I used to row competitively in my youth, but since then, my rowing exersise had been limited to occasional workouts on an aging hydraulic machine.

I had no idea how much technology had advanced in this area, until I was offered a trial of a new WaterRower exercise machine.

The first obvious difference that I noticed was the use of a flywheel which used paddles to connect to a moving mass of water. Just like rowing on water, the connection was fluid, with none of the jerkiness and jarring typical of other rowing machines.

The WaterRower's flywheel has been designed to emulate the dynamics of a boat moving through water. When rowing, the workout is generated by overcoming the effect of drag as the boat moves through the water. So with the Water Flywheel the workout is generated by overcoming the effect of drag as the water moves past the tank.

When rowing on water, the faster you row, the faster you move the boat, and the greater the drag and greater the intensity of exercise required to maintain your speed.

The limit to the speed you can maintain is you, your physiology, and not the machine. Because the WaterRower's clutch engages the instant the handle is pulled there is no jerkiness or jarring at the beginning of the stroke and the wooden frame dampens much of the mechanical vibration typical of other exercise machinery.

The WaterRower's flywheel mechanism has been designed to replicate the physical dynamics of rowing, in the knowledge that this will achieve all of its physiological benefits.

Many rowing machines imitate the action of rowing, but they do so mechanically and often lack the natural dynamics experienced when a boat and crew glide down a river. When a crew row down a river they work to overcome the effect of drag which acts against the hull of the boat. The faster the boat is propelled the greater the drag and the harder the crew must work.

The flywheel reproduces these same natural dynamics.

Like other naturally performed aerobic pursuits such as swimming, running and cycling, to increase your intensity you don't increase resistance, you simply swim, run, cycle or row harder. The faster you go the higher your intensity.

When each crew member on a boat pulls a stroke, he or she works to accelerate the mass of the boat and crew. The effort is applied evenly throughout the whole stroke, utilizing the muscles of the legs, torso and upper body in unison, exercising the whole body uniformly.

Similarly, the rowers flywheel responds to the work applied, allowing constant effort through the whole stroke. this is unlike resistance based machines where effort is high at the beginning of the stroke and fades as the resistance is overcome.

The accuracy of the rower's mechanism and components provide an instantaneous pickup with the fluid connection of the flywheel giving smooth action free from any detrimental impact or jerkiness and therefore comfortable whatever level of workout is being performed.

My old hydraulic rower replicates the rowing action mechanically. This harsh action (as most rowing machine users will be aware) creates a mechanical fatigue, generating soreness and aching which are not experienced when actually rowing on water. The WaterRower replicates the action naturally, and hence is free from this mechanical fatigue.

This makes the exercise as pleasant as a row down the river. When rowing, an oarsperson works to overcome the effect of drag acting on the boat. The faster the boat moves, the more drag is created the harder the oarsperson must work to maintain that speed. The limit to how much work can be done is the oarsperson, their physiology, their ability to do work. The WaterRower's flywheel exactly replicates this self paced dynamic.

When the oarsperson on a boat draws a stroke, they are not working to overcome a resistance, but to accelerate the mass of the boat and crew. Unlike resistance (used to generate the workout on most rowing machines) the mass remains constant throughout the stroke.

The oarsperson works to accelerate the mass of the boat and crew evenly throughout the stroke. With the correct technique, this allows the oarsperson to spread the workout uniformly over all three major muscle groups.

Importantly this uniform distribution is done in proportion to the muscle strength, catering for the variation between individual physiques, improving the whole body benefit and helping to avoid injury.

Ask most fitness equipment users to work harder and they will immediately reach for the knob or button designed to increase resistance. Naturally performed aerobic exercises such as rowing, swimming, running and cycling dont have knobs to turn or a buttons to push, so how do you work harder?

In naturally performed aerobic exercises such as rowing, swimming, running or cycling, you increase or decrease your exercise intensity simply by going faster or slower. You do not increase an imposed resistance on yourself, you simply choose the intensity at which you wish to exercise and go at a speed which relates to that intensity.

The machine seemed to exercise all muscles evenly, and even a brief workout should burn calories and tone your body whether you are young or old, fit or unfit, ( like me!)

The WaterRower's water flywheel has been designed to replicate the dynamics of a boat moving through water. By doing so it not only replicates the precise physiological benefits of rowing like no other, but captures many of the aesthetic pleasures as well.

Just like a cruise down the river without getting wet!

About the Author: Author Antony Wilton has a popular Health and Fitness Site where he regularly comments on health and fitness trends and equipment at http://www.fitness-health-beauty.com

Source: www.isnare.com