Is Standard Walking Really Enough?
Over tea this morning, a friend said to me, “Nordic walking really is the best way to walk.” Of course I completely agree with this, but I’m always delighted to hear someone else say it first.
Walking is a great place to start
We’ve all heard the messages: Sit less. Move more. Walk every day.
But I sometimes worry that healthy people think that a casual walk around the block or a couple of stop-and-start walks with the dog each day are all they need to maintain or improve their health.
Of course, standard walking offers benefits to people who have typically been inactive, those managing health concerns, and older adults dealing with the challenges of aging. Moderate paced, standard walking gets the systems of the body moving, lifts your energy, and boosts your mood.
What if your body is capable of more?
But if you’re healthy and have no physical restrictions, your body may be capable of so much more. If you truly want to improve your health and fitness, you need to push your body beyond its current comfort zone.
This is where Nordic walking comes in. Adding Nordic walking poles lets you engage your upper-body muscles, challenge your core, increase your heart rate, and build strength and endurance while you walk.
The longer stride, purposeful arm swing, upright posture, and energized pace of Nordic walking transform and supercharge any everyday walk.
And there’s more than just the workout
If you decide to join a Nordic walking weekly class, you’ll get even more: ongoing encouragement, pacing, and technique tips from the instructor, along with the camaraderie and motivation that comes from moving with likeminded others.
And you don’t have to go all-out. A good Nordic walking instructor will offer different paces and levels of intensity so you can challenge yourself appropriately.
Ready to give it a try?
It’s easy to get started with Nordic walking, but there is a technique to learn. If you’d like some guidance, I offer weekly classes, private lessons and Quick-Start Clinics throughout much of the year.
I’d love to help you get mvoing and feel confident with your poles. [See all the details here.]
