Nordic Walking - a joyous sport for beginners and advanced practitioners
A fairly new kind of sport is attracting thousands of enthusiasts of all ages throughout the world. Even people who have never exercised and people who only would like to be close to nature should feel free to try Nordic Walking.
Professional cross-country skiers have included so-called "ski walking" in their summer training programmes since as early as the 1950s. This kind of training has ensured maintaining speed and, thanks to uphill stretches done in diagonal Nordic Walking style, stamina. Combined efforts made by cross-country and fitness coaches, physicians, and physiotherapists have turned the professional sportsperson's training session into a popular and now entirely individual sport. Even though the term Nordic Walking was only formulated in 1997, the sport had become a mass recreational activity in the Scandinavian countries by then. In 2000, Nordic Walking was chosen sport of the year in Finland.
Nordic Walking is a simple form of movement that manages to involve all of the body. It has become a favourite with grandsons, granddaughters, and grandparents alike through adaptation to modern fitness requirements and ground terrain while also keeping its cross-country skiing roots.
Nordic Walking is so beneficial to both body and soul that it is surprising not everyone does it. It has the special advantage of being accessible even to people who are unable to get involved in other kinds of sport, offering a solution to overweight individuals, those with joint problems, those recovering from illness, senior citizens, and pregnant women.
It is very important to consider that compared to simple walking Nordic Walking eases the stress on joints by 30 percent, thanks to the use of sticks. Nordic Walking involves 90 percent of the body's 660 muscles, and it makes the body work at 50-80 percent of maximum intensity, improving blood circulation and cardiovascular fitness, and increasing fat burn. It also increases oxygen supply to the body and the brain, and it improves coordination skills. The correct Nordic Walking technique improves venous blood circulation through the continuous pumping movement of the hands. These factors combined result in generally better blood supply throughout the body, a potential aid in combating high blood pressure. Nordic Walking is also recommended for people with back and shoulder pain because the use of sticks helps relax muscles in the shoulders, upper back and neck, relieving tension-related spasms in these areas.
In addition to the above, the success of Nordic Walking is probably associated with the fact that it is done outdoors. Group training may increase performance, help maintain regular training, and is much more enjoyable than individual training. All in all, this is a genuine family sport for all generations.
12 reasons for giving it a try
1.Eases the stress on joints
2.Improves stamina
3.Strengthens muscles
4.One of the best anti-ageing methods: it releases large doses of endorphin, and keeps you fit
5.Improves blood supply to the body
6.Releases muscle tension
7.Improves stress resistance through regulating hormone levels
8.Activates blood circulation by increasing pulse and lowering blood pressure
9.Benefits the brain by increasing blood supply
10.Can only be done outdoors
11.Group therapy that can involve the whole family
12.Very cheap: just a good pair of shoes and sticks needed.
