Concept2 Forum

Do you have a suggested stretching and/or yoga routine that counterbalances your rowing training? If so, please share. Thanks so much, and have a nice day!

KBrower wrote: ↑

December 22nd, 2022, 12:24 pm

Do you have a suggested stretching and/or yoga routine that counterbalances your rowing training? If so, please share. Thanks so much, and have a nice day!

The main stretches to counter balance rowing would be the cobra pose, upward dog and the warrior pose. All other stretching could be done by a runners cool down stretching routine. Something based on a dance, or martial arts stretching routine would be a bit more involved but would cover all the needs. Depends on your need or desire really.
Keep it simple and don't hold each one for more than 12 to 15 seconds. Either stretch within 5 mins of the row or do a separate session on its own day as a workout. I always try and do mine after as it is done.
Stretching more than 12 to 15 secs is not needed if its just to keep from stiffening up, longer could end up tiring you out.

In addition to Dutch's suggestions, I love reverse planks, for strength and stretch, dead hangs if you've got a pull-up bar, ' broken wing' and what is referred to as the world's greatest stretch, but is just a bit of an adaption of the warrior pose

Personally, I would not suggest any yoga/stretching to directly improve or counterbalance rowing. Any research I've seen has shown no performance improvement nor injury reduction with the inclusion of specific stretches. A thorough warmup, however, now that's worth it's weight in gold!

Having said that, increased mobility and strength will generally improve one's quality of life. So, by all means, beginning any sort or yoga/pilates/calisthenics etc. program will likely make you a happier person. I just wouldn't suggest putting much effort into trying to make it somehow complementary to rowing.

Thanks for your replies, everyone! And Happy Holidays!