The water is splashing, the music is pumping, and so is your heart. That's the feel of a typical rowing fitness class, now popping up across the metro.
Rowing workouts have gained popularity over the past five years, thanks to the Netflix show 'House of Cards'. The main character, scheming politician Frank Underwood, played by Kevin Spacey, often rows.
In Council Bluffs, there's no scheming, just sweating at First Row Fitness off Broadway. Carrie McDonald opened this rowing studio last June joining the trend of studios in Chicago and New York swapping a cycle for a rower.
"Spinning class you would need to spend 90 minutes to reap the benefits of 30 minutes on a rower," McDonald says.
Why just 30 minutes? McDonald says its because 85 percent of your muscles are being used on the rowing machine.
Another plus, avid rowers like Jill Brown say is you can go at your own pace even if you're nursing an injury.
"I've had a pinched nerve in the back and was out for a couple of day. {I} came back and was slowly picking back up into the speed of things that I could normally get back to."
Here are a few spots in the area that offer rowing:
First Row Fitness-Council Bluffs
Rowing only classes, plus rowing and other workouts
Dynamic Rowing-Omaha
Rowing and boot camp style workouts
Orangetheory- Omaha
Circuit-style fitness classes with rowing intervals
