Clowning Around With Nordic Walking Poles

Teaching Nordic Walking Classes around the USA has provided a wonderful opportunity for me to see more of this great country.

On my way out to upstate New York to teach more Nordic Walking classes earlier this month I was scheduled to host Nordic Walking Classes at the Senior Expo in Cadillac, Michigan.

I thought the “theme” for the Senior Expo was supposed to be a pirate theme, but when I arrived it turned out to be a “circus theme”. Luckily I didn’t dress for the occasion.

However, I did get a chance to introduce Nordic Walking to several clowns – including Dynamite The Clown, the most famous clown in all of Northern Michigan. Despite the enormous shoes, all of the clowns benefited from our quality one-piece poles that are sized correctly to each individual’s and each clown’s height. The clowns also noticed that walking with poles turbo charged their typical walking program.

Perfect length poles help us to automatically walk with a super straight back - better walking posture is biomechanically a good thing. This improved walking posture when combined with the unique 4-Wheel-Drive type action of walking with poles radically reduces the stress to the shins, knees, hips and back. Nordic Walking is low impact and yet provides a highly effective workout - burning more calories and working more muscle groups than regular walking.

We all need weight bearing exercise, including clowns, and Nordic Walking could be just the ticket for millions of Americans looking to turbo charge their walking campaigns. Nordic Walking poles can also help those wanting to launch an effective Nordic Walking Program. Nordic Walking poles can also help those with balance, stability and gait issues - the poles radically reduce the stress to the shins, knees, hips and back PLUS the poles prove to be a HUGE balance aid.

Nordic Walking’s winning combination of improved posture, a unique 4-Wheel-Drive type action and shock absorbing benefits - helping many individuals to walk comfortably again. Nordic Walking Poles are helping individuals with balance issues, knee issues or new knees, hip issues or new hips, back issues (including those with rods in their back), weight issues, multiple sclerosis (MS), parkinson's (PD), neuropathy, arthritis, bursitis, scoliosis, lumbar stenosis, fibromyalgia, post polio, osteoporosis, stroke recovery, cancer recovery and other limitations to walking. Nordic Walking poles are helping thousands of Americans get off the couch, successfully get outside, start walking safely and effectively launch much needed walking campaigns.

When looking for REAL Nordic Walking Poles be sure to find correctly fitted one-piece Nordic Walking Poles. Don't get scammed by cheap flip-lock and twist-lock 2-piece and 3-piece collapsible poles from China. One-piece poles that are sized correctly prove to be safer, lighter and much more durable than cheap twist-lock and flip-lock poles that tend to rattle, vibrate, freeze up and/or collapse unexpectedly.

SWIX and EXEL Nordic Walking Poles are quality one-piece poles and are equipped with REAL Nordic Walking Straps - comfortable and patented by the Salomon Ski Company.

Walking with poles is the best!

Free Nordic Walking Classes Coming To Leelanau County's Senior Expo

NORDIC WALKING POLES = 4-WHEEL DRIVE

FREE Nordic walking classes and FREE Nordic walking pole demos will again be offered during the Annual Older American Expo in Suttons Bay, Michigan on Tuesday, June 15. The Expo will be held at the Suttons Bay High School from 10am – 2pm.

The Older Americans Expo will feature a variety of activities including Nordic walking, plus exhibits from businesses and organizations with products and services geared for seniors. Local agencies and Leelanau County Departments will also be on hand to answer your questions and provide health screenings. Local artisans and crafts people will also display their talents as well.

The free Nordic walking classes and pole demos will be provided by Glen Arbor's Pete Edwards – the owner, founder and coach of SKIWALKING.COM and the American Nordic Walking System. Edwards’ company is North America’s leading retailer and supplier of Nordic walking poles and the exclusive source for all sizes of one-piece SWIX and EXEL Nordic walking poles here in the USA. Edwards is also the exclusive supplier for SWIX and EXEL Nordic walking rubber tips/asphalt paws. Edwards ships his one-piece Nordic walking, sized specifically to each individual’s height, all over the world every day from his Glen Arbor, Michigan headquarters.

Pete Edwards has been coaching runners and skiers of all ages and fitness levels for over 25 years. Edwards is a former ski school director, running coach, personal trainer and the owner/founder of The American Nordic Walking System and SKIWALKING.COM Nordic Walking Poles, headquartered in Glen Arbor, Michigan. Edwards has coached State Champions (individuals + teams), All-Americans and National Champions. He has also introduced Nordic Walking to thousands of Americans through Nordic Walking clinics, radio interviews, newspaper interviews and TV interviews. His Nordic Walking Poles have been featured on ABC News and the New York Times. He has skied in 50K marathons and won 26.2 mile running marathons. His skiers have been hill bounding and ski walking with poles for years in the summer when deprived of snow. Hosting Nordic Walking clinics is extremely enjoyable for Edwards and he especially enjoys hosting Nordic Walking clinics for MS, Parkinson’s, Cardiac Rehabilitation and Diabetes support groups, plus Wounded Warrior Programs. Edwards also donates free Nordic Walking Poles to Wounded Warrior Programs at Walter Reed, Fort Carson, Fort Lewis/Madigan/McChord and Vicenza, Italy.

The Older American’s Expo is being hosted by the Leelanau County Commission on Aging. Their phone number is: 231-256-8121

For more information about SWIX and EXEL Nordic Walking Poles please go to http://www.skiwalking.com/ or call toll free: 877-SKIWALKING or 877-754-9255.

Nordic Walking Success At Mercy Hospital's Cardiac Rehab Department

REAL Nordic Walking Poles Radically Improve Balance Stability And Gait

While hosting Nordic Walking Classes at Mercy Hospital's Cardiac Rehabilitation Department and offering Nordic Walking Classes for the hospital staff during lunch I received the typical positive feedback from participants. The many benefits of walking with the perfect length poles and correct technique was recognized and appreciated by those in cardiac rehab, their spouses, the pt's, the doctors and other hospital staff members.

Mercy Hospital’s Cardiac Rehab Dept. has a nice selection of exercise equipment including real Nordic Walking Poles. The Cardiac Rehabilitation PT’s (physical therapists) utilize one-piece SWIX Nordic Walking Poles – safer, lighter and much more durable than cheap/flimsy two-piece and three-piece twist-lock and flip-lock poles that tend to rattle, vibrate and/or collapse unexpectedly.

When I arrived at Cardiac Rehab I found one gentleman Nordic Walking the halls outside Cardiac Rehab. His technique was awesome and there was a real bounce in his step. When I caught up to Mr. Raymer I learned that he had just turned 71 the day before. I learned that he had also recovered from a heavy equipment accident and was lucky to even be able to walk. He told me that his Nordic Walking Poles keep him going spring, summer and fall. And come winter he cross country skis too. The benefits of Nordic Walking and cross country skiing are huge and they are very similar. They are both highly effective aerobically and both are gentle on the shins, knees, hips and back.

Skiers know that one piece poles are much lighter and much more durable than 2-piece and 3-piece collapsible poles. Skiers don’t use cheap/flimsy twist-lock or flip-lock poles for obvious reasons. During my Nordic Walking classes numerous participants told me about the problems they had with their collapsible walking and snowshoe poles. My dependable SWIX and EXEL one-piece Nordic Walking Poles proved to be far superior to their cheap/flimsy 2-piece and 3-piece poles. Plus all of my SWIX and EXEL poles are equipped with real Nordic Walking Straps – comfortable fingerless glove type straps - patented by the Salomon Ski Company.

While Nordic Walking at Mercy Hospital we kept the rubber Nordic Walking tips/asphalt paws on. The rubber tips/asphalt paws are ideal on carpet, tile, indoor/outdoor tracks, pavement and of course asphalt. When the rubber tips are removed the metal tips are exposed and ideal for trails, grass, dirt, the beach, snow and ice.

Our SWIX and EXEL one-piece Nordic Walking Poles are being utilized at multiple cardiac rehabilitation locations across the country. PT’s and doctors recognize that our one-piece poles are user-friendly and won’t collapse unexpectedly like twist-lock and flip-lock poles can when they fail. SKIWALKING.COM and the American Nordic Walking System provides superior Nordic Walking Poles and has developed a variety of exertion and intensity levels, plus special instructions for individuals with balance issues. There is an ideal level of intensity and exertion appropriate for any age and any fitness level – from casual to maximum calorie burn.

Walking with poles is the best!