Nordic Walking

Here’s why:

• Fresh air: supply your whole body with oxygen; including the brain!
• Sun: grab yourself some vitamin D
• Energy: we draw it from trees, flowers, the sky, the earth, colors
• People: we encounter other active individuals, exchange smiles, motivate one another
• Family: fun exercises in the open air give joy and bring us together

 

One form of outdoor activity is Nordic walking, or marching with the aid of poles. Many associate it with something that is more suited for senior citizens, and rightly so, but that is only one way to look at it. True, it’s a safe workout for old-timers, but everybody can walk with poles!

I do not use poles, because I love running. However, I know a lot of people who do not share this passion of mine, or simply are unable to run. Because they are too overweight, cause they have problems with their joints, cause of their injury history… For them, Nordic walking is just the thing.

This form of physical activity is not worse than running, it’s just different! But there are similarities.

• When you have mastered the art of walking with poles, it will become a form of meditation for you
• You can, as in running, beat your own records in terms of distance covered and time spent on doing it
• You can march with others
• You can take part in competitions, like runners do

Walking with pole is not as simple as you might think! Before you start, before you buy the poles, give it a try using borrowed ones. In my home city of Łódź, MOSiR (a local sports and recreation center) organizes free training every weekend, along with walking trips with instructors who will lend poles and teach you how to use them correctly. I hope it’s also the case in other cities :). If not – you can always follow the advice of Elżbieta Wojciechowska, a world champion Nordic walker. When you look at her, do you still think that Nordic walking is for seniors?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tuv9W0EX0CM