Fitness and Exercise are a must for a healthy body and mind. Nordic Walking Poles can make getting fit a little easier. Let's Review these walking aids and see how they could fit into your life.
Growing older is not for wimps and those feint of heart, but it's something that everyone wants to do. As you get older, it seems that keeping in shape and staying fit are harder and harder to do. Unless you have always been an athlete, as we get older, we tend to slow down. Not because of an innate desire to do nothing, but rather we might be having problems with arthritis, joint issues and more. So while retirement and enjoying life is a great thing, if your mobility is not as great as it once was, you just might want to slow down or stop altogether!
That is not the ideal way to spend your retirement years. Activity keeps the mind and body stronger than just sitting around watching TV or playing cards. Oh sure you can have some fun doing those things too, but don't let that become your life and your lifestyle. Idleness is the devil's playground it is said! And the devil is Alzeimers or worse. It has been proven that activity keeps the mind and the body in better shape than inactivity. In the Canadian Government website regarding health of seniors it states, "Research shows that physical inactivity can cause premature death, chronic disease and disability. Health Canada encourages Canadians to integrate physical activity into their every day life; at home, at school, at work, at play and on the way ... that's active living!!"
So what is a person to do? Well there are all kinds of "tools" available to help seniors keep active and healthy and one of these is Nordic Walking Poles. These poles are just what they sound like, poles that you attach to your wrists to help you walk better and get exercise at the same time. Better than just walking alone, these poles help you by encouraging you to walk easier and better.
Nordic Walking poles look something like ski poles, but they are made for walking on all kinds of terrain. They are adjustable in height and have different tips on the bottoms of the poles to help you when walking on dirt roads, sidewalks and snow as well. There is NO AGE LIMIT on who can use these walking poles. What I have found with them as I use them, is that it just adds a little bit of stability to every step I take. Because of that added security, I tend to walk farther and faster too! Walking is the number one way to keep fit, enjoy nature and the outdoors, and feel wonderful, without being exhausted at the end of the exercise time. These are all bonuses to me. Here's a great YouTube Video instruction for you to understand the differences between walking and Nordic Walking!
What makes using the Nordic Walking Poles so good is that used properly, you have turned a simple walk into a cardio exercise. How is that possible? Walking poles should be at a height that makes your arms rest at a 90 degree angle to your body. When you walk, you use alternating hands and feet to take the steps. With arms swinging and your step lengthened, you are now working your heart as well as your legs and body. It is almost like using an "Elliptical" machine in the gym, but your choice of where you walk can be much nicer than staring at a wall in a gym.
The added bonus is that you don't need to pay for a gym membership and the walking poles are very inexpensive. You choose what time of day, where and how long you want to walk. Take them with you on a Sunday afternoon stroll through your favorite park or "green space". They are portable, lightweight and so easy to use.
From all the reading I have done, I know that Nordic Walking is a great exercise that can be done by just about everyone and it does not tire you out so much that you want to go home and drop into a chair never to move again. It is an easy exercise that done 3 to 4 times a week, for at least 10 to 20 minutes, will keep you healthier and your body happier than just sitting around doing nothing! Give it a try! My thoughts are that once you start, you won't stop, and that is a good thing for sure. Just two more things that you might want to bring along for your walk and they are a good hat to keep the sun off your head and a water bottle to help you keep hydrated. With these three items, you are good to go and I bet you will enjoy your walks so much more than before.
P.S. as with any walking I am assuming that you will wear good walking shoes. (that's a given, right?)
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
FOLLOW US ON:
