by GRP Rower Grace Donabedian

A few months ago I started co-teaching a learn-to-erg class called “Erg Fit” at the Center. I expected the experience to be rewarding in the usual ways: welcoming new people to the sport, sharing my enthusiasm, and watching beginners gain comfort on the machine. What I didn’t expect was how much it would teach me about my own rowing.

Explaining rowing forces you to slow down and break the stroke into its simplest pieces. Movements I strive to do automatically - body angles, sequencing, timing - suddenly needed clear words and simple analogies. You can’t hide behind muscle memory when someone asks why the recovery shouldn’t be rushed or how the legs actually drive. Teaching made me examine habits I’d stopped questioning.

Winter is an ideal time to revisit the fundamentals. Indoor training doesn’t have to only be about improving fitness. With Erg Fit in mind, I’ve been returning to the basic pillars of my rowing stroke. Over the course of the winter erging season, we may take hundreds of thousands of strokes, which makes it essential to take those strokes with intention - not just with force. The technique you reinforce during these cold months will set the foundation for success once the ice melts.

The next time a friend, family member, coworker, or fellow gym-goer asks, “How do I row?” take the time to answer. Teaching - or simply explaining - rowing to others can be a powerful tool for improving your own performance. Here are some tips to guide you:

Use simple language
If you can explain technical movements without resorting to jargon, you’ve clarified it for yourself too. Simplicity often exposes where your own understanding or execution could be cleaner.
Examine the “why”
“Why do we do it this way?” is a question experienced rowers don’t ask often enough. Beginners give us permission, and a reason, to revisit fundamentals we may have stopped examining.
One cue at a time
Prioritization is important when learning a new skill. Focus on a single technical goal in 5-minute chunks or 20-stroke sets, rather than trying to fix everything at once.
Reference analogies
The metaphors you use for others can sharpen your own sensory awareness and help translate technique into better movement. Get creative! Last summer, my coach told me to pretend that the oar handle is a piece of raw chicken - something you don’t want to grip too firmly (yuck).
Notice what you repeat most often
The cues you find yourself giving again and again are likely areas where even experienced rowers struggle, including you. Treat those repetitions as clues for your own technical focus.

Use these teaching moments to reset your standards this winter. You may discover that the process of explaining the stroke helps you approach your own technique with more clarity, efficiency, and purpose.

If you want to learn more about how to make the most of your winter training before jumping back into a boat, check out this previous Tech Tip: Making the Most of the Indoor Months.

Sharpening Your Stroke Through Teaching