Nordic Walking Instruction and Nordic Walking Poles - Another HUGE Sucess At Senior Health Fair

Real Nordic Walking Poles were provided no charge during free Nordic Walking Lessons during the 2011 Bay Ridge Senior Health Fair on April, 6, 2011.

The Village at Bay Ridge, a retirement community, in Traverse City, Michigan hosted Nordic Walking Pole demo/free rental, Nordic Walking Classes and Instruction, blood pressure checks, hearing device displays and testing, nutritional information, breathing tests, fire department safety tips, senior legal service information, eye care information and much more.

The Nordic Walking Classes where held both indoors in the long hallways and outside on the beautiful grounds - including a paved walking path around Bay Ridge's pond. All participants used durable one-piece poles sized to each of their specific heights - 16 different lengths were available to ensure a Perfect Length Guarantee. All of the Nordic Walking poles also were equipped with REAL Nordic Walking Straps - comfortable fingerless glove type straps patented by the Salomon Ski Company. The poles were also equipped with removable rubber tips/asphalt paws that proved ideal for the carpeted hallways and the paved walkways outside. The adventurous removed the rubber tips/asphalt paws and test the durable metal tips on the grass.

The poles were provided by SKIWALKING.COM and the American Nordic Walking System. The classes were taught by Pete Edwards, North America's leading Nordic Walking Instructor and the owner/founder/coach of SKIWALKING.COM and the American Nordic Walking System. Edwards has introduced thousands of Americans to Nordic Walking and has hosted Nordic Walking Classes from Coast to Coast.

The fitness levels of the Nordic Walking participants varied from super active individuals to restricted individuals to using canes, walkers and even wheelchairs. In all situations the one-piece Nordic Walking Poles proved to be a huge success. Many participants were reluctant to try Ski Walking or Nordic Walking - assuming it was only for skiers or more active individuals. Once they were asked if they felt most comfortable walking when pushing a shopping cart they all responded "yes - how did you know" and then they were informed that the poles are even more comfortable and much more versatile.

One participant got up out of her wheel-chair and successfully tested the poles and of course loved them. Ages included individuals over 90 years young. One 90 + year old came using one old ski pole - and claimed one ski pole was better than none and much more comfortable than her cane. She found that two real Nordic Walking Poles sized for her height were ideal.

Some individuals had weight and/or balance issues. Many had knee, hip and/or back issues. In every situation the poles proved to be the most comfortable walking option they had encountered.

Edwards is committed to the simple fact that one-piece Nordic Walking Poles are safer, lighter and much more durable than cheap/flimsy 2-piece and 3-piece twist-lock or flip-lock collapsible poles. Edwards has been coaching runners and skiers for over 25 years and would never allow his athletes to use cheap collapsible poles that tend to rattle, vibrate, freeze up, gradually collapse or collapse unexpectedly.

The one-piece SWIX and EXEL Nordic Walking Poles provided were often referred to "miracle sticks" and "enablers". Nordic Walking Poles when used correctly really do radically improve balance, stability and walking posture (biomechanically a good thing).

SWIX and EXEL Nordic Walking Poles from can be ordered easily at SKIWALKING.COM or by calling toll free: 877-SKIWALK or 877-754-9255

The original Nordic Walking Poles were made by EXEL in Finland. More information about the new EXEL Urban Skier Nordic Walking Poles can be found at EXEL NORDIC WALKING

SWIX makes the world's best ski racing poles and the world's fastest ski wax. More info about SWIX Nordic Walking Poles can be found at SWIX NORDIC WALKING

Don't get scammed by cheap/flimsy collapsible poles making false claims about their durability. One-piece poles are much more user-friendly and do not involve twist-lock systems or flip-locks systems.

TAKE OFF THE POUNDS SENSIBLY WITH “TOPS” AND NORDIC WALKING POLES!

While hosting clinics the other day for TOPS (TAKE OFF POUNDS SENSIBLY - Weight Loss Group) I was reminded again why real Nordic Walking Poles are so effective and FUN!

Right away we heard from numerous participants about the trouble they had with their twist-locking poles that they had purchased elsewhere – the vibration, the rattle, the twist-locks failing and such.

After my introduction about Nordic Walking and the many benefits of walking with poles the entire "TOPS" group was off and walking successfully with one-piece poles sized to each individual’s height. Immediately I was told that there were several spouses that would especially benefit from the poles too – typically knee, hip and/or back issues.

It was a hot day and the individual with MS (Multiple Sclerosis) found the poles a huge aid given the improved balance and confidence they provided despite the heat (heat is not a good thing for many folks with MS). Seniors and individuals with balance issues should avoid twist-locking adjustable length/telescoping/collapsible poles. One-piece poles custom fit to each individual’s height are safer, lighter and much more durable than cheap twist-locking poles.

Before we start walking with the poles I always instruct the group to keep their chins up, poles slightly angled back and fingers relaxed (NO white knuckling of the poles). Real Nordic Walking Poles are equipped with special fingerless glove type straps – these special straps allow for effective push-off by accepting the pressure from the heel of the hand into the cradle of the strap – eliminating the need to ever uncomfortably squeeze the grips. These special straps even allow individual’s with carpal tunnel and/or arthritis in the hands/wrists to effectively use the poles – despite the fact that they can’t use traditional ski straps anymore.

Because of the heat, the individuals that squeezed their poles found they had sweaty hands. Those of us that took advantage of the straps didn’t have sweaty fingers. I always suggest that we guide the poles with either our little fingers or index fingers. A close examination of an elite cross-country ski racer shows the fingers fully extended and efficiently NOT gripping the poles. Also note that downhill skiers often complain about their expensive Gore-Tex/Thinsulate gloves – however, they are usually riding the chairlift squeezing their grips (white knuckling) and cutting off the circulation. Many of our customers complained of hand numbness while walking prior to purchasing our poles – our special straps and correct use (fingers relaxed) eliminated the numbness experience without poles.

Walking is obviously a simple and key component to a weight loss campaign. The use of perfect length poles and correct technique increases the success rate.

The goal of The American Nordic Walking System and WWW.SKIWALKING.COM is to help as many people as possible launch successful and safe walking campaigns. We specialize in sizing poles to each individual’s height and back it up with a Perfect Length Guarantee.

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.

Please let me know if you have any questions at any time. Have a great day and have FUN Ski Walking!

Pete - owner/founder/coach The American Nordic Walking System and http://www.skiwalking.com/ Nordic Walking Poles

Email: GETFIT@SKIWALKING.COM

Toll Free: 877-SKIWALKING or 877-754-9255