Nordic Waking Poles Make Front Page News in Ionia, Michigan

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.

Nordic Walking Poles – Not All Nordic Walking Poles, Straps And Grips Are Created Equal

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

The best Nordic skiing (cross country skiing) ski pole straps and grips are also ideal for Nordic walking. Skiers know that fingerless glove type straps are more comfortable and much more effective than velcro sling type straps, simple loop straps and strapless grips.

Nordic Walking is very similar to cross country skiing and provides many of the same wonderful health benefits. The best straps for Nordic walking are similar to the fingerless glove type straps found on SWIX and EXEL cross country ski racing poles during the winter Olympics. These comfortable and effective straps are patented by the Salomon Ski Company. Ski racers don’t use velcro slings, simple loop straps or strapless poles. Be sure to avoid cheap imitations and strapless poles.

SWIX Nordic Walking Poles With REAL Nordic Walking Pole Straps

Skiers know that one-piece poles are safer lighter and much more durable than cheap/flimsy 2-piece and 3-piece twist-lock and flip-lock collapsible poles. The best poles are one-piece poles. One-piece poles are safer, lighter and much more durable than cheap/flimsy collapsible poles.

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.

Free Nordic Walking Classes Returning To The Senior Expo at the Wexford Civic Center in Cadillac, Michgian

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 http://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!”