Nordic walking, also known as fitness walking, pole walking or ski walking, is a form of exercise where the walker uses specially designed poles which are similar to ski poles to complete a round of walking. Initially, Nordic walking was known as ski walking as it was used during the ski off seasons. It was also known as hill bounding or ski striding and was used by professional Nordic skiers to keep fit during off seasons. It is a practise which is quite old where Nordic skiers would use dry land to practice their craft. Finnish ski coaches began noticing how their skiers remained fit during the summer months with Nordic walking.
Gradually, people suffering from knee pain found relief when walking with a ski pole as it helped eliminate their knee pain. Walkers carrying heavy backpacks would also require a stick to keep their back from getting strained. Over a period of time, the poles came to be used as a means to keep skiing professional fit during off seasons, then as a remedy for those who suffered from health ailments, and finally as a tool to keep people stay fit.
The Finns developed one-piece walking poles for Nordic walking. Such poles had rubber tips to provide grip while walking on hard surfaces like a footpath. The walking poles also came with metal tips for walking on soft surfaces like sandy beaches and on snow. Straps were also added in order to ensure that the poles didn’t slip away.
Today, more than ten million people across the globe practise Nordic walking as part of their fitness routine. It allows a complete body workout and can be done in any terrain or weather where walking is permissible. The interesting aspect about Nordic walking is that, when did in the right manner, it can burn up to 70% calories. It help burn more calories than simple walking since large muscle groups are employed for this exercise requiring almost double the amount of energy in comparison to simple walking. The chest, triceps, abdominal muscles, lats, the spine are all engaged in Nordic walking.
Nordic walking is a great way to exercise your upper body and improve strength without the need for special strength training. It helps develop strength and stamina. It also offers other advantages like improving balance and posture. This way of walking requires very little training, yet offers all the advantages of simple walking and more.
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