Originating from summer training for cross country skiers, Nordic walking trains the whole body, strengthening the back, arms and legs relieving tensions in the neck and shoulder region and improving the health of your heart and the lungs.

The benefits of Nordic walking continue, because exercising in this way can be done with friends and family regardless of the fitness level within the group. You can all walk at the same speed but at a different intensity determined by the upper body, making it the perfect outdoors exercise. Sharing the same experience as your friends while Nordic walking makes it more enjoyable.

During Nordic walking, the increased number of muscles you use in comparison to every day walking means than on average you will burn 20% more calories. The extra muscles in the legs, arms, back, rear of your shoulders and chest gives a perfect workout. Using more muscles allows the effort to be spread across the body and making Nordic walking easier and less tiring than normal walking.

A good Nordic walking technique will decrease the tensions within the body brought about by daily living, whether that is sat in a car, at a desk, or being at home.  The technique of Nordic walking increases the rotation in the spine, strengthening discs and decreasing the incidence of back pain.

Using the specialised Nordic walking poles strengthens the large muscles in the back that will pull down the shoulder blades significantly reducing neck and shoulder tension.  Using the poles correctly will also strengthen the muscles in the wrist, which can reduce the symptoms of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI).

The inclusion of the upper body in Nordic walking allows a reduction on the load to the knees making the exercise more comfortable than normal walking.

Nordic walking is also an excellent tool while rehabilitating from a sporting injury, and also as an addition to a regular exercise programme.  Nordic walking has been proven that heart rates can reach 75% of their maximum during a single session.  A lower RPE (Rate of Perceived Exertion) score can mean that you can work at a higher intensity, for longer periods of time, with more ease than in other training techniques.