I’m happy to report that no one has ever had to stop and use their inhaler! The correct technique encourages us to keep our chin up, not look down and keep the poles slightly angled back and never out in front. Combine this with the Perfect Length Poles and all of a sudden without even thinking about it the hips come forward, the shoulders back and as long as the chin is up the airways are much less restricted.

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.

Nordic Walking Poles really can help to get more people up off the couch and out the door walking. The poles enable many individuals to get out and walk more.

The exclusive source for quality SWIX and EXEL Nordic Walking Poles can be found at WWW.SKIWALKING.COM LLC and the American Nordic Walking System.

The BEST Nordic Walking Poles For Beginners and Athletes

I read a blog post the other day about “the best Nordic Walking Poles for beginners” and as usual the article was written in support of a specific manufacturer and void of the true facts about the best poles for walking, hiking, trekking, Nordic Walking, skiing (downhill and cross country), roller blading, roller skiing, snowshoeing, ski walking and hill bounding with poles.

The best poles for “Nordic Sports” will always be one-piece poles that are sized correctly to each individual’s height and sport specific – downhill ski poles are shorter than cross country ski poles and classic poles for xc are shorter than skate cross country poles. Quality one piece poles always prove to be safer, lighter and stronger than cheap/flimsy 2-piece and 3-piece twist-lock and flip-lock collapsible poles.

So, what poles are best for Nordic Sports? Skiers, roller bladers and roller skiers exclusively use one-piece poles because cheap/flimsy collapsible poles can’t hold up and are not dependable. You’ll never see collapsible poles in any ski rental shop. You’ll never find collapsible poles in any xc or dh ski package. You will find free collapsible poles included with snowshoes as a package and you will often find those cheap/flimsy poles from China broken at trail heads and/or in the dumpster.

The best poles for beginners will always be one-piece poles that are sized correctly. At SKIWALKING.COM and the American Nordic Walking System we always suggest one-piece poles and we carry 16 different lengths in order to provide a Perfect Length Guarantee. And that is why all of the rating services rank us at 100% Positive in customer satisfaction.

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.

At SKIWALKING.COM and the American Nordic Walking System we are the exclusive source in North America for quality one piece poles from SWIX of Norway and EXEL of Finland. SWIX makes the world’s fastest ski wax and most successful ski racing poles on the world cup and in the Olympics. EXEL was the company that introduced carbon fiber technology to the ski pole industry and then introduced the world to Nordic Walking. These quality one-piece poles are all equipped with real Nordic Walking Straps – no heavy strapless grips or simple loop straps or cheap velcro slings, but quality fingerless glove type straps that prove ideal for causal walking, extreme hiking and trekking. The same patented straps found on the best cross country ski racing poles – and proven comfortable and effective (eliminating the need to grip, squeeze or white-knuckle the grips).

Walking poles don’t have to be expensive. The SWIX VIP’s are only $69.95 per pair and come with a free Nordic Walking DVD. They come in 16 different lengths and will always out perform collapsible poles cost up to 3 times as much. The SWIX poles prove to be silent and user-friendly. Typically collapsible poles rattle, vibrate, make clanking noises, gradually collapse or totally collapse unexpectedly.

Ask any ski coach and they will tell you one-piece poles are the logical way to go despite all the marketing hype about the benefits of cheap/flimsy collapsible poles from China.

Nordic Walking Classes A Success At Employee Wellness Fair

For the fourth year in a row free Nordic Ski Walking Classes were made available to employees of Hagerty Insurance (the industry leader in antique car and antique boot insurance) during Hagerty’s annual Employee Wellness Fair.

Health and fitness providers provided testing, screening and suggestions for a healthier lifestyle during the Employee Wellness Fair. Free Nordic Walking Instruction and the free use of REAL Nordic Walking Poles was provided by WWW.SKIWALKING.COM and the American Nordic Walking System. ALL 16 lengths of Nordic Walking Poles were available to accommodate the heights of all individuals – more lengths than any other Nordic Walking Company in North America (the few companies that carry one-piece poles only supply a limited number of sizes).

Perfect length poles automatically encouraged all participants 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.

Participants in the Nordic Walking Classes commented that they could feel the improved posture while walking with the correct length one piece poles. Many participants also commented that they noticed that more muscle groups were involved while walking with poles – much more so than regular walking.

WWW.SKIWALKING.COM and the American Nordic Walking System are dedicated to the simple fact that quality one-piece Nordic Walking Poles from SWIX and EXEL are far superior to cheap/flimsy 2-piece and 3-piece twist-lock and/or flip-lock poles flooding the market from China. Numerous participants in the Nordic Walking Classes commented on their dislike of their telescoping/collapsible yard tools and/or adjustable walking poles that proved to be a hassle. The one-piece Nordic Walking Poles provided for the lessons and for demo proved to be lighter, simpler and much more user-friendly than cheap/flimsy twist-lock and flip-lock poles that tend to rattle, vibrate and/or collapse unexpectedly. One participant commented how she even tried to tape her cheap collapsible poles that would never cooperate.

Hagerty Insurance encourages staff to participate on the Hagerty Insurance bike and Nordic ski teams.

The quality one-piece Nordic Walking Poles caught the attention of other health and fitness providers during the event – including doctors, physical therapists, personal trainers, health education professionals and others.

The SWIX and EXEL Nordic Walking Poles were all equipped with comfortable fingerless glove type straps (patented by the Salomon Ski Company) and removable rubber tips/asphalt paws for use on carpet, tile, pavement, indoor/outdoor tracks and other hard surfaces (the metal tips are used for snow, ice, trails and the beach).

Over 400 employees participated in the Employee Wellness Fair.

REAL Nordic Walking Poles from WWW.SKIWALKING.COM

FREE Nordic Walking Classes came to the Ionia County Comminission On Aging earlier this fall and an article complete with three color pictures made the front page of th Ionia Sentinel Standard WEEKENDER back on Oct. 17th, 2010. The article heightlighted the many benefits of walking with Nordic Walking Poles.

The free Nordic Walking Classes were hosted by Pete Edwards, owner/founder of WWW.SKIWALKING.COM and the American Nordic Walking System – headquartered up in Glen Arbor, Michigan. Edwards also provide REAL Nordic Walking Poles for all the participants to test drive during their classes. Edwards’ specializes in providing the Perfect Length one-piece Nordic Walking Poles for each individual. His company offers 16 different lengths of Nordic Walking Poles.

When using the perfect length Nordic Waking Poles we 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.

The 3 Basic Levels Nordic Walking – From The American Nordic Walking System

Level 1: Casually walking, trekking and hiking with the poles is healthy and good – burning over 20% more calories than regular walking! Remember to keep your chin up, fingers relaxed and poles slightly angled back. Each pole plants inline with the opposing foot’s heel – alternating and never out in front unless going down a steep hill. When done correctly you will immediately notice your improved posture – walking taller and with a straighter back – automatically without having to think about it. If you notice one or both or your rubber tips slipping be sure to practice on grass with the rubber tips off.

* Level 1 With A Punch (firm pole plant): Continue to keep those fingers relaxed – DON’T grip the poles. Take advantage of your comfortable Nordic Walking Straps – patented by the Salomon Ski Company. Feel the pressure in the heel of your hand effectively being distributed into the cradle of the strap verses squeezing and gripping the poles. Punch the rubber Nordic Walking tips/asphalt paws into the road/walking surface with a firm pole plant – in sync with the opposite heel. This additional punch will beef up the effectiveness of Level 1. Remember – fingers relaxed and NO white knuckling!

Level 2: Requires the arms to fully stretch out and slightly down, keeping the poles slightly less angled back and almost perpendicular. This full arm extension will help to burn over 30% more calories than regular walking! You will find that your walking pace will speed up and your stride will naturally lengthen. Never fake a long stride – allow it to happen naturally. Keep your chin up and fingers relaxed! Shifting from Level 1 to Level 2 is like shifting gears in a car. Level 2 reinforces improved walking posture when done correctly. Again, the poles are NEVER planted in front of the lead heel unless your are descending a steep hill.

*Level 2 With A Punch (firm pole plant): A little punch goes a long way. Utilize that full arm extension and combine it with a nice little punch – punch the rubber tip into the walking surface while keeping the fingers relaxed and NOT gripping the poles (pressure from the heel of your hand into the cradle of the comfortable patented straps).

Level 3: Includes the full reach + a firm pole plant/punch (don’t be gentle), constant pressure from the heel of the hand into the cradle of the strap and a follow-through push when the hand lines up with the hips. Level 3 is big in Europe, but most Americans don’t want to be bothered. Level three burns over 40% more calories than regular walking. Level 3 requires maximum push and can only be effectively done with real Nordic Ski Walking Poles. And remember the poles are NEVER planted in front of the lead heel unless you are descending a steep hill. The American Nordic Walking System does NOT recommend faking a long stride and we do NOT recommend leaning forward at any time – especially when going faster. It is all about good biomechanics. Cheap/flimsy collapsible poles equipped with twist-locks and flip-locks can not hold up to the stress of Level 3. As in ski racing, one-piece poles always prove to be safer, lighter and stronger.

Steep Uphills: When climbing hills be sure to keep your chin up – biomechanically a very good thing! Do NOT lean forward into the hill – leaning is biomechanically a very bad thing! Allow the poles to naturally keep your back super straight – eliminating lower back pain. Your poles will help to engage more muscle groups. Take advantage of your special Nordic Walking Straps and keep your fingers relaxed. Apply pressure into the cradle of those comfortable straps.

Steep Downhills: When descending a steep hill feel free to plant the poles out in front – your knees will LOVE the radical reduction in stress. Double poling can also be effective in extremely steep and challenging terrain – planting both poles at the same time. Do NOT sit back on the downhills. Our quality one-piece SWIX and EXEL Nordic Walking Poles have been tested in the Grand Canyon, the Appalachian Trail, the White Mountains, in the Lake Tahoe area, in Alaska, plus the Rocky Mountains – and passed with flying colors! Again – don’t squeeze your poles. Trust those fancy patented straps.

Intervals, Speed Walking and Nordic Running: A great way to help jump start the metabolism is by adding short speed bursts of 20 yards to 200 Yards of faster Nordic Walking or Nordic Running. I LOVE Nordic Running up the hills on my favorite xc trails. The perfect warm-up for intervals or Nordic Running is at least a mile of more casual Level 1 Nordic Walking – a gentle and effective warm-up. As a running and ski coach, I prefer my athletes to do their stretching after their workouts and warm-up with at least a mile of Nordic Walking. One-piece SWIX or EXEL Nordic Walking Poles are ideal for Nordic Running too. Collapsible poles are not designed for the added stress of heavy use. One-piece poles are ideal for serious athletes and individuals with balance issues. Skiers already know that one-piece poles are far superior to cheap/flimsy collapsible poles. One-piece poles are ideal for skiing, walking, roller skiing and inline skating (roller blading).

Individuals With Balance Issues: For individuals with balance and stability issues it is recommended to keep the poles straight up and down – perpendicular to the ground. Do NOT focus on the arm movement as much as on enjoying the added balance and stability provided by the poles. Remember to NOT squeeze the poles – take advantage of the comfortable patented straps and keep your finger relaxed (no white knuckling of the pole grips!). Nordic Ski Walking is no longer just for athletes and expert skiers. One-piece Nordic Walking Poles are also ideal for individuals using canes and walkers too – including those with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s (PD), Neuropathy and other balance issues.

* Seniors and individuals with balance issues should also avoid cheap/flimsy collapsible 2-piece and 3-piece twist-lock and/or flip-lock collapsible poles.

Snow & Ice: When the roads and trails are slippery, feel free to keep the poles a little more perpendicular and NOT angled back. The added stability is a good thing. Remove rubber Nordic Walking tips and use the durable metal tips.

Don’t Fake A Long Stride: PLEASE don’t fake a long stride! As you work your arms (reaching forward) your tempo will naturally speed up and your stride will safely and naturally lengthen. Faking a long stride will only lead to injury.

Don’t Lean Forward: PLEASE don’t lean forward! Take full advantage of the radically improved posture that the correct length poles provide all of us. Especially don’t lean into the hill when Nordic Walking up steep terrain. Your ankles will naturally flex and your back will appreciate the awesome posture that your poles naturally provide on all types of terrain.

Be Sure To Consult Your Physician: Always consult your doctor prior to launching any new fitness campaign.

When hosting Nordic Walking Classes I always travel with a pretty big stash of durable and user-friendly one-piece poles in 16 sizes. It is a hassle to travel with such a large inventory of pole lengths, but our SWIX and EXEL one-piece Nordic Walking Poles do not have twist-locks or flip-locks – just solid one-piece and dependable user-friendly goodness. I have heard from numerous Nordic Walking Instructors that try to teach classes with twist-lock/ flip-lock poles and report how embarrassing it is when their collapsible poles refuse to lock into place and don’t cooperate during classes. With our one-piece poles there are no hassles, no equipment failures, no participant disappointment and no instructor embarrassment.

Quality SWIX and EXEL one-piece Nordic Walking poles prove to be safer, lighter and much more durable than cheap/flimsy 2-piece and 3-piece collapsible poles with that tend to rattle, vibrate, freeze-up and/or collapse unexpectedly.

The also help to radically improve balance and stability. Quality one-piece poles prove to be safer, lighter and much more durable than cheap/flimsy 2-piece and 3-piece twist-lock and flip-lock collapsible poles that are flooding the market from China and tend to rattle, vibrate, gradually collapse and unexpectedly collapse/fail.

WWW.SKIWALKING.COM is the exclusive retailer for one-piece SWIX and EXEL Nordic Walking Poles in North America – offering 16 standard lengths and custom built poles for NBA height individuals.

Walking with poles is the best!
More on Fitness
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

EXEL Nordic Walking Poles Are Equipped With REAL Nordic Walking Pole Straps

SWIX Nordic Walking Poles With REAL Nordic Walking Pole Straps

REAL Nordic Walking Straps - Patented by the Salomon Ski Company

I’ve been coaching skiers for almost 30 years. I’ve seen a lot of exciting changes in the ski industry and specifically with improved ski equipment. A dinosaur long gone from the ski slopes are strapless ski poles. These strapless poles where terrible for xc skiing and on the slopes they increased the risk of skier’s thumb.

The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine posted two articles about these increased risks due to strapless poles with flared handles. Dr. George A. Primiano’s article “Skiers’ thumb injuries associated with flared ski pole handles” states that each patient was using a strapless ski pole handle with a flared thumb support. These skiers felt their interphalangeal (IP) joint flexion was blocked by the flare of their ski pole handle, causing their protruding thumb tip to be the point of initial impact, thus leading to their injury.

In the other article by Dr. Bruce A. Van Dommelen and Dr. Raimonds A. Zvirbulis their findings led to this conclusion: We found that the strap handled pole without any platform had the lowest injury rate. The saber type pole handle had the highest injury rate.

In an article posted by Wilderness Medical Society and written by Dr. Edward Heneved about skiing and snowboard injuries, Dr. Heneved stated the obvious and said to “avoid strapless saber pole grips.”

It is a simple fact that one-piece poles are safer, lighter and more durable than cheap/flimsy collapsible poles. Skiers also know that the comfortable and patented fingerless glove type straps are more effective and allow for improved and efficient technique. And the above articles show that strapless poles are no safer today than they were when Scott Ski Poles Company and Reflex Ski Pole Company both discounted their production.

SWIX and EXEL make the best cross country ski racing poles and they can be trusted to make the best one-piece Nordic Walking Poles as well. At WWW.SKIWALKING.COM and the American Nordic Walking System we carry 16 different lengths of SWIX and EXEL Nordic Walking Poles. We are the only source in North America for both SWIX and EXEL Nordic Walking Poles plus SWIX and EXEL Nordic Walking Tips/Asphalt Paws.

REAL Nordic Walking Poles

* Level 1 With A Punch: Continue to keep those fingers relaxed – DON”T grip the poles. Take advantage of our comfortable Nordic Walking Straps – patented by the Salomon Ski Company. Feel the pressure in the heel of your hand effectively being distributed into the cradle of the strap verses squeezing and gripping the poles. Punch the rubber Nordic Walking tips/asphalt paws into the road/walking surface. This additional punch will beef up the effectiveness of Level 1.

Level 2: Requires the arms to fully stretch out and slightly down, keeping the poles slightly less angled back and almost perpendicular. This full arm extension will help to burn over 30% more calories than regular walking! You will find that your walking pace will speed up and your stride will naturally lengthen. Never fake a long stride – allow it to happen naturally. Keep your chin up and fingers relaxed! Shifting from Level 1 to Level 2 is like shifting gears in a car. Level 2 reinforces improved walking posture when done correctly. Again, the poles are NEVER planted in front of the lead heel unless your are descending a steep hill.

* Level 2 With A Punch: A little punch goes a long way. Utilize that full arm extension and combine it with a nice little punch – punch the rubber tip into the walking surface while keeping the fingers relaxed and NOT gripping the poles (pressure is in the cradle of the comfortable patented straps).

Level 3: Includes the full reach + a firm pole plant (don’t be gentle), constant pressure from the heel of the hand into the strap and a follow-through push when the hand lines up with the hips. Level 3 is big in Europe, but most Americans don’t want to be bothered. Level three burns over 40% more calories than regular walking. Level 3 requires maximum push and can only be effectively done with real Nordic Ski Walking. And remember the poles are NEVER planted in front of the lead heel unless your are descending a steep hill.

Individuals With Balance Issues: For individuals with balance, stability and/or gait issues it is recommended to keep the poles straight up and down – perpendicular to the ground. Do NOT focus on the arm movement as much as on enjoying the added balance and stability provided by the poles. Remember to NOT squeeze the poles – take advantage of the comfortable patented straps and keep your finger relaxed (no white knuckling of the pole grips!). Nordic Ski Walking is no longer just for athletes and expert skiers – Nordic Walking with one-piece poles is ideal for folks using canes and walkers too – including those with MS, Parkinson’s and Neuropathy.

For those with balance issues that wonder if Nordic Walking is doable for them I always ask how they feel “pushing a shopping cart”? If they say that the shopping cart is super comfortable then their new Nordic Walking Poles will prove to be even better – more comfortable and much more versatile.

At SKIWALKING.COM and The American Nordic Walking System we are committed to providing our customers with quality poles and helpful instructions. Our 100% positive customer satisfaction ratings are a result of our decision to provide quality SWIX and EXEL one-piece Nordic Walking Poles over short-term profits. We NEVER recommend 2-piece or 3-piece collapsible poles for seniors, anyone with a balance issue or for everyday use. As skiers we know that quality one-piece poles are safer, lighter and much more durable than cheap/flimsy twist-lock and flip-lock collapsible poles.

I love hosting free Nordic Walking classes for Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s (PD) and Diabetes support groups, plus Wounded Warrior Programs. I would never consider using 2-piece or 3-piece collapsible poles in any of my Nordic Walking Classes.

The benefits of walking with poles are many and ideal for ALL ages and ALL fitness levels.

Walking with poles is the best!

REAL Nordic Walking Poles

The Senior Expo will feature a variety of activities including Nordic Walking, plus exhibits from businesses and organizations offering products and services geared for seniors. Health screenings from local professionals will also be provided. The Senior Expo will be held on Thursday, June 17th from 9am – 1pm.

The free Nordic Walking Classes and free Nordic Walking Pole Demos will be provided by Pete Edwards – owner/founder/coach of SkiWalking.com and the American Nordic Walking System. Walking with poles provides a more effective workout than regular walking – basically turbo charging the average walking campaign. Free lessons and free use of real Nordic Walking poles will be provided. No snow and No skis required.

Nordic Walking is no longer just for athletes and expert skiers deprived of snow during the summer. All ages and all fitness levels can now unlock the calorie burning and aerobic benefits of Nordic Walking Poles. Athletes, seniors and even individuals with balance issues, joint issues and other challenges are finding success with real Nordic Walking poles. Nordic Walking’s winning combination of improved posture, unique 4-Wheel-Drive type action and the shock absorbing benefits of the poles help many individuals to walk comfortably again – even those 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, diabetes, scoliosis, lumbar stenosis, fibromyalgia, post polio, osteoporosis, stroke 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 walking effectively.

The improved balance, stability and gait that the correct length one-piece Nordic Walking Poles provide often sounds like magic, but it is just good physics and improved biomechanics. The key is using “perfect length” poles. 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. Seniors and inviduals with balance issues are advised to use one-piece poles and avoid cheap/flimsy 2-piece and 3-piece twist-lock and flip-lock poles that tend to rattle, vibrate, freeze-up and/or collapse unexpectedly.

According to Nick Mahood, SWIX USA Nordic Walking Director, “Pete Edwards, owner/founder/coach of www.SkiWalking.com and the American Nordic Walking System, has single handedly introduced thousands of Americans to Nordic Walking through his free clinics. I have no doubt that Edwards is the #1 retailer of Nordic Walking Poles in the USA. You can quote me on that!”

Free Nordic Walking Pole demos and free Nordic Walking Instruction were provided by SKIWALKING.COM and the American Nordic Walking System in Glen Arbor, Michigan and the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore on Saturday, June 5th during National Trails Day.