Brooklyn Crew, 20 Broadway (at Kent Avenue).
They had me at it will define your glutes.
That is, the two young entrepreneurs Josh Ozeri and Robert Minucci, who’ve opened the first-ever rowing center in NYC (in Williamsburg, on Broadway between Kent and Wythe) called Brooklyn Crew.
The possibility of defining my glutes, and all the associated ass and thigh muscles, I thought had gone out the window for ever and ever.
They also had me at it will strengthen your abs and back, it’s low impact, and it’s a full body workout. I was also encouraged that the age range of their clients is 18 to 75, both women and men.
The studio is an intimate room 650 sq. ft. with 8 machines, state-of-the-art “Erg” machines, the same machines competitive athletes use for indoor training.
The classes are small. The coaches are professional, and they spend a good deal of time on form.
One signs up for classes online. They post a new schedule every Monday at noon.
There were other compelling reasons that kept me listening to the benefits of rowing, the super exercise which is based on the collegiate and Olympic sport. Josh explained that standard gym workouts can be exhausting, and leave one feeling muscle-bound for several days. But not so with a good workout rowing: “You get up afterwards and you feel like a God,” says Josh.
Josh happily answered several more of our questions:
You mentioned you have a “signature” workout, please elaborate on that. We have four experienced Crew coaches at the studio. They all have extensive experience competing and coaching on the water. The signature workout is for athletes who have completed at least two novice classes. Signature classes are a bit more intense and do not include the intro to technique section however coaches will still give technique instruction throughout the workout. 99% of the athletes at Brooklyn Crew have never rowed so we have a Novice class that focuses on technique for the beginning of the class before the coach puts you through a workout. Novice classes will still leave you drenched in sweat so don’t worry.
Robert said that he was lifting weights and working out hard, but wasn’t able to lose weight. He was stuck at a certain weight but when he started rowing he finally was able to get a trimmer body. Would you describe what he was aiming for? Robert was 195 lbs and even though his weight fluctuated throughout the past five years he could not reach his goal of 175 lbs until he started rowing. He gained the elusive “lean physique” from the 45 minute Brooklyn Crew workout which burns on average 800 calories. Having a coach and being in a group environment was definitely motivating for him because he could feed off the energy in the room. He became addicted to classes because of the endorphin high and atmosphere which quickly led to his new look and new-found confidence.
What are the muscles that define the glutes and thighs and abs, and how they change with rowing? The initial part of the stroke is called the “drive” which is essentially a leg press. The drive is where your quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes are recruited. During a 45 minute class you will perform essentially 1200 leg presses which will burn fat and tone your glutes and thighs unlike any other exercise.
Would you like to add anything? One last thing. I did not explain why your core is essential to a proper stroke. Our cutting edge dynamic rowers force athletes to engage their core in a way only experienced when rowing on water. The benefit of this is a much better core workout. The feet and the seat move on our rowers versus just the seat. During each stroke the athlete is essentially performing a plank and a leg raise. It is the ultimate core workout.
Brooklyn Crew
20 Broadway
Brooklyn, NY 11249
(347) 529-5479
www.brooklyn-crew.com
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