Sports psychologist Chris Shambrook, who has worked with Team GB on five Olympic Games, says this idea of personal pacing is one of the psychological benefits of returning to rowing at this point in life. . “The way you define success may include more of a personal growth element,” he rightly points out. “Success is more likely to be a challenge that you can take on yourself. By making the choice to go back, you can play and see your progress instead of striving for perfection, etc. , you can explore and be curious.”
He’s right. My goal at the moment is to improve my technique as much as I get physically fit, and to try to spend as much time on the water as possible, ideally as part of a fairly regular crew. is. I’ve already met some lovely women around my age or older who have a refreshingly no-nonsense approach to rowing. They just want to get on the water and so do I. So we got to the boathouse early, were out of the water by 10am, had a nice cup of coffee, and then headed back to our families without doing anything.
But rowing is an addictive sport, and after just four months on the boat, I’ve already signed up for not just one but two weekend sessions. A few weekends ago, I competed in the Masters Women’s Eight in my first head race since college and won a medal to boot. Now the river is frigid and it can be difficult to get on the water in the winter due to flooding, but I signed up for another race in a few weeks anyway. It seems that the gravitational pull of water is stronger than I expected.
7 proven health and fitness benefits of rowing for women
- It’s low impact, so it’s a great way to reduce stress on major joints.
- The strength and conditioning training that is part of rowing training can help offset osteoporosis and build high levels of bone density both before and after menopause.
- It requires mobility and balance.
- It helps increase muscle mass throughout the body and prevents sarcopenia (muscle loss) that begins after age 35.
- It’s like a moving meditation and is great for the mind as well as the body.
- Weight training and circuit training outside of the water can be extremely empowering.
- Upgrade your entire physique, including your back, arms, abs, chest, and glutes.