Nordic walking, the soft way to walk!

[Livgivare]

Don't get me wrong here, just because it is soft it doesn't mean that you would get less workout by doing Nordic Walking.

Nordic walking was invented by Finnish skiing guys who wanted to train in the summers as well and to get their arms going as "normal" as possible accoring to their sport. They took the sticks and cut them by 10 cm and took them along with jogging shoes.

You use the sticks as an animal uses its forelegs in this way the opposite leg shall have the stick along the foots middle. In this way the back gets more exersize, the arms are used more powerful and your chest gets a bit up. You should not rise your sholders though because that might be hurting you.

Many elderly people arround the globe find this exersize the best, and so do overweight people. But I think it is a good way to get more out of the walk then regular walk. So try it out. Get a good pair of sticks/poles and start today. It is loads of fun...

Love Leelene

PS: More info will come, I wrote this in a hurry!

[Erki]

I haven't done it myself, I like my normal walking too much. But it seems to be pretty popular in Estonia. Like national sport or something.. I think they even organise competitions here, or just gatherings. Even the previous president took part of them...

[Livgivare]

Here it is a longer text of what Nordic Walking is all about with pics and such!!!




Here comes some facts about this Fitness-sport that the Finns invented!!!

Health:
In Nordic Walking

Heart rate is 5-17 beats per minute higher (for example in normal walking heart rate is 130 beats/minute and in Nordic Walking 147 beats per minute i.e. increase is 13%)

Energy consumption increases when using poles by an average of 20% compared with ordinary walking without poles

Up to a 46% increase in energy consumption (Cooper Institute research, Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sports 2002 publication)

Releases pain and muscle tension in the neck/shoulder region

The lateral mobility of the neck and spine increases significantly

The muscles most actively involved are the forearm extensor and flexor muscles, the rear part of the shoulder muscles, the large pectoral muscles and the broad back muscles

Does not aggravate joints and knees

Reduces the load on knees and other joints

Consumes approximately 400 calories per hour (compared with 280 calories per hour for normal walking)

Poles are a safety factor on slippery surfaces

Nordic Walking should be practiced for relatively long periods, i.e. between half an hour and two hours at a time. The pace should be steady and the heart rate should rise to between 120 and 150 beats per minute. (this info comes from the site that the techniques comes from below)

Exel.net
Exel.net
Exel.net
Here is the technique you need!

Nordic walking - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You just need to try it, it is among the best things I have ever tried. Even if most people in my country that do it are older then me I feel so happy when I do it. It is like the best kick there is when it comes to anything fitness...

Love Leelene

[Bjoern]

Don´t want to sound harsh but Nordic Walking is not really an intense and effective exercise for your body.

It could be great for your mood and for positive life energy but don´t expect to built much muscles or burn much fat with it. It´s great for people who are overweight and want to come back into sports but it is just a beginners step.

Walk first

then run

after that sprint

Take care
Björn
Welcome at www.Fighter-Fitness.net

[Rose of Cairo]

I tried it. I guess I have coordination problems: I always used to fall over these !$-@/§ sticks That was fun! (for those seeing me)

[Livgivare]

The people who thinks it is just for owerweight people and who think it is not intence might walk too slow...I like to walk fast when I walk like this...

In the beginning it is hard to walk the right way, but after a while you get it...

Love Leelene

[Erin]

I walk 3+ miles everyday, more for my mental health than for exercise. I am more of an ambler than directed. Does Nordic walking mess with your stride - turning it slightly more rigid?

[Livgivare]

Nordic Walking can make you more rigid if you use the wrong techniques. But what is does if you do it right, it stabilize your back and includes the arms while you walk. I believe that if you walk the right way it don't mess up your stride, but make it better (the feeling is like the stride can be more of a robotic way that feels even more natural then the regular walk) in the positive way.

Love Leelene

[beatnix]

Nordic Walking is hugely popular in Germany now. As I have weak ligaments that frequently gave me a hard time while I was still running I was looking for an alternative. Apart from that I have a tense neck and shoulders and it is supposed to relieve the pain by using the muscles in that area.

I started Nordic Walking about a month ago and I have to say I'm addicted It is very important to take a course when you begin. When walking by myself I encounter about 80 % nordic walkers who make the common mistakes of walking with bent elbows and tightly holding on to the poles

If you use your arms properly it is an excellent workout. It doesn't feel very strenuous while you are walking but afterwards you notice that you've used most of your muscles It feels like an entire body workout, cardiovascular and weight training all in one

[beatnix]

Maybe the title should be "Nordic walking, the soft way to run" because it is so much more than walking

[James Reno]

During the walkable months in Chicago, I walk to do all my errands throughout the day, as well as to get exercise. I probably average about 3 or 4 miles a day going the grocery store, post office etc....

If I want a more intense workout then I will jog or lift weights etc.

Stationary or nordic walking would take too long and probably be boring for me personally to want to do it as part of an exercise regime. If others here find it enjoyable and challenging, then go for it. Exercise has to be something we enjoy on some level, otherwise it will be procrastinated.

[Spiritual Journey]

Nordic walking is an excellent workout. At the gym I often used the cross-trainer which mimicked the action of nordic walking. It is supposed to exercise all the major muscle groups which many other forms of exercise do not do.

Also I saw someone in London doing it recently so perhaps it will take off in the UK soon too!

[kattsand]

If you want more out of it there are special poles with water containers in the bottom so that you can add more weight to them. Well I don't know if you have these poles in the states but in Sweden you can buy these in pretty much every sports store.

[beatnix]

Originally Posted by Spiritual Journey

Also I saw someone in London doing it recently so perhaps it will take off in the UK soon too!

Those huge London parks are ideal for NW

Originally Posted by kattsand

If you want more out of it there are special poles with water containers in the bottom so that you can add more weight to them. Well I don't know if you have these poles in the states but in Sweden you can buy these in pretty much every sports store.

That's interesting - I hadn't heard about them despite the NW craze in Germany. But I'm sure they will be available soon...

[Spiritual Journey]

I guess I had mainly thought of the benefits to the upper body, but it is useful also for reducing strain on the knees. I think it does this by around 35% which can be very useful especially walking downhill when knees take more strain.