The Class: Crowbar Cardio’s Indo-Row class is 45-minutes of high-intensity, no-impact cardio. Using WaterRowers, this full-body workout is designed to feel like you’re in a boat, out on the water! Rowing in sync with both your instructor and classmates, you build a sense of camaraderie as you push your body to the max.
The Appeal: Great for beginners and experts alike, Indo-Row promises a challenging cardio workout that will leave your legs, core, and arms sore!
The Instructor: The class was led by Karen Soltero, one of Crowbar Cardio’s owners. A fitness expert, Karen instructs (in addition to Indo-Row) Crowbar’s Indoor Cycling classes and serves as the Barre Program Director. Karen was absolutely fantastic. After introducing herself to me the minute I walked into the studio, Karen took time before class to carefully explain to me how to work the WaterRower. She paid special attention to my form during class, and offered both tips for improvement and words of encouragement throughout the entire session.
The Space: Crowbar Cardio has a cool industrial feel. It’s lobby has merchandise available for purchase along the walls. Walking back into the two studio spaces, bathrooms line the right wall. The first studio, also along the right wall, is filled with stationary bikes, while the back studio (where we did Indo-Row) was filled with 7 WaterRowers. After class, we moved the rowers into a huge closet space attached to the studio to make room for the Barre class scheduled next. The studio was clean, spacious, and lined with mirrors. Large cubbies were along the back wall as well.
Who’s There: Men and women of all ages. At 22, I was the youngest one there!
How It Went: Before class began, Karen showed me how to use the WaterRower and answered any questions I had. We started class right on time, beginning with a warm-up in which we rowed at 24 strokes per minute (an ‘easy’ pace.) We then began our first wave of the workout, in which we rowed in-sync and gradually increased our strokes per minute from 24 to 26, and then from 26 to 28. We then got off of our WaterRowers and onto mats to work our abs. After 2 sets of leg-lifts, penguin crunches, and regular crunches, we hopped back onto the rower for endurance work, during which we spent extended time rowing at both 26 and 28 strokes per minute.
During the final portion of class, we raced ourselves. We set a timer for 1:30, then 1:00, then :30 and rowed all out with a brief recovery in between each race. For race-pace, our strokes per minute were expected to be above 30 but less than 40. And, as the length of each race decreased, our miles per hour were expected to increase. My first race I rowed 91, my second race I came in at 93, and my third race I rowed 95. I beat myself each time! After the races, we cooled down, rowing at 24 strokes per minute, before finishing with some light stretching.
The Aftermath: I left the studio sweaty and feeling energized! The next day, my quads were sore, and I’d developed a few blisters on my hands.
Loved: I loved the level of instruction I received! Having never used a WaterRower before, I appreciated Karen’s careful attention to my form and clear explanations of what my strokes per minute and/or miles per hour should be. Knowing my form was correct, I felt comfortable pushing myself harder!
Hated: There really wasn’t anything about my experience that I disliked!
Cost: For first-timers, an unlimited introductory week costs just $20. After that, single classes ring in at $20. A basic monthly contract is $99/mo, while an unlimited monthly membership is available for $160/mo. Packages ranging from five to fifty classes are also available for purchase and cost between $95-$800.
Difficulty Level: The class was really challenging! Because the class is designed to feel like you’re rowing with teammates in a boat, classmates are encouraged to keep time with each other and the instructor. A few times it felt tough to keep up, but Karen’s encouragement helped me push through the pain!
Bottom Line: I highly recommend Indo-Row to anyone looking for a high-intensity, low-impact workout. I had a fantastic experience, and I’m looking forward to trying the other classes Crowbar Cardio has to offer!
