About nordic walking

What is nordic walking?

Nordic walking is an easy exercise that gets you outdoors in the fresh air rather than stuck in a gym. You can nordic walk almost anywhere from urban parks to wild mountains. It can help you maintain and improve your health, fitness and general well-being. It’s a low impact way of exercising where you walk with specially designed poles that help to propel you along and boost the calorie burning effect of normal walking.

Nordic walking is scientifically proven to deliver health and fitness benefits and is suitable for all ages. It tones, strengthens and de-stresses so it’s the perfect antidote to a busy daily routine.

I took up nordic walking as an extra way to keep fit - I've always loved walking and by using poles I've found you can really zip along. Sometimes it’s too hot to run and, fantastic though my other sport of rollerskiing is, it does require a reasonable surface so it's not always convenient. I wanted an alternative that I could do anywhere, that would exercise arms and legs, and something that could be enjoyed with other people - nordic walking was the answer.

What will nordic walking do for me?

Burn 20-46% more calories than you do with normal walking so it can help you lose weight.
Use up to 90% of your muscles so you get a total workout that will increase your fitness.
Feel energised but not as tired as you would walking without poles because you spread the work across your body.
Reduce back pain, neck and shoulder tension caused by too much sitting, working at a computer or driving – regular nordic walking gently strengthens your muscles to counteract the effects of these everyday actions.
Feel revitalised and de-stressed; you’re out in the fresh air, making the most of London’s green spaces and enjoying the rhythm of walking – so much more relaxing than the artificial atmosphere of a gym.
Work your upper body, toning your arms and shoulders at the same time as your legs. So if you aim for the daily recommended target of 10,000 steps a day, with nordic walking you will also get the added benefit of 10,000 tricep extensions – doing 10,000 weight lifts or press ups to achieve this number of extensions wouldn’t be much fun… 10,000 steps myth or magic? - read this article from the BBC's h2g2 website

There's a growing body of research about the benefits of nordic walking so click here for the scientific perspective on Nordic Walking UK's website and British Nordic Walking.

I’m quite fit already, why should I nordic walk?

Once you’ve learnt the basics you can nordic walk at a higher intensity more easily and for longer so you will get maximum fitness benefits.
You can include skipping, running, intervals and hillwork to build strength and endurance.
A more varied exercise programme is easier to stick to and Nordic walking is ideal cross training.
It’s stimulating to try something new and learn a new skill.

Do I need lessons?

As with any activity, if you learn the basics you will enjoy yourself more and get the most out of your equipment. Book a Learn to nordic walk class to learn the correct technique and gain a good insight into how you can benefit from regular nordic walking, as well as essential warm up and cool down exercises.

Through regular practice you'll develop your confidence and technique to make your walking as efficient and effective as possible over different surfaces.

Who nordic walks?

Over 6 million people worldwide in over 40 countries, and it’s one of the fastest growing activities in the UK.

Nordic walking originated in Finland in the 1930s where cross-country skiers used it as a summer training method. In the 1980s it was developed as a leisure pursuit to increase health and fitness with the result that around a fifth of the Finnish population now nordic walk. It’s popular throughout Scandinavia, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France and is growing rapidly in Canada and the USA.

For an American perspective on nordic walking check out journalist Claire Walter's nordic walking USA blog.

Click to see our beginners' classes or book a private class

See more on nordic walking and cross country ski-ing

Or check out Stride and Glide, a helpful, readable book covering both sports, click to find out more.