Nordic Walking
What is Nordic Walking?
If you can walk, you can Nordic walk!
Nordic Walking is one of the fastest growing fitness activities. It is to suit everyone and a wide variety of fitness levels. It's a fun activity that exercises the body and the mind, in various outdoor environments. It is best described as cross country skiing on foot, with poles that are specially constructed, which helps walkers propel forwards, giving virtually a full body workout.
The Benefits of Nordic Walking
Nordic Walking is a relaxed and free flowing activity that is effective to calm people and elevate depression.
It is a new fantastic way to get active with friends and family.
Not only does Nordic walking offer a fantastic opportunity for people to experience stunning settings, there are also many benefits to health:
- Nordic Walking engages both the upper body as well as the lower body, using more muscles and nerves and doing more exercise (burning 20% more calories than normal walking). The effort is spread evenly across the body and you actually feel as though you are expending less effort.
- It encourages better posture, improved strength in the back, legs and arms, reduced neck and shoulder tension, while improving the health of the heart and lungs.
These factors benefit everyone's health but could also prove beneficial for older people suffering from memory loss or early onset dementia. It has also been shown to help people recover from breast cancer surgery by working the area around the chest muscles. Older participants have commented that it takes the pressure away from the knee and hip joints, by the poles taking some of their body weight whist performing the exercise. So it is an all round excellent activity for beginners, intermediates and people returning to exercise.
Events
The Northumberland Nordic Walking Network have organised a free Nordic Walking Festival on 24th September 2011 at Druridge Bay, Northumberland. For more information visit the event item.
More Information on Nordic Walking
For further information on the background to Nordic Walking, training opportunities, or local instructor contacts, visit the Nordic Walking website or British Nordic Walking website.
