Will this be another fitness fad or gimmick that is here today and gone tomorrow?
For over forty years Nordic Walking has most commonly be practised
in Finland as the summer fitness conditioning for cross-country
skiers, even before this, sports colleges and health care
establishments have for a long time considered Nordic walking as a
form of treatment.
Now this
activity is spreading across the globe and is being adopted by
millions of people as their preferred method of physical activity
and growing from strength to strength in many arenas from
rehabilitation to fitness, recreational and now in some countries as
a sport.
So
Nordic Walking has stood the test of time and is still growing.
Am I too old to do Nordic Pole Walking? I'm nearly eighty years old!
We have people in their late eighties that have experienced the
benefits of Nordic Pole Walking as it appeals to your age group. Also,
it gives you a sense of security and confidence because you feel
more balanced and stable on four feet instead of your normal two
feet.
And by
improving ones balance and stability you enhance your chances of
greater mobility. So if you are still able to walk at even a
very slow pace try Nordic Pole walking and experience the
difference.
Walking faster or jogging, will that give me the same results?
To walk faster or
jog may not always be the best outcome. It
will be governed by individual's motivational limits and enjoyment
levels and also increases significantly the amount of stress put on
the body which may likely cause injury and in turn reduces the
enjoyment factor.
Scientific
studies show that using poles at a perceived lessor rate of effort
or at a slower speed can achieve the same outcomes.
How do I learn Nordic Pole Walking if I don't have a qualified instructor in my area?
The greatest
thing about Nordic Pole Walking is it's a very natural functional
friendly movement to the human body. It
is easy to learn and rarely forgotten, this is why the at home
education video "Getting started with Nordic Pole
Walking" is such great resource to learn from if you don't
have a current certified instructor in your area.
Where do I do Nordic Pole Walking?
Nordic Pole
Walking is enjoyed in the great outdoors. It
can be done on soft and hard surfaces as the poles are supplied with
both hard metal spike tips for soft surfaces such as grassland, sand
or slippery surface and the asphalt paws are used on hard surfaces
such as concrete or asphalt.
So
Nordic Pole Walking is great on your favourite beach or in your
local park/sports oval or utilising your local suburban footpaths.
Do I have to join a club?
Our clubs offer a
safe an supportive environment with the added benefit of extra
guidance and motivation in a fun and social atmosphere. But you
may wish to walk alone or find a walk buddy or a group of friends
and enjoy the convenience of Nordic pole walking around your local
neighbourhood at a time that suits your lifestyle.
The most
important thing is what best suits your needs and you enjoy the
great benefits of Nordic Pole walking like so many hundreds of
thousands of people worldwide are experiencing today. So why
not be one of them?
Why can't I just use my ski or trekking poles?
Trekking and ski
poles have been designed specifically for their sport just like
Nordic Walking Poles have been. The Nordic Walking Poles have a very
unique design in the strap to allow the user to obtain maximum push
off from the strap without having to grip the handle of the pole to
firmly.
And the
handle of the pole is more ergonomically designed to allow for a
more ease of grip whilst pole walking. Plus the spike tip has
been designed to allow for maximum grip in the ground whilst
completing the pole push off at the end of the Nordic walking
action.
The pole
shafts are made of a very durable and lightweight composite material
with good flexibility and shock absorbing capabilities for
repetitive motion which is performed during Nordic Walking.
I suffer with knee injuries from running; can I really keep fit by walking with poles?
Yes! You no
longer have to pound the footpaths and wear out your joints to get a
good cardio-vascular workout. Whilst running you are only using
your lower body muscles and your upper body mass is just going along
for the ride not really doing any work. But when you utilise the
poles whilst walking you activate all the upper body muscle mass,
which in turn creates a greater training effect on your body with
similar outcomes with less joint impact.
Let me
explain how this happens, by using poles to Nordic walk you are
activating the large upper body muscles that are not used whilst
running, in turn these large upper body muscles need more fuel which
is transported by fresh oxygenated blood to these muscles to make
them function.
So the
physiological responses to achieve this from your body is,
significantly increased oxygen uptake, elevation of your heart rate
to a similar effective training zone as if you were running and a
greater caloric expenditure and the benefits of enhance muscle
endurance for a total body workout.
What is the difference between Trekking and Nordic Pole Walking?
Simply put,
trekking is where you head off into the wilderness and create your
own pathway through the various landscapes. You utilise a
single or pair of poles to support you and stabilise you from
falling or slipping so they are used to prevent unexpected movement
.
With
Nordic Pole Walking you must use an existing pathway, parkland or
beach and a pair of poles that are specifically design to enhance
movement in a propelling motion forward whilst still giving improved
stability. So simply trekking poles are designed to give you
stability/support to prevent movement and Nordic Walking Poles are
designed to enhance movement in a forward propel motion whilst still
giving you stability/support.
The
straps and handles and spike tips are where the difference in design
matters between the type of poles and usage.
What other areas is Nordic Pole Walking available?
We have a
continuous growing network of accredited Nordic Pole Walking
Professionals within Australia to assist you. Send
us an email and we can put you in touch with them.
If you
are in another country or travelling overseas we also have an
accredited network of overseas professionals, so drop us an email
and we can connect you with them too. And most importantly
don't forget our NordicFit Friends Community so why not come an join
us and we can assist and support you, wherever you are.
Where can I purchase Nordic Walking Poles?
Selection of Nordic Walking Poles is critical
to your specific needs, so we have done extensive research into the
best poles available around the globe and we are now the exclusive
Australian stockist of the EXEL brand.
The
"Nordic Walker" can be ordered from this website. Simply
click here and complete the
Order Form for convenient direct-to-your-door delivery.
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