work than other cardio machines. It ignites just about every muscle in the upper and lower body, as well as the core. When you think about it, few other machines can boast the same full-body benefits of an indoor rower. 

 What Are The Benefits of an Indoor Rower?

Rowing is an incredible way to workout. It gets your heart pumping and will leave you sweating from head to toe in as little as ten minutes. Although we touched on a few, here are some of the amazing benefits that users love about an indoor rowing machine:

It saves time. As we mentioned, rowing is not only a great way to boost your cardiovascular health, but it's also an ideal way to strengthen your muscles as well. If you are looking to save time, but still get in a great workout, an indoor rower can do just that. Not only can you burn up to 800 calories per hour, but rowing utilizes 86% of the muscles within your body. This means you can get in both cardio and strength training, all in one workout from an indoor rowing machine at home. 

It's good for all fitness levels. It doesn't matter if you're the strongest bodybuilder on the block or completely new to the exciting world of fitness, an indoor rower is easy to use and caters to all fitness levels. Only you are in control of the rower so it is up to you to decide how much effort you put into your workout to make it harder or easier if needed. An indoor rower like The Hydrow offers fun and challenging workouts for varying fitness levels that are available at your fingertips. This will help to track your progress to help keep you on your fitness journey to reach your personal goals. 

Recap

So, what is a good cardio workout at home, you might ask? 

Although there are a ton of options when it comes to at-home cardio machines, it's easy to see why an indoor rower is superior. Rowing is an exceptional way to exercise that does so much more than just provide good cardio. Not only will an indoor rowing machine get your heart pumping, but it's a fun, total body workout that will motivate and challenge you.