Did you know that you can burn more calories and work more muscles by walking with Nordic poles compared to regular walking? Here’s why Nordic walking is a great exercise for many people.
Nordic walking is a specific version of walking that can be enjoyed by athletes and people who want some recreation. The only equipment you’ll need is a pair of walking poles that are similar to ski poles. Nordic walking was originally designed for skiers to practice during summer, but it became popular around the world in the past few years.
“You go to the train station on Saturdays and there are droves of people over 70 waiting to go up to the mountains to walk with Nordic poles,” cardiologist and director of the Cardiovascular Performance Program at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital Aaron Baggish said, as quoted on Harvard Health Publishing website.
The best thing about Nordic walking is that it combines cardio exercise with muscle workout, bringing you a complete workout session. As Dr. Baggish says, walking without poles only activates your lower body muscles while adding poles activates the upper body as well.
Nordic walking also provides stability, which is great for older adults and people with injuries and it’s a fun activity if you do it in a group. There are tons of Nordic walking clubs that you can join if you currently don’t have company for exercising.
