OK, so he didn't use the word workout because 1) we talked Dutch and 2) this was in the early 90s so the concept of "working out" without much aim other than increasing muscle strength wasn't very well developed. (He also wasn't trying to sell anything.)
What he meant was an activity to get and remain in good shape, using a very large selection of muscles throughout the body. It's well known that you won't recognise most rowers from the bulging masses under their clothes (rather, apparently, from the amount of food they can consume )