The NZS.com Nordic Walking article contains information on the health benefits of Nordic Walking as an alternative exercise.
Nordic Walking in New Zealand
Have you been interest in Nordic Walking for a while, and wanted to understand its history and health benefits? Read on to find out tips for Nordic Walking and techniques for this alternative exercise.
Nordic Walking is one of the safest physical activities. It is an exceptionally easy, low-effort entry from a ‘zero’ fitness exercise background, leading to lots of room for growth.
Imagine a seventy-year-old arthritic grandmother and Kiwi multisport legend Steve Gurney (patron to Nordic Walking Fitness Sport) both participating in Nordic Walking together and benefiting from the exercise.
Nordic Walking is a full-body cardio-muscular exercise that engages the arms, back, stomach, and legs. This combination promotes circulation, correct breathing, burns more kilojoules than walking alone and develops total body coordination.
Essentially, Nordic Walking is just like tramping and walking normally, but with poles similar to ski poles to help you along your way. While normal walking only uses 70% of the body's muscles, Nordic Walking uses over 90%.
The activity itself is very low impact, compared to aerobics, dance or even regular walking. Nordic Walking teaches lower-upper body coordination, posture, form, structure and good biomechanics; in a dynamic way that is applicable to a healthy lifestyle.
What would compel someone to do such a thing? Why is Nordic Walking so attractive?
Nordic walking is an all year round activity. Don’t be fooled, just because anyone can do it, does not mean that it has little exercise value.
Why is it so popular in Europe and USA? How have people used it for overall fitness?
Nordic Walking is an effective fitness sport and an easy and gentle form of weight loss exercise. It requires no pre requisite fitness experience, and can be done anywhere from the rocky mountains of the Swiss Alps to the Californian desert. Reasonably new to New Zealand, Nordic Walking also highly suited to many walking tracks within our Kiwi landscape.
Over the years, jogging, aerobics, spinning, yoga, pilates, and ball classes have motivated segments of the population to participate in healthy activities, by offering something new and invigorating.
Similarly, Nordic Walking is a re-branding of cross-country ski training; known for high level of cardio-muscular conditioning with all the benefits of skiing on snow, but without the learning curve. It is simple, easy, fun, healthy and safe.
In this one activity, you can combine many of the benefits of jogging or aerobics (without the impact) and the core body conditioning of pilates and ball, while using more muscles than you would for just spinning.
What are the benefits of Nordic Walking over walking or running?
Although, many of us run, bike, or hike in summer, Nordic Walking will be a good training base. It is possible to get a significantly better workout than from walking alone, and the movement is far less stressful on joints than running because it is smooth and low-impact.
Nordic walking is a cross between walking and running. Nordic walking allows you to loose weight, build up stamina, tone the upper body and exercise your joints to the point where it is safe to take up running.
Unlike many fitness fads, Nordic Walking is practical. It is directly applicable for skiing and trekking or hiking. The sport is easy to learn, and there are already a governing body set up in New Zealand, where instructors who have undergone training travel around the country to facilitate introductions to the sport.
These instructors provide ongoing classes on a one to one basis, or in a group. For more information about Nordic Walking, check out the NZS.com directory.
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