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Nordic Walking: Fitness, Exercise And Walking Poles
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Published: August 28, 2007
Physical fitness is more of a necessity now than it has ever been. Twenty-first century America is infested with obesity, heart disease and diabetes. These are deadly conditions which can manifest through lack of proper exercise. Furthermore, modern lifestyles - such as working office jobs which require sitting without moving for long hours at a time - discourage physical fitness wherever they can.
Fortunately, only a few days per week of walking are required to get in better shape and significantly improve blood pressure, stamina and overall health. Nordic walking is a vigorous and enjoyable way to get up and get fit.
Nordic walking first appeared early in the twentieth century, a means of training Finnish skiers during the summer weather. Its wonderful health benefits must have been noticed early on, but it was not until 1997 it became an officially recognized exercise activity. Nordic walking is among the less complicated workout methods. What differentiates it from ordinary walking is the use of two hand-held walking poles, which encourage more work from the arms during walking.
This type of walking is highly beneficial. According to Nordic Walking Online, close to 90% of a person's muscles are put to use during Nordic walking, compared to only about 70% during ordinary walking. It also quickens the heart rate more, and burns almost twice as many calories. One can take advantage of these marvelous benefits by inserting a Nordic walking regimen into his or her schedule, of only three hours a week.
Nordic walking looks simple enough, but there are actually several ways to do it. "Two-wheel-drive" walking is the simplest way, when one is merely dragging the walking sticks along as he or she walks. But when one actually starts to use the Nordic walking sticks, putting the arms into the action, one is in "4-wheel-drive." Be sure not to place the walking sticks too far apart. It is necessary to keep the hands in a half-closed, half-open state at all times when holding them.
Walking sticks are the only equipment needed during a workout. They are available from companies such as Nordic Composite, Leki, Swix and Exel. The two basic varieties of Nordic walking sticks are those which are of a fixed, set length; and adjustable-length sticks. These sticks also differ in the materials they are made of; they are usually either carbon, resin or fiberglass. They also vary in the bottom pieces which come in contact with the ground, such as steel spikes or "asphalt boots." All the sticks vary in price depending on materials and style. Fixed-length Nordic walking sticks are usually cheaper than adjustable or semi-adjustable varieties. These latter walking poles can sometimes cost nearly $200.
It is worth it to make such a small investment to get such a thorough, invigorating workout every week. Nordic walking, as with many of the things that have come out of Europe, is a magnificent health-preserving fitness routine more Americans should practice. Especially if someone is an office worker, Nordic walking can cancel out the weakening effects of a sedentary lifestyle.
Sources:
"The History of Nordic Walking." NordicWalkingOnline. 2005. NordicWalkingOnline.com. 18 Aug. 2007. http://www.nordicwalkingonline.com/history.php
"Techniques." NordicWalkingOnline. 2005. NordicWalkingOnline.com. 18 Aug. 2007. http://www.nordicwalkingonline.com/techniques.php.
"The Benefits of Nordic Walking." NordicWalkingOnline. 2005. NordicWalkingOnline.com. 18 Aug. 2007. http://www.nordicwalkingonline.com/benefits.php.
"Nordic Walking Poles." ZFit. 2006. NordicWalkingExperts.com/ZFit.com. 18 Aug. 2007. http://www.nordicwalkingexperts.com/index.asp?Page Action=VIEWCATS&Category=17.
Related Articles
Nordic walking first appeared early in the twentieth century, a means of training Finnish skiers during the summer weather. Its wonderful health benefits must have been noticed early on, but it was not until 1997 it became an officially recognized exercise activity. Nordic walking is among the less complicated workout methods. What differentiates it from ordinary walking is the use of two hand-held walking poles, which encourage more work from the arms during walking.
This type of walking is highly beneficial. According to Nordic Walking Online, close to 90% of a person's muscles are put to use during Nordic walking, compared to only about 70% during ordinary walking. It also quickens the heart rate more, and burns almost twice as many calories. One can take advantage of these marvelous benefits by inserting a Nordic walking regimen into his or her schedule, of only three hours a week.
Nordic walking looks simple enough, but there are actually several ways to do it. "Two-wheel-drive" walking is the simplest way, when one is merely dragging the walking sticks along as he or she walks. But when one actually starts to use the Nordic walking sticks, putting the arms into the action, one is in "4-wheel-drive." Be sure not to place the walking sticks too far apart. It is necessary to keep the hands in a half-closed, half-open state at all times when holding them.
Walking sticks are the only equipment needed during a workout. They are available from companies such as Nordic Composite, Leki, Swix and Exel. The two basic varieties of Nordic walking sticks are those which are of a fixed, set length; and adjustable-length sticks. These sticks also differ in the materials they are made of; they are usually either carbon, resin or fiberglass. They also vary in the bottom pieces which come in contact with the ground, such as steel spikes or "asphalt boots." All the sticks vary in price depending on materials and style. Fixed-length Nordic walking sticks are usually cheaper than adjustable or semi-adjustable varieties. These latter walking poles can sometimes cost nearly $200.
It is worth it to make such a small investment to get such a thorough, invigorating workout every week. Nordic walking, as with many of the things that have come out of Europe, is a magnificent health-preserving fitness routine more Americans should practice. Especially if someone is an office worker, Nordic walking can cancel out the weakening effects of a sedentary lifestyle.
Sources:
"The History of Nordic Walking." NordicWalkingOnline. 2005. NordicWalkingOnline.com. 18 Aug. 2007. http://www.nordicwalkingonline.com/history.php
"Techniques." NordicWalkingOnline. 2005. NordicWalkingOnline.com. 18 Aug. 2007. http://www.nordicwalkingonline.com/techniques.php.
"The Benefits of Nordic Walking." NordicWalkingOnline. 2005. NordicWalkingOnline.com. 18 Aug. 2007. http://www.nordicwalkingonline.com/benefits.php.
"Nordic Walking Poles." ZFit. 2006. NordicWalkingExperts.com/ZFit.com. 18 Aug. 2007. http://www.nordicwalkingexperts.com/index.asp?Page Action=VIEWCATS&Category=17.
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