Rowing Breathing
What is Rowing Breathing?
Proper breathing in rowing is synchronised with the stroke cycle. At lower stroke rates (18-24 spm), the standard pattern is 2 breaths per stroke: exhale during the drive, inhale at the finish, exhale during the body rock forward, inhale at the catch. At higher rates (28+ spm), this compresses to 1 breath per stroke: exhale sharply during the drive, inhale during the recovery. The exhale on the drive is important because the body is compressed and the abdominal muscles are engaged — trying to inhale during the drive restricts breathing capacity. Common breathing errors include: holding the breath (increases blood pressure and reduces endurance), breathing erratically (disrupts rhythm), and shallow chest breathing (insufficient oxygen exchange). Deep, rhythmic diaphragmatic breathing supports sustained performance.
How Watta Uses Rowing Breathing
Proper breathing supports the cardiovascular efficiency captured by Watta's Cardiac Load component. Efficient breathing keeps heart rate lower at a given power output, resulting in better Economy and overall Effort Score optimisation.
Further Reading
- Concept2 Training Resources — Official training guides and workout plans from Concept2.
- Concept2 RowErg Specifications — Technical specifications and performance monitor details.
- World Rowing — The international governing body for the sport of rowing.
Frequently Asked Questions
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