NordicWalking in Cambridgeshire ( Scroll Down )

     

History    -    Development    -    Future

Mervyn is a qualified INWA (International Nordic Walking Association) Nordic Walking Instructor and trained with British Nordic Walking

Nordic Walking began in Northern Europe as summer training for cross country skiing, a sport considered to be one of the world’s most complete aerobic fitness activities. By using ski poles and applying the cross country technique to walking, Nordic skiers maintained their fitness and strength during the summer months.

In 1997 Nordic Walking officially became a sport of its own. It rapidly spread from Finland to the rest of Europe, on to the USA, and the rest of the world.

As more people begin to understand its benefits, Nordic Walking is increasing in popularity in the Great Britain, and a growing number of enthusiastic Nordic Walkers are now appearing in our countryside, on footpaths in the forests and even on the beaches.

Benefits

Nordic Walking

• Takes weight off your joints (especially when you are overweight)
• Releases muscle tenderness in your neck and shoulders and strengthens
  your back muscles
• Improves your aerobic fitness more effectively than normal walking
• Burns up to 46% more calories than walking without poles
  (Cooper Institute research, Dallas, USA. Research Quarterly for Exercise
  and Sports 2002 publication)
• Improves coordination as it uses cross movements
• Has a positive impact on your blood pressure, cholesterol and body fat
• Increases stability on slippery and uneven surfaces
• Significantly increases the lateral mobility of your spine
• Supports rehabilitation after hip, knee or back injuries
• Is a fascinating year-round whole body workout
• Can be practised on almost any terrain or surface including grass, sand, gravel, concrete, and forest tracks

PLEASE NOTE:
Although Nordic Walking looks simple enough, learning without the assistance of a trained instructor affects the level of benefits you can achieve and can in fact do more harm than good. Take the time to learn and regularly have your technique reassessed to ensure you are getting the most out of the activity and are protecting your long term health and fitness.

 

Nordic Walking Technique

 

• Look straight ahead

• Keep your shoulders relaxed and down

• Lean upper body slightly forward

• Swing your arms and legs alternately

• Plant poles at your side, between front and back foot

• Swing your arms to the front with a loose but guiding grip

• Poles point diagonally backwards

• Push the poles as far back as possible while opening your hand

 for more information about Nordic Walking and to learn these techneques, join a Nordic Walking Intro class run by a qualified INWA Instructor - please visit: 

 

       or     

 

Nordic Walking Levels:

Nordic Walking falls into 3 recognisable categories and sessions normally run according to these levels:-

1. Health/Beginner - Level 1 - Beginner

2. Fitness - Level 2 - Intermediate

3. Sports/Challenge - Level 3 - Advanced

HEALTH / BEGINNER LEVEL. 
The majority of Nordic Walkers fall into this level. The low intensity of this type of training means it is accessible to anyone. If you are a regular social walker, simply by adding a set of poles you can increase your heart rate substantially without any great perceivable increase in effort. The reason behind this is the inclusion of the upper body muscle groups during the activity. The resulting health benefits are enormous, as not only are you utilising and toning 90% of the body's muscles but you are also increasing your overall effort in such a way that will provide long lasting benefits.  Thousands of people are experiencing the benefits Nordic Walking brings to weight management and overall fitness. You can be one of them!  You will also learn the basic nordic walking techniques on these sessions at it is important that everyone, despite your fitness level, attends this session first.  They will also help you to improve your technique so you can build up to the Fitness or Sports/Challenge levels if you wish.

FITNESS LEVEL.
Fitness level Nordic Walking targets the more intermediate level of fitness and is designed to train Nordic Walkers at a slightly higher intensity than the health level.  As well as the benefits experienced within the Health Level Fitness level Nordic Walkers will also experience improvement in aerobic capacity, endurance and continued weight/body fat/inch loss.  Please note: Technique training will not be given on Fitness Level walks as these are incorporated in the Health/Beginner level Nordic Walks for this very reason.  These sessions are designed for people who have had experience using the poles and help to increase fitness and stamina and endurance.

SPORTS / CHALLENGE LEVEL.
This is the most challenging of the Nordic Walking levels and targets those athletes who wish to train within the 80% -95% Max HR zone.  It is often called the anaerobic zone and includes aspects such as interval training, fartlek, hill training, resistance training and is particularly demanding. Nordic walking is particularly useful for this kind of training as the technique utilises 90% of the body's muscles in a supported way, thus no particular muscle group is isolated or strained.

 

Join a Class: CLICK HERE

     Or please contact me... at   mervyn@nordicwalkingcambs.com or go to NordicWalkingCambs page for class details