Saturday, November 10, 2012

Nordic Walking Study - The Cooper Institute


Nordic Walking is huge in Europe and the benefits of walking with the perfect length poles and the correct technique are many. Over 10 million Europeans are walking with poles - in the cities (with the rubber tips/asphalt paws on), out in the country and up in the mountains.

Here in the USA Nordic Walking has yet to really catch on. Skiers know the huge benefits of training with poles when deprived of snow. Backpackers know that their poles often save their knees and back when hiking when poles. Seniors and anyone with a balance issue also know that walking poles radically improve balance and enable them to walk faster and farther. Skiers, backpackers, seniors and anyone with a balance issue will find that one-piece poles are superior to all the collapsible poles being heavily promoted in stores and online.

The study done by the The Cooper Institute shows that walking with poles really does help to provide a better workout too - burning more calories than regular walking. Nordic Walking provides all the wonderful health benefits of cross country skiing, but doesn't require skis or snow - just quality one-piece poles are ideal. Many of my happy customers have lost upwards of 100 pounds just by walking with their poles and changing their diet. Some have also found swimming to be an added benefit too.

Don't get scammed by all the 2-piece ad 3-piece collapsible poles flooding the market. Over 99% of the cheap/flimsy twist-lock and flip-lock poles in the big box stores and all over the internet are made in China and destined for the landfill. One-piece poles that are sized correctly will always prove to be safer, lighter, more durable and much more user-friendly than 2-piece and 3-piece poles with twist-lock and flip-lock systems.

One-piece SWIX and EXEL Nordic Walking Poles can be found at WWW.SKIWALKING.COM and the American Nordic Walking System - 16 different lengths ensure a perfect fit. One-piece poles are ideal for ALL Nordic Sports - Roller Skiing, Nordic Snowshoeing, Nordic Walking, Nordic Running, Hill Bounding, Roller Blading (In-line Skating), Classic Cross Country Skiing, Skate Cross Country Skiing, .....

When using the perfect length poles and the correct technique we are almost tricked into automatically walking with a super straight back (without having to think about it) - 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.

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