Nordic Pole Walking
Why Millions of Europeans
Can't Be Wrong
By Shawn M. Nisbet, RHN, CFA
Nordic pole walking is widely regarded as the most effective moderate, low-impact exercise - an exercise that can be done all year long by anyone, no matter what your fitness level. Developed in Finland more than 70 years ago by cross country skiers determined to stay fit all year long, what has become one of Europe’s favourite aerobic activities has found its way to Canada.
Nordic pole walking caught on in Finland as a sport for everyone in the late 1990s, then expanded into Germany and Austria. In 2000, there were only three member countries in the International Nordic Walking Association (INWA). Today the INWA has 16 member countries and instructors in over 40 countries. With over 10 million people worldwide now enjoying Nordic pole walking, closer to home Aurora is getting the Nordic bug in a big way.
The ‘secret’ to Nordic
pole walking is that it
uses 90% of your muscles
Shawn Nisbet is a registered holistic nutritionist, certified fitness consultant and Nordic pole walking master instructor. She offers free walking clinics not only for beginners who are just learning the basics, but also for those who want to fine-tune their skills. These free clinics take place at Sheppard’s Bush in Aurora, and those without their own poles can borrow a pair for each clinic. (Contact Shawn at info@shawnnisbet.com, or go to www.shawnnisbet.com for more information and dates.)
Having been involved in fitness and nutrition for over 28 years, Shawn is a total convert to Nordic pole walking. “It’s wonderful to be able to teach a form of low-impact aerobic exercise that everyone can do - and at minimal cost,” she says.
Shawn has trained under the guidance of Dr. Klaus Schwanbeck who lives in Germany and travels between Canada and Germany to help spread the word about Nordic pole walking. Dr. Schwanbeck has spent a great deal of time working with hospitals in Toronto, as well as the Canadian Diabetes Association and the medical profession in general, teaching the benefits of Nordic pole walking. Shawn has spent most of her time offering free Nordic pole walking clinics to the public and teaching certification courses to increase the number of instructors to help spread the word.
“I have never been involved in an activity that is so easy to teach, so easy to learn and that everyone loves to do,” she says. “The great thing about Nordic pole walking is its versatility, as it can be adapted to everyone’s individual fitness levels. It’s equally suited for fitness enthusiasts who want a high-intensity, total body aerobic workout and for those less fit or just getting back into shape. Using Nordic poles while walking offers a safe, efficient way for those wanting to lose weight, as well as for the elderly and for those with physical limitations.”
If you can walk, you can Nordic pole walk!
Why is Nordic pole walking better than just walking?
Nordic pole walking increases your heart rate, oxygen consumption and caloric expenditure without increasing your perceived rate of exertion. You don’t feel like you’re working any harder, but in addition to working your legs, you will experience a full range of motion that works your abdominals, arms (especially your triceps), shoulders, upper chest and back muscles.
Normal walking works about 50% of your muscles, while Nordic pole walking
works over 90% of your muscles.
The poles provide additional stability and help reduce stress in your back, hips and knees. Your bone density can be increased through this form of resistance training and your posture also improves through use of the proper technique and arm motion.
Clinical and anecdotal reports indicate that Nordic pole walking is beneficial in a wide range of conditions, including arthritis, back pain, diabetes 2, high blood pressure, cardiac syndrome, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, obesity, osteoporosis, repetitive stress injuries, depression, mood disorders and more. For those wanting to manage their weight, Nordic pole walking can burn up to 46% more calories than normal walking. This is a great incentive to continue to walk even when the weather gets a little cooler.
Some health benefits of Nordic pole walking
• Nordic pole walking burns up to 46% more calories than regular walking
• Increases heart and cardiovascular training up to 22%
• Incorporates 90% of all body muscles
• Helps to eliminate back, shoulder and neck pain
• Up to 30% less impact on hip and knee joints
• Increases oxygen respiration by 25% or more
• Supports stress management
• Develops upright body posture
If you are looking for a great weight loss program, this is it!
Riding a bicycle or a treadmill uses only 35% of all body muscles. Joggers use up to 70% of all their body muscles. Working muscles burn calories. The more muscles you activate, the more calories you burn.
Approximately 350 clinical and scientific reports about the health benefits
of Nordic pole walking are available in various scientific publications.
For more information and how-to videos, go to www.PoleWalkingCanada.com
Contacts:
Dr.Klaus Schwanbeck, Toronto, ON
Email: schwanbeckN@aol.com
Shawn Nisbet, Aurora, ON
Email: info@shawnnisbet.com
Tel: 416.804.0938
2600 John Street, Unit 207, Markham, ON L3R 3W3 T: 905.475.5222 F: 905.475.6369
