Are you someone who enjoys getting out in the fresh air and going for a good walk? Are you looking for a way to lose weight, or just improve your fitness level? Are you suffering from physical ailments that limit the types of physical activity you can participate in? Are you looking for a full-body workout without the use of lots of equipment or going to a gym?
If you answered yes to any of these questions (and there are many more that could be asked) then Nordic Walking using walking poles is for you. Just about everyone can participate in and benefit from this form of exercise.
Using Walking Poles greatly benefits people with balance and/or joint issues. Using a cane tends to make a person lean to one side creating further problems with the back and joints, but with walking poles good posture is once again possible. They give a person much more stability instilling more confidence and the ability to once again be more physically active.
We have always heard that walking is one of the best forms of exercise. Heart patients are instructed to get their heart rate up by walking as a form of their ongoing rehabilitation and well-being. Research is also learning that the incidence of dementia is significantly lower in frequent walkers by at much as 40 percent. People who have chronic conditions or are recovering from illness or surgery are instructed to exercise, which starts out with a walking routine and builds from there. Heart patients are now up and moving' within half a day. Walking is also prescribed for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis. Parkinson's disease, osteoarthritis, among many others. Walking is the easiest and most beneficial forms of exercise that we can do.
The benefits of walking are intensified when you use walking poles and the Nordic Walking Technique. With the use of a few simple techniques and a couple of walking poles, you can turn your normal walking routine into a full body workout with physical and mental benefits. Your stamina will be improved. The mobility of your neck, chest and spine increases significantly. Your balance and coordination will be greatly improved. Nordic Walking helps strengthen and tone your upper body muscles. Using walking poles with the Nordic Walking Technique greatly improves your cardiovascular health. These are just a few of the many benefits you will experience with this fitness activity. WOW! That's quite an impressive list of benefits.
The fitter you are the longer you are likely to live and your quality of life will definitely be enhanced.
A seven year study of men with an average age of 59 found that those in the very highly fit' category had a 70 percent lower death risk that those in the low fit' category. The moderately fit' category had about a 50 percent lower death risk as compared to the low fit' group.
Moderate fitness is not hard to achieve at all. A brisk walk, four to six times a week will do it for you. To bounce this up to the fitter group only means increasing that activity. This could include jogging in intervals during this brisk walk, or even easier, adding walking poles and the Nordic Walking technique to this walk.
If Osteoporosis is a concern, pick up a set of walking poles and start walking. The poles will provide stability and balance and greatly reduce the risk of falling. Exercising, particularly bone strengthening exercises will greatly reduce your risk of Osteoporosis, and even help relieve the effects if you already have it. Walking poles will help you get that exercise you need while taking away most of the risks involved in exercising for those with brittle bones.
If this has made you think that Nordic Walking could benefit you, get yourself a pair of poles (this is not an expensive form of exercise to get involved in) and start walking. Before long you will be hooked. You will feel better and you will be having fun doing it.
Rob Hicks is a Nordic Walking enthusiast, believer in living an active lifestyle, and cofounder of www.walkingtofitness.com . Rob resides in Northern British Columbia with his wife and two kids and enjoys the great outdoors whether it be walking, fishing or hunting.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
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