By Pyc Fitness
©2004-2008
Have you seen those people walking around the city with what look like ski poles lately?
And then have you wondered, "Where are their skis — and where's the snow?"
Well, with Nordic walking, you don't need either to do this fast-growing form of workout that's being highly touted by fitness experts.
Nordic walking began in Finland with cross-country skiers looking for a way to continue training off-season by using their ski poles, according to the International Nordic Walking Association.
That's where Isaac Coffey discovered them last year. As fitness/membership director at the Staunton Augusta YMCA, Coffey was visiting the country as part of a cultural and vocational exchange program sponsored by the Rotary Foundation.
"These poles are everywhere in Europe," he said. "Every host family I stayed with had them and invited me to go walking with them."
Nordic walking is considered beneficial because it offers a total-body workout that has been shown to burn up to 40 percent more calories and raises heart beats per minute by five to 17 beats compared to walking without them.
"You're distributing the workload," Coffey explained. "So you isolate the shoulders and triceps, as well as your core muscles — your abdominals and back."
The poles reduce joint impact by acting as shock absorbers and provide extra stability. So, it's great for people of all ages, people with balance problems and even those who've had previous knee pain or injury, said Virginia Singleton, a YMCA instructor who leads one of the Nordic walking classes offered there.
"The poles provide resistance," she said. "That's where you get the additional benefit."
Anne Hunter joined the class when it began in June. Before the class, Hunter was an avid walker, and says she immediately felt a difference in her upper body.
"I've always loved to walk, and I prefer being outdoors," said Hunter, 53. "I love walking around Staunton because it's so beautiful. When I learned about using the sticks to get a better workout, it was a natural extension for me."
Hunter, who also does yoga and lifts weights, said Nordic walking is more challenging and takes some getting used to.
"The instructors make sure you're using the poles correctly, because there is a real technique involved," she said. "But it's not difficult. It's a fun and rewarding way to exercise. Often exercise is something you do because it's good for your body, but this is something I look forward to."
The specialized lightweight walking poles with wrist straps are designed specifically for Nordic walking.
The right height and strength of the poles, which varies between individuals, is necessary for correct technique and is based on several factors, including a person's height and fitness goals.
As a result of Coffey's trip, the YMCA started the Nordic walking classes. During the first two weeks of the class, walkers can use the poles at no charge. To continue in the class, you can buy the poles, which range in cost between $41 and $183.
The YMCA has sold 49 pairs since May and helps people choose the right pole for their height and fitness goals, Coffey said.
Some retail and outdoor fitness stores sell various versions of fitness walking poles. The YMCA carries Nordic walker poles made by the Finnish company Exel, the first company to develop and sell poles specifically for Nordic walking in 1997. These are made from lightweight carbon fiber and have small "boots" for walking on concrete and asphault. The boots can be removed to expose the spiked tips for trail walking, and the poles also have an ergonomic grip and strap options.
Although Nordic walking hasn't taken off yet in the South, it's huge in Vermont, and Singleton believes it's just a matter of time before they're seen everywhere in the Central Valley.
"As busy as we all are, this is one way to get a great, heart-healthy workout in less time," she said.
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