Hey, you forgot your skis
As a skill most people have mastered by age 3, walking is tough to complicate. But the activity of nordic walking does just that by introducing two poles that look like trekking poles but are designed for everyday strolls. The idea is that by pushing off with the rubber-tipped, lightweight aluminum sticks, you strengthen your upper body and burn more calories--upward of 20 percent more, according to Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport. It's all the rage in Finland (half a million Finns do it!) and has gained a following throughout Europe. Now manufacturers aim to see if the trend has legs in America.
Pole-walking isn't actually a new idea in the United States--a Wisconsin company has been producing Exerstrider poles (walkingpoles.com, $70-$100 a pair) since 1988. But the European brands are invading with a heavy marketing plan. Training is the centerpiece of their strategy. The Finnish company Exel (karhu.com/exelnw, $100) has a "master coach" who will certify "master trainers" by the end of April. This teaching will trickle down to instructors at resorts and health clubs this spring. LEKI USA (leki.com, $80-$150), headquartered in Germany, will bring trainers to retailers in a variety of cities, including Boston, San Diego, and Seattle.
All of this instruction may seem odd for an activity that is merely walking with poles, but getting the maximum calorie burn actually does require some know-how. Even when our testers--per the LEKI USA manual--diligently tried to "push the pole as far back as possible, the arm straightening to form a continuous line with the fully extended arm," it just didn't seem right. Jim Garfield, LEKI USA's fitness consultant, says this is a common concern, but as long as the upper body is engaged in some way, the result is better than regular walking. "No one can hurt themselves doing it, so you're only going to benefit," he says, noting that the poles also reduce stress to joints. "If you make the results better, the product is health." Rod Johnson, owner of Midwest Mountaineering, a store in Minneapolis that sells the poles, won't let technique get in the way of a fun exercise he already enjoys: "There are two ways to use them: the way I do it and the right way."
Walk This Way
Author of Walking for Fitness Nina Barough's tips for the pole-less:
POSTURE Leaning forward is a frequent faux pas. Standing tall, with your chest open and bottom tucked, will help work your core.
STRIDES The quicker your step, the smaller it should be.
ARMS Bend 'em at 90-degree angles and pump them back and forth like pistons as you pace.
This story appears in the March 22, 2004 print edition of U.S. News & World Report.
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