No snow required for Nordic walking

May 15, 2008 - 11:07

By Al Rivett

AJAX -- There's no snow or skies required for this Nordic pursuit.

Just two ski poles and the ability to walk are all that's needed to take part in a new exercise activity -- Nordic walking.

And, Rosi Vanderheijden relates that although some people do a double take when she leads her Nordic walking group on the Ajax lakefront and other public places, others seem to know a little about the emerging exercise program.

"It's still a novelty, but it will become more mainstream," says the Ajax resident, who instructs and leads Nordic walking programs through her company, Rosi's Health&Fitness. "Some people look at you funny, but I have had people say 'that's that Nordic walking you're doing'."

Cross-country skiing without the snow, Nordic walking incorporates all the muscle groups, not just the lower body. Best of all, said Vanderheijden, it greatly reduces stress on the knees and hips and burns more calories than simply walking.

"It's a full-body workout where you burn 46 per cent more calories by Nordic walking than in a regular walk," she said. "It improves the posture in the upper body and reduces stress on the lower body. It gives you a really good workout without injury risk. It takes walking to the next level."

Vanderheijden discovered Nordic walking a year ago while attending the Can-Fit-Pro Conference in Toronto, an annual gathering for fitness pros.

"I was looking for something that would appeal to everybody, especially boomers and seniors," said the licenced Nordic walking instructor who's worked in the fitness industry for the past five years as a personal trainer.

Although Nordic walking is making inroads in western Canada, Vanderheijden said the exercise activity that originated in Europe is gaining momentum in eastern Canada.

"It's really big in B.C. They tend to take on trends quicker than we do. Anything trendy starts in the Vancouver area and makes its way across the country," she said.

So far, Vanderheijden runs her Nordic walking program two times a week, taking her and her classes to a number of walking-friendly places, including the Ajax lakefront, Paulynn Park and the Greenwood Conservation Area. "We try to change it up."

And, although she admits there was some skepticism in the beginning among those who signed up for the program, those who tried it, took to it immediately.

"They loved it. My whole group renewed its session with me since it started. They like the social aspect of working within a group and they've referred me to others, which is always good."

She said it's not an activity that's difficult to learn.

"It's easy to learn the technique. People who've cross-country skied catch on quickly. But, basically, if you can walk, you can Nordic ski."

For more information on Nordic walking, call Vanderheijden at 905-427-8021 or e-mail rosis@rogers.com.

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