Nordic Walking - Benefits, Pleasures and Advantages

Quite simply, Nordic Walking could be described as WALKING PLUS, or even EXTREME WALKING.

Unlike walking, or even running, Nordic Walking, which is walking with especially designed poles provides you with a whole-body exercise - lower body, upper body, plus a great aerobic workout - comparable to Nordic, or cross-country skiing

In most countries the English name - Nordic Walking - has been adopted and kept, but the Swedes have dubbed it stavgång, in Norway and Denmark it is stavgang, and to the Estonians it is kepikönd.

If you already walk, power walk, hike, run, or cycle, Nordic Walking will enhance your fitness level. In addition, walking with poles is a lot more interesting and engrossing than plain walking.

When you deal with Nordic Walking US, you can be assured of a customer service and experience that has been always rated as second to none. I have been running Nordic Walking US since 2004. I am also an ANWA-Certified Nordic Walking instructor and will be happy to teach you the most efficient technique to take advantage of these benefits.

I use and teach a modified European/ Finnish/American technique, which in my opinion offers the best combination for training and fitness.

Press "read more" below for more information.

Our Nordic Walking Pole Adviser

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Had to give in to MySQL limits. Since the database exceeded the pre-set limit, the continuation of the diary resides here now. Link to the first, second, third and fourth parts of the diary are just below.

Results, so far - with no dieting, after 5,293.5 miles - lost some weight and body fat and in general I am staying in great shape due to regular Nordic Walking. This diary was started on May 16, 2005, as a way to keep track of my walks both publicly and for my own, private reference. Just think what kind of results YOU could achieve with Nordic Walking and a rational diet!I have also gotten faster, as proven by steadily tumbling personal records.

On June 6, 2009 I have been persuaded by Gottfried Kürmer to switch at least partly over to a regimen recommended by an Oxford University study, which proposes conducting relatively intensive workouts for 30 minutes a day - seven days per week. In reality, I usually walk four days per week, mixing 30 + minute workouts, with longer walks.

Therefore, my optimal mileage will hover around 15 miles per week, instead of the earlier 25.

The 1st part of The Nordic Walking Diary

The 2nd part of The Nordic Walking Diary

The 3rd part of The Nordic Walking Diary

The 4th part of The Nordic Walking Diary

I wonder whether you ever thought that walking, hiking, running, or cycling, while great cardiovascular exercises, pretty much only exercise your lower body?

I have thought about it many times, while lugging a heavy pack over the Appalachian Trail, running through the Death Valley, or riding my bike in a great many different places.

I have even contemplated getting one of those hand-cranked bicycles to provide me with an upper body workout. Have also taken up kayaking, at least partly for the very same reason.

One sport that is not only enjoyable and beautiful, but which also exercises most of the muscles of the body is cross country skiing. Unfortunately, even with the record snowfall that we had this past winter, it is still largely a seasonal sport.

That said, when I actually discovered (no, I didn’t invent the sport) and taken up Nordic Walking in 2004, all of the above dilemmas were magically resolved. Despite the fact that I still very much enjoy skiing – both downhill and cross country, hiking, backpacking, cycling, kayaking and a number of other activities, Nordic Walking has provided me with an all-encompassing, enjoyable exercise activity, that can be practiced pretty much all year-round and which exercises about 92 percent of the body’s muscles.

Isn’t it about time that you also explored the possibilities that Nordic Walking has to offer?

This revised and updated article was originally posted in 2006

Nordic Walking means walking with poles. Many elements of ordinary walking become more effective with poles and the walking technique becomes more balanced.

Nordic walking is so effective as a whole-body exercise, that I let my gym membership lapse several years ago and haven't been back there since.

If your goal is to lose weight, improve your general fitness level and even build some muscle, you owe it to yourself to give Nordic walking a try.

A general rule of thumb as far as the length of poles is concerned is that the forearm should be almost parallel to the ground with the arm angle at about 100 degrees, while gripping the handle and the tip of the pole next to the ankle joint. More specific pole fitting should be done with the help of a good instructor.

It is also highly recommended to take classes with a qualified and certified instructor, in order to fully benefit from what Nordic Walking offers and to avoid picking up some wrong habits, which might require extra work later to eliminate.

I am re-posting this story, as there seems to be a growing number of people interested in creating some sort of a Nordic Walking club in our area

I was wondering if anyone in Northern Virginia, Maryland and in the Washington, DC area in general would be interested in starting some group walks.

I would be willing to lead them, even provide a few initial pairs of loaner poles, some basic training for beginners, etc, at no charge. You would have to provide your own transportation, of course.

We could meet in different places in the area, lets say, once a week, twice, or even once per month. Let me know what you think, before we get too specific. Either simply send an email (link below), or if your are a registered user of this site - post a comment right under this story. E-mail

Re-posted with some clarifications

Tom Rutlin - a pioneer of Nordic walking, which in 1988 he termed "Exerstriding" advocates the straight arm "plant" technique.

David Downer - links to whose websites you can find right here at Nordic Walking US, also uses and teaches this method.

The International Nordic Walking Association (INWA) in turn teaches the bent arm plant. I have heard that Exel reps (INWA=Exel) have been teaching the straight arm technique, although their website still shows graphics, where models have radically bent arms...

The American Nordic Walking Association (ANWA) also teaches the flexible arm, European technique.

There was I time, when I too used and advocated the bent arm plant, but that has changed a bit. Despite Gottfried Kürmer's - one of the best Master Nordic Walking coaches suggestion to actually bend the arm, I am continuing the relatively (but not completely) straight arm technique. I must say though that Gottfried's teaching did transform my arm plant into a more flexible one than before.

I would like to emphasize that the arm should not be rigid, but be allowed to bend to a limited degree at the elbow, in order to maintain the fluidity of the stroke.

Let me try to explain why I believe that a modified straight-arm technique works best.

Had to give in to MySQL limits. Since the database exceeded the pre-set limit, the continuation of the diary resides here now. Link to the first, second and third parts of the diary are just below.

Results, so far - with no dieting, after 4,751.5 miles - lost 30 pounds and 5.5% body fat since May 16, 2005, when this diary was started. Just think what kind of results YOU could achieve with Nordic Walking and a rational diet! Have also gotten faster, as proven by steadily tumbling personal records.

On June 6, 2009 I have been persuaded by Gottfried Kürmer to switch over to a regimen recommended by an Oxford University study, which proposes conducting relatively intensive workouts for 30 minutes a day - seven days per week. Yes - no break days, but none, or fewer one, two, or three-hour intensive walks.

Therefore, my optimal mileage will hover between 15 and 20 miles per week, instead of 25. I still intend to do at least one longer walk per week and even take a day, or two off sometimes, to even things out.

The 1st part of The Nordic Walking Diary

The 2nd part of The Nordic Walking Diary

The 3rd part of The Nordic Walking Diary

Just a reminder for those, who haven't looked at our web store lately.

Our prices include FREE shipping within the lower 48 U.S. states. Shipments abroad, or to Alaska and Hawaii do require additional payment. Please email us before, during, or after your purchase for additional information.

So, please take that into account, when comparing prices between Nordic Walking US and some other retailers. The actual difference in price could be anywhere from $7 to $15 per purchase - and that's for the shipping cost alone.

As an example, one of the biggest and best-known outdoor retailers is selling LEKI Instructor poles for $149.99, which is the standard price almost anywhere. Our price is $4 lower and in addition, there are no overt, or covert shipping and handling charges.

In addition, we offer monthly specials, which are also shipped free of charge and all of our LEKI and Swix poles and equipment is the finest in its class. No cheap, low-quality models here. E-mail

We would like to announce - and this unfortunately applies only to local purchases - a free, one-hour introductory Nordic Walking lesson for purchasers of two, or more pairs of Nordic Walking poles.

This is a perfect opportunity to learn the basic technique absolutely free of charge.

We would like to emphasize, that this offer applies only within a 30-mile radius from our headquarters in Vienna, Virginia.

Arrangements will be made after qualifying purchases.

The classes will be held in a mutually agreeable location in the Washington, DC area.

If you are reading this, you probably are interested in being fit and healthy. That is great! We are happy to have you here. Exercise is very, very important in order to be slim, healthy, fit and attractive. That said, we shouldn't forget the role that diet plays in our health and fitness.

The old saying that "you are what you eat" couldn't be more accurate in these days of processed foods, food additives, genetically modified (GM) plants and animals and generally incredibly adulterated food supply.

Remember your last visit to the neighborhood supermarket? Did you notice all kinds of novel products of food science on the shelves, those often in packages festooned with health claims? Well, if you're concerned about your health, you should probably avoid most food products that make health claims and that is simply because health claims on a food product could be a good indication that it's not really food, but in fact a food product, not something that you would want to eat, if you intend to stay healthy.