Row, Row, Row Your Boat

Enjoy summer on the water with this challenging body and mind workout.

By Serena Yeh

The image of rowers gliding seamlessly across a lake makes rowing seem effortless. This could not be further from the truth.

Rowing not only requires physical strength, it also necessitates astute coordination and concentration. The result is worthwhile: a feeling of accomplishment and a full-body workout.

The benefits of rowing are wide-ranging. A competitive rower can burn a reported 850 to 1,050 calories per hour. Furthermore, it works multiple muscle groups, such as the quads, back and abdominal muscles.

“It’s low-impact. It’s ergonomic. The whole rowing technique is built around how our muscles work, how our bodies have developed to work,” says Texas Rowing Center Office Manager Jane Shepherd. “It’s working our muscles the way that they are designed to work and maximize the power of our muscles.” With the right technique, even people who have had knee or rotator-cuff surgeries can row without feeling any pain, and it may even help them recover from their injuries, Shepherd adds.

I had never rowed before, except for a few dismal attempts on the gym’s indoor rowing machine, but I never knew how to use it accurately. Transferring from indoor machine to outdoor rowing was unnerving. I grappled with the fear and possibility of capsizing in the vastness of Lady Bird Lake.

However, be assured that at the Texas Rowing Center, all rowers are provided with the option to wear a life jacket. The center, located along Lady Bird Lake, was founded in 1987 and provides Austin residents with rowing, canoeing, kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding options.

There are two types of rowing: sculling and sweep. The main difference between the two is the former involves two oars, whereas the latter involves a singular, longer oar. Sculling can also be an individual activity, but sweep rowing is a team sport that typically involves a coxswain who calls out instructions to steer the boat the right way.

Shepherd, who is also the instructor for the Introduction to Rowing course, started me out with sculling. She has 13 years of experience in rowing and has been with the center for five years. She eased me into rowing by guiding me through two stations for practice.

The first station was the indoor rowing machine, also known as the rowing ergometer commonly found in gyms. She went through the technique of rowing with me. Rowing requires a lot of mental work initially because the motion of rowing does not come intuitively. At the start of the movement, it feels natural to draw the legs in as the body moves forward, but the arms have to stretch ahead completely before the legs can be pulled in. I consciously and continuously replayed the movement in my head so I could follow. After I managed several rounds of accurate motion, Shepherd quickly moved me on to the next station.

The second station was on the dock trainer, which provides a simulated rowing experience with the actual rowing oars in water. The dock itself was rather shaky, and it gave me a hint of the actual currents I would feel.

There was a lot more to pay attention to. As much as I wanted to have full control of the oars, my hands had to grip the handles lightly, constantly shift my wrists and keep my left hand on top of the right so I could stay balanced.

After a few rounds of practice, Shepherd quickly moved me to the actual rowing shell.

“It’s nothing like being in the boat. I try not to spend too much time there because I think it builds a false sense of confidence,” Shepherd says.

She was right. I struggled with getting into the rowing shell, which was narrower than expected, as I wasn’t stable and there were light currents from the strong wind. It was definitely intimidating as a first-timer, but Shepherd’s instructions made the process easier.

While there was always the prospect of capsizing, I hardly thought of it as I enjoyed the sereneness of the lake. The trees that frame the lake provide a lush, natural escape. In the distance, the graffiti on the Austin Railroad Bridge can be seen, making it a quintessential Austin experience.

The best time to row during the summer is in the early mornings or evenings on weekdays to avoid a crowd. This is necessary to prevent having to constantly turn around to look out for anyone behind you, as rowing moves you backward.

One of the most popular routes rowers take is the roughly 3-mile route to Red Bud Isle and back. More seasoned rowers may travel across the entire span of Lady Bird Lake, taking in both the peaceful, natural environment and the downtown-skyline views. With the prospect of a full-body workout in the tranquil early morning environment of the lake, summer rowing now seems very enticing.

Texas Rowing Center, 1541 W. Cesar Chavez St., 512.467.7799, texasrowingcenter.com

Where to Row This Summer

Start with the Introduction to Rowing courses at either the Texas Rowing Center, which meets twice a week for three weeks, or the Austin Rowing Club (austinrowing.org), which meets twice a week for three and a half weeks.