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Nordic Pole Walking is a low-impact exercise that provides the highest benefits for health, wellness and fitness for people of all ages and fitness levels.
This is one of several outdoor activities Ricardo, our Wellness Coach encourages his clients to learn and of which to take advantage, based on the fact that Pole Walking has been proven and validated through many scientific and clinical research studies to be a catalyst in promotion of improving your health, physical activity and rehabilitation.
Regular walking uses muscles in the lower half of the body, while pole walking adds the use of your upper body muscles including arms, back, shoulders and neck. Pole Walking turns your walk into a whole-body compound-muscle activity. In addition to regular exercise and healthy nutrition, this activity is great for anyone who suffers from diabetes, who’s overweight or has high blood pressure and has been encouraged by their doctor to exercise. And a great exercise for those already active walkers who wish to see greater health and fitness improvement.
Numerous clinical studies show the vast benefits of pole walking, especially among injury recovery and elders. The health benefits of pole walking are so convincing that hospitals and the medical community are actively encouraging its integration into health and wellness practice. Nordic Pole Walking contributes to faster weight loss, better cardiovascular health and better posture. Using poles can even help people recover from knee and/or hip surgery to get moving again while providing support. Some of the benefits of Nordic Pole Walking:
- It is suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels
- Helps develop a better upright body, improving your posture, balance and sense of stability
- Activating upper body muscles reduces upper back, neck and shoulder pains
- Incorporates 80-90% of all body muscles using the poles, versus 40 – 50% not using poles
- Provides great support, up to 30% reduced impact and stress on your hips, knees and feet
- Increases and burns up to 25 – 46% more calories than when walking without poles
- It is evidence-based, backed by extensive international scientific research
- An excellent compound movement activity
- It’s a great tool for pain and stress management, and mental disorders
- Increases production of positive hormones
- It is fully endorsed by The Mayo Clinic
- Increases heart and cardiovascular training up to 22%
Nordic Pole Walking started in Finland in the early 1990s as a way for cross-country skiers to train during the summer months. It was introduced as a low-impact form of exercise that involves walking with a pair of customized poles. The activity exploded across Europe in the 1990s and has grown to the pint where today more than 20% of Finns and approximately 10-15 million Germans regularly pole walk.
It is one of the fastest growing low-impact activity in Canada. Contact Ricardo our Wellness Coach, get your Nordic Poles, learn to use them and experience what the great hype is all about!