Nordic Walking - the healthy option in P’boro - News - LIVING SPORT

Nordic Walking - the healthy option in P’boro

Peterborough people are taking to Werrington with their poles expertly led by Health and Fitness Specialist, INWA Instructor Sue Burnett – to join the fastest-growing outdoor leisure pursuit in the UK.

With sales of carbon fibre walking poles continuing to soar across the country, it seems we are fast becoming a nation of…Nordic Walkers.

The idea of a brisk walk with a set of poles in hand may seem an unusual pastime to some, but figures show that more and more people are registering their interest in the booming leisure activity, and it seems it’s not just the traditional outdoor enthusiast who is joining the throng for a walk on the wild-side.

Introduced to Britain from Finland in 2004, Nordic Walking started with a keen following among people wanting a quick-fix of real exercise in the fresh air.

With 46 per cent more calories burnt per hour from Nordic Walking compared to conventional walking – and a significant reduction in strain on limbs and muscles – the leisure pursuit is catching on fast with all sorts and ages of people.

Many of those to take up Nordic Walking are people bored with the gym, those who can’t run because of joint problems and people in their middle years who want to stay as trim and fit as possible – and keep enjoying their chocolate, too!

Among those to have reaped the rewards of the activity are people looking to lose weight, athletes recovering from injury, or those wanting to maintain energy levels beyond as they get older - and thousands of others who choose Nordic Walking just because they enjoy a challenging and sociable pursuit in the great outdoors.

British Nordic Walking director Karen said, ‘Nordic Walking is an excellent form of exercise that combines great results thanks to the use of 90% of muscles in the body, while remaining very low impact on joints because of the use of poles.

‘By using the poles people feel less strain on the joints, and they also give you an upper body workout that helps to reduce shoulder, neck and back pain. Basically, the harder you push down and the smoother your technique the greater the benefits of the workout.

‘Nordic Walking appeals to people who want to keep fit but are not traditional sporty types or walkers. They are pushed for time and want a quick one hour work-out that will tick the health boxes – and not hurt.’

Karen added, ‘Just like most leisure activities, if people don’t know how to do something properly it is most likely that they will either gain very little from it or develop an injury. The more that you put into Nordic walking the more will be gained. People start the feel the benefits from the very first session and, with the guidance of an INWA qualified instructor, can master the full technique in as little as six weeks.’

For more information on Nordic walking in Peterborough and for details of how to get involved, contact Sue Burnett on 01733 766 990, 07901 937 665 or at www.activeedgesolutions.co.uk.

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