Stories

77 yr old Nordic Walking Instruc Struts her Stuff

To: AAW future Nordic Walkers.
Understanding the benefits of Nordic Walking.
From: Jeanne Goldberg, Instructor.

I am sending this in hopes you can read it and understand the benefits so we can spend
more time doing it, rather than talking about it. I look forward to meeting you all, having
lots of fun and feeling great after the class. Jeanne 215 925 2909

A Nordic Walking Program, a new all-over body fitness activity.

Nordic Walking, sometimes called Nordic Pole Walking is one of the most versatile fitness activities. It is great for rehabilitation, casual walking, walking to get strong and fit...and it is often done as an adventure sport over trails, on hills and the beach. Recently it has been added to the Marathon in Oregon as an alternative to regular walking and running.

We will be one of the first organizations to introduce Nordic Walking in the Philadelphia Area. Our instructor will be Jeanne Goldberg, a former gym teacher who is a certified instructor. She was trained by the American Nordic Walking Association, Leki Equipment Company and Fittrek, a NW training company. She has taught private clients, classes for the City of Philadelphia and she trained a group to do a 5K fund raiser for the Stroke Association.

Nordic Walking is very popular in Europe, with thousands walking alone, with their family and with NW clubs. It is becoming one of the fastest fitness trends around the globe with more organizations forming and more instructors being trained by national organizations.

People can start their children walking with special poles made for them, and they can include grandmom in the activity because it works for every age group. Leki even has traveler poles that can be shortened to fit in a suitcase so you can take them along on vacation for sightseeing, fitness walking or for entering into group hikes, fundraisers or marathons, when permitted.

Nordic Walking has many benefits over regular walking and other fitness activities. In the same time you might otherwise just walk -- you experience no additional effort--but you accomplish
more for your body and will achieve many more health benefits, which will be explained below:

You will burn 20%-50% more calories than walking, depending on the effort extended. You will strengthen abdominal, back, arm, shoulder, chest, leg and all "core' muscles-without separate weight or resistance training. Nordic Walking uses 90% of your muscles while regular walking only uses 50%. The result is total body fitness.

We all know we forget little things as we get older and we think that it is a problem just for seniors. Actually, the height of our brain function is in our twenties and it is, unfortunately, a gradual downhill loss after that. You can overcome much of that downslide with regular exercise.

Aging, stress, poor diet, smoking, alcohol and other insults to our body like pollution and insecticides in food are not good for the brain, so we have to start early to protect it. Serious brain disorders like dementia, including Alzheimer's start 30 or more years before you get symptoms and EXERCISE is a great brain builder.

Exercise can help you add more brain cells. But you have to keep mentally active to build those new baby cells into fully functioning ones so that when you get older, you get smarter.

Harvard psychiatrist Ratey calls exercise "Miracle Grow" for the brain. Children need more than they get as do most adults. Exercise promotes growth factors in the brain helping people learn and function better in every way--including helping people handle stress and anxiety better.

Exercise can even help reduce depression. Exercise can promote more "feel good" endorphins in your brain. It appears to normalize brain neurotransmitters resulting in less overreaction to everyday challenges which everyone seems to have too much of now, due to the downturn in the economy.

Exercise, like Nordic Walking is the best "medicine" that we can give ourselves. It is a "wonder drug." It can help you stop smoking, control weight, sleep better and it is great for your social life. You can socialize while you walk, stay healthy, and trim and develop great relationships all at the same time, and it can be FREE, 'because you can walk outdoors at no cost.

You will improve your cardio-vascular fitness. In the U. S. Over 1,000,000 people die annually from heart disease-including 500,000 women, a statistic many do not realize�especially about women. Exercise is essential for a healthy cardio-vascular system.

You will increase your overall stamina and muscle endurance. So many people feel tired and drained from life's pressures and this can be a relief from daily hassles. Also, many people complain of a loss of energy and poor mood. Nordic Walking in the various settings, from the street, to the park, to the woods, to the beach it can be a joyous and uplifting experience. Walking with friends can add joy to the walk.

You improve your lymph system function and boost your immune system. There is no "pump" for the lymphatic system that rids our body of viruses, bacteria and other toxins. We must move to do that. Walking with the poles utilizes more of your muscles to boost health and pump your lymphatic system, "clearing" you from unwanted impediments to health.

Using the poles will help you reduce pain and injury-causing stress on hips, knees and feet that people get from running or that older, untrained people get who have reduced muscle strength and flexibility. It is excellent for people rehabbing from any kind of surgery or for people recovering from injuries from work, accidents or other sport activities.

You can prevent the loss of bone and aid in maintaining overall bone density, especially when also making sure your diet and nutrients support a strong bone structure.

You will be able to avoid the stiffness, inflexibility and "bent-over" structure that comes from old age and lack of exercise. You will experience a wide range of motion and the feeling of youth and freedom of movement that comes from the varied benefits of Nordic Walking, when done on a regular basis.

You will enjoy a better balance and upright posture as you get older, something people lose who don't move. It is the lack of balance and control that causes many people to fall, which often results in broken bones including the hips which is very debilitating for older people, even life threatening.

You will enjoy improved lung power. People do not realize it, but there is an age related loss of lung power starting in your thirties and it continues throughout your life. By the time we reach the 50's, 40% of your breathing power is lost, by 70's, most have lost 45%of their breathing capacity. This is a key indicator of how well you age and how long you live. Loss of lung power spells bad news for your strength, your heart, your health and brain.

For those with dogs, who move slowly stopping at every pillar and post when taking the pup for it's regular walk, Nordic Walking can be a bonanza for both of you. Just hook the dog to your belt with a special extension leash, let them take care of their private "duties'', then say "go" and take a vigorous walk, a benefit for both you and your dog.

Mom's are not left out, nor pregnant women. Future mom's can Nordic Walk until
delivery. After the baby is born they can be put in a front pack or backpack,
something the kids love, since they like seeing new things. If there is a small child #2, dad can also go along, putting the youngster in a bigger backpack, The whole family can have a wonderful energizing outing and don't forget grandmom, she can get her own poles and go along too.

We are going to introduce a new body strengthening, cardio-vascular builder, lung strengthening program that you can do with your Nordic Walking Poles. You will find if you do it correctly, you can improve and maintain all three in less than
15 minutes a day.

When Nordic Walking, it is a good idea to wear comfortable walking shoes or
sneakers, clothes that are comfortable, and socks that fit right, avoiding rubbing
or pinching. Taking along water in a backpack or belt is necessary for long walks.
Sun glasses should be worn to protect the eyes and sun-tan lotion is needed on
sunny days. A hat is helpful also when it is hot.

We look forward to seeing many of you in the Nordic Pole Walking class.

*Information supplied by Jeanne Goldberg

Michelle's Story

Since I don't have personal members stories, allow me to share you with my short, but true story.

I suppose knowing what I love to do today was always in my soul. At the age of 3, my grandmother would be so concerned when I ventured upon the rocks. Assuring her, my mom wouls say, "Lucille, if Michelle wasn't comfortable up there, she wouldn't be climbing."

So here I am, closer to 47 years old and finally getting to do more climbing. I was born to climb. I guess like a monkey in a tree? I always wondered why my nickname was monkey!!

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