“The pole is an extension of your arm,” Bernd Zimmermann, founder of the American Nordic Walking Association, told Verywell. These walking poles can also come with tips for different terrain and may be adjustable for different heights. “Everybody who can walk can do Nordic walking, but it’s important that people get trained correctly,” Zimmermann said. Organizations like the American Nordic Walking Association can also connect you with a certified Nordic walking instructor who can offer individualized training.
Get your heart rate up: Take a Nordic walk. “Nordic walking is unparalleled as an aerobic exercise because you’re not just using the major muscle groups of your legs and hips, but your core, shoulders and arms too,” Dr. Schaefer said. The regimen lowers blood pressure and improves the body’s use of oxygen. The basic movement — walking, using poles to propel your movement — can take some getting used to, but online videos or your local Nordic walking group can get you started.
WHAT IS NORDIC WALKING? TURN YOUR WALK INTO A FULL-BODY, HEART-HEALTHY WORKOUT
Nordic walking involves using poles to create a challenging workout that studies show can benefit heart health. Here’s how to add it to your routine.
From hot girl walks to the 12-3-30 workout, walking is the latest fitness trend. But have you ever heard of Nordic walking? Imagine cross-country skiing but lose the skis, keep the poles, and walk instead. Nordic walking is not new, but it may be your new favorite workout.
The key is to not overcomplicate it, the experts noted. The technique involves walking holding each pole alongside your body and moving the poles in opposition to your legs so they are at a 45-degree angle, according to the American Nordic Walking Association (ANWA) which has a free beginner’s guide on their website.
From hot girl walks to the 12-3-30 workout, walking is the latest fitness trend. But have you ever heard of Nordic walking? Imagine cross-country skiing but lose the skis, keep the poles, and walk instead. Nordic walking is not new, but it may be your new favorite workout.
The key is to not overcomplicate it, the experts noted. The technique involves walking holding each pole alongside your body and moving the poles in opposition to your legs so they are at a 45-degree angle, according to the American Nordic Walking Association (ANWA) which has a free beginner’s guide on their website.
THE WORKOUT THAT BEATS HIIT FOR BETTER HEART HEALTH, ACCORDING TO A NEW STUDY BY MELANIE RADZICKI MCMANUS, CNN
(CNN)If you’re looking for a cardiovascular activity that will get your heart pumping and improve daily life, running or interval training may immediately come to mind. To maximize your workout, however, you may want to give Nordic walking a try, new research suggests.
NORDIC WALKING BENEFITS HEALTH, QUALITY OF LIFE
Nordic walking has been proven to reduce depression, anxiety, waist circumference and chronic pain, the report said. The exercise is also known to increase muscle strength, cardiovascular fitness and overall quality of life.
FITNESS TREND: NORDIC WALKING
WALKING WITH NORDIC POLES BURNS MORE CALORIES AND WORKS MORE MUSCLES THAN CONVENTIONAL WALKING.
Picture a brilliant blue sky over a vast field of fresh, fluffy snow. The air is crisp and cold, and you’re suited up on skis, ready to propel yourself across the expanse of white for a day of cross-country skiing.
Now imagine that you’re in your own neighborhood, mimicking the motion of cross-country skiing by using poles to push yourself as you walk along a trail or sidewalk. That’s called Nordic walking. It was originally designed as a summer training routine for cross-country skiers. Now Nordic walking is catching on in the United States as an exercise regimen, especially among older adults.
Cardiologist Aaron Baggish is all for it. He spent a year of work and study in Switzerland, where he says Nordic walking is a common pastime among older adults. “You go to the train station on Saturdays and there are droves of people over 70 waiting to go up to the mountains to walk with Nordic poles,” says Dr. Baggish, director of the Cardiovascular Performance Program at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.
Now imagine that you’re in your own neighborhood, mimicking the motion of cross-country skiing by using poles to push yourself as you walk along a trail or sidewalk. That’s called Nordic walking. It was originally designed as a summer training routine for cross-country skiers. Now Nordic walking is catching on in the United States as an exercise regimen, especially among older adults.
Cardiologist Aaron Baggish is all for it. He spent a year of work and study in Switzerland, where he says Nordic walking is a common pastime among older adults. “You go to the train station on Saturdays and there are droves of people over 70 waiting to go up to the mountains to walk with Nordic poles,” says Dr. Baggish, director of the Cardiovascular Performance Program at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.
A BETTER WAY TO WALK: NORDIC WALKING IMPROVES QUALITY OF LIFE, DEPRESSION, AND FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY
TOPICS: Cardiology Exercise Heart Popular
By ELSEVIER JULY 17, 2022
Nordic walking, also known as pole walking, requires more effort to be applied to the poles with each step than conventional walking does. Upper body muscles are stimulated more during Nordic walking than they are during regular walking, which may cause considerable increases in heart rate at a given speed. When compared to walking without poles, it has been reported that Nordic walking may increase energy consumption by over 40%.
A recent study published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology shows that Nordic walking is superior to other kinds of exercise in cardiovascular rehabilitation for improving long-term functional capacity
TV: ABC EYEWITNESS NEWS
ZIMMERMANN FITNESS NORDIC WALKING
“The true health benefits of Nordic Walking are only attained through proper technique. Our highly acclaimed, instructional video will provide you professional instruction so you can learn visually, in the comfort of your home. You’ll quickly see, feel, and experience the difference between holding your poles and real Nordic Walking Instruction.
