Month: November 2019

I full-on snub my gym's rowing machine. Not because the repetition bores me or because I dislike the cardio machine, but because every single time I incorporate it into my routine, I leave the gym with uncomfortable back pain.

Still, ignoring the rowing machine has always felt like a missed opportunity — especially considering they're in way less demand than the treadmills — so I reached out to a trainer to learn more about the right way to use it and the common mistakes that tend to cause injuries and back pain.

Turns out, when used properly, the rowing machine can be a huge asset to your training game — working the calf muscles, hamstrings, quadriceps, and glutes, as well as the upper body.

“The rowing machine is a great calorie-burning workout due to the high energy expenditure required for the large muscle groups involved in this full body movement,” Delia McNally, a NASM-certified personal trainer at New York Health and Racquet Club in New York City, explained.

“It is also a great cardiorespiratory workout due to required work from your heart and lungs during the repeated large muscle group movements.”

And unlike jumping movements in, say, a HIIT class, McNally said a rowing session can be considered a low-impact exercise, as it doesn't put a high amount of stress on the joints.

When used improperly (and the rowing machine isn't exactly second-nature or self-explanatory), injuries are a reality.

McNally said the biggest mistakes she sees involve rounding or hunching the shoulders or extending the back too far into an uncomfortable position.

“These improper forms can lead to back pain due to unwanted stress on the back extension muscles. Rounding of the shoulders can cause upper-back soreness and neck pain,” McNally noted.

There's also a chance that overuse injuries could occur at the knee and the hip due to inflammation at the joints — though McNally said those issues could subside if resistance training is added into one's routine to increase strength.

Lower back pain, specifically, tends to occur because of improper form and a lack of core strength.

So, to avoid injury, it's important to invest time into perfecting your form. McNally suggested viewing rowing as two separate movements —=‚ the drive and the recovery.

The Drive
“The start of the drive movement is at the front of the machine with the individuals knees fully flexed and their elbows past their knees. Ensure that the back is straight and there is no hunching of the shoulders,” McNally said.

“From this position the individual will powerfully drive back by pushing the seat back through extension of the lower body, the legs wilRead More – Source

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Barbara Palvin and Dylan Sprouse are arguably one of the most adorable (and best-looking) celebrity couples out there. After the pair began officially dating in June 2018 when Dylan slid into Barbara's Instagram DMs, they've become almost inseparable and even moved in together earlier this year. Since then, it's become clear that the duo know what they're doing when it comes to fashion. Barbara and Dylan also tend to match their red carpet outfits, which is absolutely #couplegoals if we've ever seen it. Keep reading for their best style moments, incRead More – Source

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The 2019 ARIA Awards (Australia's version of the American Music Awards) took place in Sydney on Wednesday night, with local and international artists both in attendance. One person we have been impatiently awaiting to see is Dua Lipa, and it's safe to say she did not disappoint. Clad in a white mini dress with a feathered neckline, there's no denying that the songstress was “hotter than hell” while walking the red carpet.

It's certainly been a busy week for Dua, who performed at the AMAs a mere three days ago. There, she sang the first single from her upcoming album, 'Don't Start Now' and she lit up the stage with the same tune in Sydney too. As much as Dua's appearances at both the ARIAs and the AMAs have some striking similarities, there is one key difference: sadly, she did not bring boyfriend Read More – Source

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