Nordic walking with walking poles is a European fitness trend that has many benefits for those who adopt it. Suzanne Nottingham and Alexandra Jurasin explain how nordic walking gives a total body workout. The will-illustrated book covers nordic walking techniques, the gear, shoes and other equipment for walkers. It includes exercises and workouts and workout programs incorporating nordic walking and walking poles. I found this book to the best yet on Nordic walking workouts for fitness.
A Complete Guide to Nordic Walking for Fitness
This book is the best illustrated guide I have seen to date for showing the Nordic walking technique as well as using it as part of a total fitness program. The color photos are clear and well done.
Walking Poles: The gear section gives a comprehensive run-down on every aspect of the walking poles. I liked the contrast between trekking poles and Nordic walking poles. She includes the debate over fixed-length poles vs. adjustable poles abd how to select the right length of poles.
Learning Nordic Walking Techniques
The book is clear and well-illustrated in explaining the Nordic walking technique, starting with the first steps. They cover common errors in technique, which can be as valuable as knowing how to do it right.
The book then gets into variations for cardio, strength, power, balance, coordination, agility, and flexibility. This is a valuable resource for those who want to have a well-balanced workout. There are color photos as well as descriptions of each exercise or workout variation.
Workouts
The books is a great resource for building walking workouts and following a workout program. First, it has an assessment of where you are on the fitness scale so you can choose the right workout level from which to progress.
Then the book has descriptions of workout for short and easy, short and fast, medium and steady, medium and quick, long and steady, and outdoor circuit training.
Walkers are also then shown training programs for cardio and fitness and competition. I found the book to be a very valuable resource for these workouts and programs, which can be done with or without walking poles.
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