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# Don’t miss the boat: ‘Indo-Row’ is here to stay
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/dont-miss-the-boat-indo-row-is-here-to-stay/
- Published: 2005-02-05T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T06:04:10.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Montana, #archive-import

*By EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT BY THADDEUS REICHLEY*

We all have them. You know, those “ex” boyfriends or girlfriends that we would rather not bump into again for one reason or another. Maybe they dumped us, or we dumped them. Maybe we promised to call and then never did. Or, maybe they broke our hearts before we knew better and we still haven’t gotten over them. You can go about your daily life for days, months, even years at a time without so much as thinking of them and then one day you step out of the dry cleaners and there they are. Or, there is someone that looks just like them, and for a minute or two your heart rate jumps to its threshold and you are flooded with all of those uncomfortable emotions that you have worked so hard to file away in some dark little corner of your memory.

I recently had just such an experience. It happened to me at Revolution Fitness on Montana Avenue. It was a normal Monday night except that I was mixing it up a little and going to a new class. I was running a little late as I got to the studio and I was already a little flustered. I signed in, changed my clothes, walked into class, and there she was. Let’s call her “Rosie.” I don’t want to go into too many details, but let’s just say that for the better part of my college years Rosie caused me a considerable amount of pain and heartache. We met my freshman year and quickly became very close. From the beginning it was a love-hate relationship full of ups and downs, and every time we said good-bye, I swore it was for good. Still, I always went back. Partly because of the void I felt when she wasn’t part of my day, but mostly because I missed our two-hour sessions that always left me sweaty and exhausted. Before you get the wrong idea, I should probably tell you that Rosie is not your average lady. She is about six feet tall, dark, quiet, and will give you a better workout in an hour than running, biking, or swimming. Rosie, you see, is a rowing machine.

In a former life, I was a rower at the University of Washington. I was never great, but I loved it. Rowing is a beautiful and amazingly difficult sport that is as physically and mentally challenging as anything I have ever done. When done right, rowing is a full body, low impact workout that targets all major muscle groups. I loved the way my body felt when I was in prime rowing shape. Still, it was the team aspect of rowing that I loved most. Rowing is done as a group, but it is not like other team sports. For a rowing team to be successful, every oar must move together, and every body must be as one. When you are part of this synchronized effort you forget about everything else in the world and just row.

As with any sport, rowing takes practice, and one of the best ways to practice is on a rowing machine. From the beginning, I was drawn to the simplicity of it.

There are no bells, whistles, or alarms, and when you sit on a rowing machine you can actually see how it works. You can definitely feel what it is working. I spent countless hours on the rowing machine in college trying to hone my skills and build my fitness. Though I enjoyed it in that twisted way we all enjoy great workouts, I honestly never thought the rowing machine would be part of my life again after college. That is until I met Josh Crosby.

I ran into Josh on a mountain bike ride the other day and after chatting for a while as we battled up Sullivan Canyon, we figured out that we had rowed against each other in college and that we share a group of old rowing buddies. Josh is this amazingly charismatic guy that could probably sell a bear a fur coat. It didn’t take long for him to talk me into coming to one of his “Indo-Row” classes. I am usually a little skeptical fitness fads and would rather go to the dentist than workout indoors, but I was intrigued by the concept and really wanted to get that old rowing buzz again. Besides, I thought spinning was just a fad, and now everyone is doing it, including me, so what do I know.

Josh runs his classes similar to a spin class. There are probably about a dozen rowing machines lined up with fans, and he has really great music pumping to keep you going. However, unlike a spin class where you are basically going to the beat of your own drum, “Indo-Row” classes all follow a prescribed cadence that Josh sets throughout the class. The collective movement of bodies, and the rhythm of the breathing that results are amazing. You literally get lost in the energy and before you know it the workout is over. After just one class, I was hooked, and have since made it a part of my weekly routine.

If you are looking for a way to mix up your weekly routine, or trying to jump-start yourself into a new program, “Indo- Row” might be the perfect solution. If you still need convincing, here are a few reasons you should give it a try: 1\. “Indo-Row” is a full body, low impact workout that burns more calories than biking, swimming, or running. And, it does not take all of the time and equipment that other sports do. If you have an hour to get a workout in, you can’t beat this! 2\. I’ll say it again, misery loves company. There is something about working out with a group that is more fun than going it alone. Unlike most group workouts, “Indo-Row” is truly a team effort, and when you are in the class you feel like you are drawing energy from each and every person around you. 3\. Learning something new is fun. How often, as adults, do we try something new?

Most of us hate that “first day of school” feeling that you get when you star something like this, but I promise it is easy. Revolution Fitness is a fantastic studio and Josh has classes to meet the needs of everyone from experienced rowers to brand new “freshmen.” For more information call Revolution Fitness or visit “Indo- Row” online at www.indo-row.com. (Look for Thaddeus’ columns on the weekends).

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 5, 2005.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/020505.pdf?ref=smdp.com)