JOIN THE CREW

By Kathy Fox

Exercise is essential at any age and the benefits are irrefutable. Regular workouts can boost your mood, attitude, and overall mental well-being. It promotes better sleep, a sharper memory, and more energy. In fact, exercising consistently reduces the impact of stress as well as helps boost your immune system, and these days that is essential!

It is important to make an intentional effort to exercise several times a week and maintain a routine that raises your heart rate for maximum health benefits. Row House in Cool Springs may be just what you are looking for to get in shape. Row House offers a team workout environment where your personal workout goals can be attained. Rowing is perfect for all ages, whether you are a teenager or in your 80s because it is low-impact and builds your aerobic endurance and muscle strength. Rowing uses 86% of your muscles in your legs, core, arms, and back with the majority of classes at Row House incorporating floor exercises and weights during the workout to build strength while also adding diversity to each class.

Row House offers a variety of classes, ranging from 30 to 45 minutes each with a different focus, and on certain days there are open rows during the designated time with no instructor. During rowing class, you are considered part of the crew, and believe me, the team spirit on the boat is contagious as everyone cheers crew members on for motivation or to personal milestones. Each erg, or rowing machine, is effort based allowing every person to control their workout intensity. At the beginning of class, the instructor begins with the pick drill or a proper warm-up. It is the sequence of the rowing stroke, legs-body-arms, along with a proper form that triggers 86% of your muscles. What you learn about the stroke is, that 60% of the power comes from your legs, 30% is core, and 10% is from the lats as the arms glide into the finish. After each workout, the pick drill is reversed to cool down and the class ends with a few needed stretches.

OWNERS CHAD AND SHELLEY RAMSEY OF THE ROW HOUSE IN COOL SPRINGS.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ROW HOUSE

Each instructor or coach lets their personality shine through as they choose their music for class as well as the full-body floor exercises, which keeps workouts constantly fresh and challenging. Coach Deena Prichard had the opportunity to introduce rowers to a song her eight-year-old son mixed and let me tell you he is a musical genius. Great beat and tempo to keep the class rowing in swing together. The coaches also utilize an exercise library to customize their classes but maintain the standard of being low impact. As Prichard said, “We want to make sure that we're giving opportunities for all people to do the movements in some capacity so we give a challenge and then we give a progression so everyone can participate in some way, leaving no one behind.” It really is one team and one boat working together.

Row House classes provide an opportunity for everyone to participate, no matter their age, and makes you feel like family and part of the boat the minute you walk through the doors. During one recent class Coach Prichard and the crew helped her 78-year-old father cross the finish line as he reached his 500k meters milestone.

LARRY GATLIN OF THE GATLIN BROTHERS WITH WIFE, JANIS, ARE PART OF THE CREW AND ROW REGULARLY.

COACH DEENA AND HER DAD CELEBRATE HIS MILESTONE OF 500K METERS!

As Prichard explained, “Rowing equates to camaraderie and camaraderie equates to team effort. When there's team effort, everyone has a purpose and when everyone has a purpose they feel stronger together.” Shortly thereafter, Coach Prichard reached her 3 million meters milestone and with each milestone, a celebratory photo is taken to commemorate the achievement. Plus as progress is tracked on the app and milestones are achieved, Row House rewards members with cool merchandise and swag from t-shirts to hats, backpacks, and more!

Getting in shape at Row House is fun and an efficient all-in-one workout that delivers results. I can say I know firsthand because I joined Row House shortly after it opened and have been rowing since June 2020. In less than a year, I lost more than 20 pounds, two sizes in my clothes, and my lower back pain and sciatica are completely gone. A WIN-WIN and I couldn’t be happier and stronger!

SOME DAYS TEDDY — THE ROW HOUSE MASCOT — WILL BE THE FIRST TO GREET YOU!

Row House Cool Springs owners, Chad and Shelley Ramsey, want working out to be comfortable for everyone and invite first-timers to try a class for free. There’s a seat for everyone, whether you are a seasoned athlete or a newcomer, and the staff at Row House can’t wait to meet you and help you get the most out of the Row House workout. For additional information on how you can join the crew visit therowhouse.com.