What Everybody Ought to Know About Nordic Walking

The History of Nordic Walking

The use of the walking poles is as old as Methuselah.  Why people started to use them is unknown. Was it because as human beings aged they developed rounded shoulders and sunken chest and became afraid of falling over, so needed an extra support when walking?

Fact is, that in prehistoric times, sheppards and pilgrims used one or two sticks to make it easier to walk on uneven surfaces. Unloading the joints and extra stability were some of the early benefits of walking with sticks. On long treks, walks in the mountains or hills, the walking pole found its rightful place in walking.

Another forerunner of Nordic Walking was the use of the poles in the training methods of the cross country skiers in summer time. This application of training is written in literature as ‘pole training’ and has been used since the beginning of the 20th century.  After the fall of the iron curtain in Germany, trainers from the west compared their training methods to those of the Eastern bloc and it revealed that the Eastern bloc trainers had also been using this training method for several years. Their training with poles in summer was important in order not to lose coordination and muscle power of the arms and trunk over the summer.

Nordic Walking is one of the fastest growing recreational fitness sports in the world and has its roots in the early 1930s in Finland as an off season training method of the competitive crosscountry skiers. Development of Nordic Walking in its present form as a recreational physical activity for all started in early 1980 in Finland, and in 1997 the first official Nordic Walker poles were introduced to the public by one of the world’s largest pole manufacturers, Exel plc. The estimated population of Nordic Walkers at the end of the year 2007 was over 7 million.

Nordic Walking for Fitness and Cardio

Nordic Walking is fitness walking with specially designed Nordic Walking poles to engage the upper body during walking. It offers a very efficient, aerobic and easy way to improve your physical condition irrespective of age, sex or physical condition.

Nordic Walking can be up to 46% more efficient than regular walking (Cooper Institute Research 2000) depending on the intensity of the exercise.

The science behind Nordic Walking

There is a lot of scientific evidence about the benefits of Nordic Walking. INWA collects worldwide research concerning Nordic Walking and also consults actively with scientists, institutions and universities about new research projects. If you are interested in Nordic Walking studies or you are planning Nordic Walking related research project, please contact the INWA office.

General benefits of Nordic Walking are:

• Heart rate is higher than in regular walking (at the same speed) and calorie burn is increased
• Energy consumption increases when using poles by an average of approximately 20% compared with ordinary walking
• Reduces muscle tension and pain in the neck and shoulder region
• The mobility of the neck and spine may increase
• 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 joint and knee problems; may reduce load on knees
• Can improve cardiorespiratory fitness and improve muscular endurance
• Poles are a safety factor on slippery surfaces
• Is a fun and safe activity

As of 2009,  approximately 8 – 10 Million people do Nordic Walking on a weekly basis.

Ref: International Nordic Walking Federation, Founded in Finland 2000

ANWA, American Nordic Walking Association

Who Else Wants a Fit and Healthy Body?

“You take a small pill, one a day, and all your weight issues are gone. All you have to do is not to forget to take the pill. It’s very easy, just continue to eat what you want and sit around all day and not move your butt. We promise, in 30 days you will have lost 20 lbs or more.”

That sounds like the absolute best thing in the whole world. Healthy and slim by eating what you want and not having to move at all.

Slap…Wake up!

This dream you have set up so nicely in your head is not going to happen – EVER!

• Your body is not made to eat crap and junk.
• It’s not made to do “nothing”!
• Not made to sit in the same spot all day long!

Your body is a very precise engine that needs tuning and fuel and maintenance as well as tender loving care.

• Listen, are you just waiting around until somebody comes up with the newest and latest in weight loss drug?
• Are you waiting for the most technological weight loss machine on the planet?
• A weight loss machine, where you get hooked up and sit on the couch and lose inches?

Don’t wait any longer. There is no magic weight loss pill and for sure no magical machine that is going to help you lose weight without “sweat-equity”! I just saved you hundreds of dollars and years of yo-yo dieting.

Do you want to hear the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?

• In order to lose body fat you have to eat whole foods and exercise!

There it is, this is the real plan to lose weight. I know it’s nothing new but people are always willing to spend hundreds of dollars every month to lose weight fast. Every time a new bottle of magic pill hits the weight loss market people just give up their hard earned money and buy into it. Most of the testimonials are fake or bought from other companies that actually had results with exercise and diet! Don’t be fooled by these people and companies. People who do lose weight do it with nutritional changes and adding exercise to their daily program. Sometimes they do supplement with weight loss aids to keep hunger down and energy up, I get that, but the real outcome is because they added exercise and changed their eating habits.

You don’t need any manufactured products or Over-the-Counter Drugs to lose weight!

Do this:

1. Clean, Healthy, and home cooked whole foods (80% of your success)
2. Exercise three times a week – maximum five times (20% of your success)
3. Socialize with like minded people!
4. cut out people who criticize you for who you are or for who you want to be!

I sure hope, I helped to open your eyes about weight loss pills and diets in general. It took me year and lots of money to finally give up my hope for a magic-pill and to realize that I had to hop onto the nutrition and exercise train.

After years of riding the nutrition – exercise express, I have arrived at pit stop “Health”, and I’m well on my way to destination “Lean and Fit “

Stay Healthy!

Monika Baechler