If you love walking and want to go to the next level, you can try Nordic walking. Yes, this is the way of walking that can help you shed the extra pounds and amp up your fitness levels and act as a protective shield to your vulnerable knees.
Nordic walking can tick all the boxes when finding the perfect exercise to improve your health. It not only works out your lower body but also your entire body. But first, let’s understand what Nordic walking is. It is an enhanced walking technique using poles, and what’s more, it feels like more of a social activity than a workout. When you walk with Nordic poles, it seems more like you are skiing on the road.
It May Help With Weight Loss
Nordic walking expends a lot of calories. In fact, in recent research, nordic walkers burnt up to 45% more calories.
Nordic walking is, in fact, better than ordinary walking. It is only because Nordic walking is more of a compound exercise and brings multiple muscles into play. So, it is more effective than ordinary walking. For instance, it works out your chest, abs, arms, shoulders, abs, and other core muscles. The poles may force you to walk faster, raise your heart rate, and burn more calories.
Keeps Your Bones Strong
Your muscles need exercise to stay in good shape and healthy. And Nordic walking works most of your muscles, at least 90% of them. Nordic walking is said to work on your bone and muscles.
It also gives your legs a nice shape as it tones your legs, and helps get rid of the arm jiggle, and tightens your core. Since it is a weight-bearing workout, it can strengthen your bone health and strength.
Strengthens Your Lungs and Heart
Nordic walking can get your heart rate up and much more than conventional walking. It can get your heart beating at 33 beats per minute than walking on the flat. It can make you feel breathless as you walk faster and use more muscles. Thus this exercise is extremely good for your heart and lungs. Besides its obvious benefits, it can also lower blood pressure, reduces your risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, and keeps your arteries healthy. It is a great exercise for people who have asthma.
If they practice regularly, people with asthma can feel an improved sense of fitness, less breathlessness, and a lot of improvement in overall posture. If you are willing to accept the challenge that the Nordic style of walking offers, it can seriously positively impact your health.
Helps in Lymphatic Drainage
The lymphatic system is very important as systematic drainage can help the body eliminate the accumulated toxins. It can also help with infection and disease and may turn out to be a great exercise to boost your immune system too.
We have clusters of lymph nodes all over our body, especially under our armpits, and Nordic walking can help make these nodes work properly and help ensure proper lymphatic drainage. Ensure you do the walking swinging your arms properly to get the best of the workout.
Good For Mental WellBeing
The Nordic walking exercise helps reduce stress, and any exercise is done in an open environment. It can reduce anxiety and can invariably make you feel better.
Nature has a healing energy that immediately relaxes you and makes you feel better. Also, it isn’t a workout only, it can be done in groups outside, so you can nordic walk your way to fitness all the way, laughing and enjoying yourself.
Not every sport may suit you, but you certainly have to give it a try to know whether it is for me. Nordic walking can also give your health a turbo boost. At first, you have to find trails around you to walk around and invest in a pair of poles. Next, start walking alone, and you may soon find a group who walks around with nordic poles too. Who knows, you may even make new friendships in the process. So, we think it’s time to add the perfect zing and fun quotient to your workout regime. What are your thoughts? Do let us know in the comments section!
