ABC of Nordic Walking News Feed

Nordic Walking Poles: Safer in In-Service Programs

Glen Arbor, MI - Pete Edwards, the owner/founder/coach of The American Nordic Walking System and WWW.SKIWALKING.COM, is a man on a mission. He has introduced thousands of Americans to Nordic Ski Walking � the healthy exercise program from Europe (over six million Europeans are estimated to be walking with poles in the cities, in the country, and in the mountains). Walking with poles can burn up to 40% more calories than regular walking, plus when sized correctly and when using the proper technique, the stress to the shins, knees, hips, and back is radically reduced.

Edwards hosts Nordic Walking classes almost daily - private lessons, group lessons, and in-service programs. In-service programs typically cater to doctors, nurses, physical therapists, and personal trainers. When doctors, nurses, physical therapists, and personal trainers discover the many benefits of walking with poles, they are anxious to share Nordic Walking with others. Every year, Edwards receives hundreds of thank you letters and emails from happy customers who have found success with their poles despite their MS, Parkinson's, Arthritis, Post Polio, Neuropathy, Osteoporosis, Scoliosis, Back Issues (including metal rods), knee issues (including new knees), hip issues (including new hips), Bursitis, and other challenges. When individuals with balance issues find our Nordic Walking Poles more comfortable than canes and walkers, it is amazing and exceptionally rewarding. The benefits and advantages of using one-piece walking poles are almost too good to be true, but it is just good physics and basic biomechanics. Nordic Walking is no longer just for expert skiers deprived of snow during the summer.

Walking clubs are also contacting Edwards and offering to fly him to their outings/events and introduce Nordic Walking to their membership. Walking with poles really does burn more calories than regular walking. The poles also add an upper body workout to the daily walking campaign � turbo charging the average walking campaign and turning it into a full body workout. Weight Watchers and TOPS groups are also discovering the many benefits of walking with one-piece poles.

It would be simpler and more profitable for Edwards to sell and promote collapsible one-size-fits-all type poles, but from a safety and performance standpoint, it didn't and still doesn't make sense to this running and ski coach with over 25 years of coaching experience. As a ski coach, it is obvious that skiers don't ski with twist-locking poles because of safety, weight, and durability issues. One-piece poles are simply safer, lighter, and much more durable than cheap twist-locking adjustable length/telescoping/collapsible poles.

Edwards always travels to his Nordic Walking lessons, clinics, lectures, and in-services with 60 or more pairs of his quality one-piece poles in a variety of lengths for participants to test-drive as well as one high-end $139.95 twist-locking pole to prove his point about one-piece poles being safer and stronger than expensive or cheap twist-locking poles. He will tap the twist-locking pole on the ground and it will vibrate and rattle. He will plant it firmly and his audience can watch it gradually collapse down to munchkin height. Then he will take one of his quality one-piece poles and tap it. It is silent and there is no vibration issue or obnoxious rattling. Edwards then informs his audience that his quality one-piece pole made in Lillehammer, Norway costs half as much as the expensive twist-locking pole. Quality one-piece poles start at $69.95. The SWIX VIPs are made in Lillehammer, Norway and include Real Nordic Walking Straps (patented by the Salomon Ski Company, durable carbide metal tips (for trails, snow, and ice), removable rubber Nordic Walking tips (for pavement and other hard surfaces), and a free Nordic Walking DVD.

Many of the doctors, nurses, physical therapists, and fitness instructors that Edwards has worked with already had prior experience with twist-locking snowshoe poles, trekking poles, and/or Nordic Walking Poles. In almost every case, the feedback has been consistent - "the twist-locks either gradually collapsed, froze up all together or failed."

Americans are in desperate need of walking and exercising. Walking with Nordic Ski Walking poles is proving to be the efficient and effective solution for all ages and all fitness levels, and one-piece poles are proving to be the #1 choice of doctors, nurses, physical therapists, and fitness instructors. (PR.com)

Free Nordic Walking Course in Rhondda

A free Nordic walking course is currently being offered at Rhondda, South Wales. This activity makes use of a pair of poles and is a popular form of exercise in certain parts of Europe.

The Nordic walking course is a collaboration project of the Sustrans and Age Concern. One of the course's instructors will be Rowena Myles, a 60-year old Nordic walker trained by Age Concern to teach people how to do the activity properly.

The walking course is held every Wednesday at two in the afternoon, starting from the Maerdy Library. Interested participants need to wear a pair of comfortable walking shoes. Nordic walking poles will be provided by the event organizers.

For more details on this news, please visit www.walesonline.co.uk.

Neath Port Talbot Residents Take Part in NW Group

The residents of Neath Port Talbot in South Wales got a taste of the healthy benefits that can be reaped from Nordic walking, thanks to the Nordic Walking Group which promoted the activity in the area.

The event was led by Alan Powis who shared his knowledge on the basics of the activity. According to Powis, Nordic walking started 30 years ago and is now one of the most effective forms of exercise, targeting about 90% of the body muscles.

The Nordic Walking Group was sponsored by the Melincryddan Communities First and had received grant from the Sports Council for Wales. The grant was used to purchase 15 Nordic walking poles which were used by the event participants.

For more details on this news, please visit www.walesonline.co.uk.

Oakleafe Nordic Walking Group to Hold NW Events

The Oakleafe Nordic Walking Group (East Surrey and East Sussex) will facilitate Nordic walking events for the whole month of August. The Nordic group walks will be held at the Windover Hill in Long Man Country, consisting of two-hour country walking sessions for each scheduled Saturday class. The fitness walking sessions are scheduled on the 2nd of August for the Surrey Group, and on the 25th of August for the East Sussex group. The group walk will be led by Nigel Bentley, an International Nordic Walking Technique Instructor.

The Oakleafe Nordic Walking Group will also conduct other walking events from October until April 2009. These courses are taster classes for those who are interested to get into this fitness craze.

Burning more calories than other fitness programs, Nordic walking is one of the popular alternatives to regular walking with its ability to reduce load on knees and feet.

For more information on induction classes or course schedules, visit www.nordic-walking.me.uk.

Learn Basic NW Techniques at Nordic Academy

The Nordic Academy in Forest Hill, Victoria, Australia is giving beginners the opportunity to learn the proper basic Nordic walking techniques through the Nordic Academy Proficiency Course.

The Nordic Academy Proficiency Course is a three-hour intense learning clinic which tackles the basics of Nordic walking. The workshop will kick off with an overview of Nordic walking, its origin, and the benefits one can reap from it. The clinic will also include warm up and mobilization exercises, how to do the basic NW technique, Guided Nordic walking practice, correction exercises for common technique mistakes, and stretching exercises for NW.

The registration fee for the course is $88 (AUD). This covers rental of NW poles, quality tuition by an experienced Nordic Academy NW trainer, Nordic Walking Proficiency Certificate, and afternoon tea refreshments.

For more details on this news, please visit www.nordicacademy.com.au.