Information on Nordic Walking

In case you have not yet come across Nordic Walking, then here is a potted history, plus the benefits we can gain from it.

Basically it is just another form of walking, but twice as effective. As you learn the “technique” you will lengthen your stride, improve heart muscles, take stress from joints, improve the balance, stamina and core muscles, whilst gaining a general feeling of well being. It is used to fight depression, weight, diabetes and much much more. In effect, once learned correctly, if you put energy and strength into your Nordic Walking, it is possible to lose between 20% and 40% more weight than normal walking.

The first lesson — walking with the poles

Of course, if you are not overweight, you don’t go on losing it! You simply tone the muscles, for the ladies, in particular, the core muscles, and in men it tends to attack the “beer belly”! For both sexes, it is a wonderful way to shift those extra bits round the waist that pile on after Christmas, or, in fact, any time of the year!

Nordic walking came about in Finland in 1933, when the cross country skiers had no snow to use, so couldn’t keep fit. They adapted their exercise by sort of walking with skis, this evolved into Nordic Walking, and their fitness was found to be vastly better in the No Snow time than in Winter. It eventually became the famous, and now so popular, recreational sport, that we know today. In some countries its benefits are so highly valued that it is now on prescription for many ailments, including Diabetes and Obesity.

Nordic Walking has many hidden talents too! Because it is designed to realign the whole body, once you have become at one with your poles, it can retrain many of our “neglected” muscles, whilst toning and restoring the others that we use daily and know about.

Practicing with the poles

Why don't you give it a try? If you are local, then come for lessons and join a merry band of Nordic Walkers on their weekly walks. If you live further afield, then why not come on a three day break. That way you really get a good taste of it, and will be ready to join a club near you, or simply walk alone or with a friend.

Click on this link to see Nordic Walking video's on You Tube. Not all are in English, but you can look at the technique.