Experts say that walking with sticks saves the joints, muscles are activated by 50 percent, and is much more useful than conventional walking.

We believe that  Nordic walking has definitely become one of the most popular recreational sports.

Required equipment: sticks for Nordic walking, quality shoes or sneakers for walking, wear resistant to weather conditions, gloves, a bottle of water .

Walkers with nothing but sneakers and thin sticks walk fast  and everything is quiet, except for the characteristic sound of sticks on the tops of boiling asphalt or concrete.

Although hikers and walkers in nature regularly use a stick of wood, hiking stick is similar in shape and material as the one used in alpine skiing, in this case it is a completely different sport, or rather, physical activity, which is increasingly used for recreational at different ages.

This trendy activity called “NordicWalking”, or Nordic walk, and its popularity is justified by the fact that the world has become a mass movement.

What are the benefits of Nordic Walking?

• Nordic walking is 40 to 50 percent more efficient than walking without sticks
• effectively acts on the tension in the shoulders and neck,
• prevents osteoporosis and arthritis
• maintaines bone density and body flexibility
• slows the aging process
• establishes a balance of body and spirit
• improves general stamina
• improves posture, and equilibrium
• enhances the work of veins and the lymphatic system,
• exercise endurance, strength, flexibility, coordination
• reducse the risk of the injury,
• saves your knees and ankles,
• reduces the degeneration of the hips, knees and feet,
• uses 90 percent of the muscle and therefore spends a lot of energy,
• burns up to 70 percent more calories.

Activity for everyone

Nordic walking was created in 1997. in Finland, the Nordic skiing with skis on snow. In essence it is a specific training, which consists of walking and stretching with the help of sticks. This recreational sport is a relatively young sport skill and it can used by almost anyone, almost regardless of the predefined physical abilities.

Nordic Walking is especially recommended for people with overweight, having problems with their back and joints. On the other hand, it is a diverse sport, which protects the body, with a different technique of training intensity, it is an interesting alternative form of sport to athletes, amateur and recreational athletes.

The ideal exercise for whole body

During Nordic walking energy consumption is increased by 40 percent to 50 percent compared with ordinary walking. Experts measured Nordic walking and it is almost the same as running. In fact, 15 minutes of Nordic walking  corresponds to a classic run of 12 minutes. Calculated in calories, with Nordic walking, the body burns 400 calories per hour, while during normal walking burns just 280 calories.

With Nordic walking body weight is distributed on two legs and two sticks, and significantly less impact on the spine, knees and ankles, and allows you to use  sticks for security and stability.

During Nordic walking it is extremely important position of the body.  The basic step is performed with the swinging arms alternately forward, but unlike the movement of legs (left leg – right hand).In the area of ​​the shoulders and hips rotate in an area mutually opposite direction.

• Start with shoulders relaxed and down.
•  Tilt your upper body slightly forward and knees slightly bent.
• The middle part of the body should be erect, with tightened abdominal and back muscles.
• put your sticks close to the legs.
• The hands are opened slightly to allow the sticks to swing forward – the sticks are not gripped but swing from the wrist straps.
• The leading foot strikes the ground.
• The opposite arm swings forward to waist height.
• The opposite stick strikes the ground level with the heel of the opposite foot.
• The sticks remain pointing diagonally backwards, they are never in front of the body.
• Push the stick as far back as possible, the arm straightening to form a continuous line with the fully extended arm, the hand opening off the grip by the end of the arm swing.
• The foot rolls through the step to push off with the toe. This lengthens the stride behind the body, getting the most out of each stride.
• The arm motion is loose and relaxed.

The technique of Nordic walking is not particularly demanding, and indeed everyone can learn it in a very short of time. It is one of the best ways to spend your free time in nature. Try it, maybe you’ll soon be a fascinated fan of Nordic walking.

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