New Year, New You!

"New Year, New You"  can bit of a cliche, and can be found in many newspaper and magazine articles written around now.  The Christmas and New Year festivities have been enjoyed;  the tree has been recycled; and now you are  taking stock of another year.

Do you want to change something in your life?  Have you made some resolutions?  We all have over the years.  Sometimes you start down a path with good intentions, and then give up.  This is where Nordic Walking can help!

Not only will you feel better at the end of a walk, but you will have also enjoyed being outside and in good company.  All 3 of these attributes make Nordic Walking unique.  Walking outdoors is one of the best mood-enhancers going!  Use the Nordic Walking poles while you walk and you burn calories, too!

Boxing Day exercise, on a golf course near Milton Keynes!

Of course you can do it by yourself, but one of the challenges of continuing an exercise regime is boredom.  Rather than go to a gym, and watch a TV screen or heart monitor, why not get outside and see a fox or a deer; or chat to people about their interesting lives?

Fox seen in Bushy Park, by our Strollers group

 A year ago, I started offering Nordic Walking lessons professionally.  During the last year, I have lost count of the number times I've heard phrases like -

"What a great start to the weekend!"
"The walks just fly by - it doesn't feel like exercise"
"I can feel all the loose bits firming up!"
"I used to get breathless walking quickly, now I can keep going for an hour or two"

I don't claim that Nordic Walking will mean you lose weight, but if you watch what you eat, AND exercise regularly, then you WILL become fitter and, if not actual weight loss, your body will tone its muscles by dint of the repetitive use of upper body muscle groups.

Specific programmes can be tailored to help with weight loss, as well as programmes for improving fitness levels, perhaps to prepare for a ski-ing trip.

But these depend very much on the individual and their motivation.  I can help tailor Nordic Walking to suit your needs, and have successfully worked with people trying to get fitter as well as those looking for rehabilitation after surgery.

Another key ingredient of Nordic Walking is the regular and social activity.  Walking with other people is an incentive in itself to continue an activity.  And Nordic Walking regularly will mean more chance of you reaping  its benefits -

- upper body muscle toning
- using almost 50% more calories than normal walking
- reducing stress on knee, ankle and hip joints
- good aerobic workout for heart and lungs

No special kit is required (poles are supplied) -  just outdoor clothing and trainers or walking shoes.

Nordic Walkers at Virginia Water on January 2nd.

If you feel you want to try Nordic Walking, taster sessions only cost £5, and the regular longer (90 minute) sessions, not much more.

Please give me a call to arrange an introduction or go here to find an instructor near you -
http://www.nordicwalking.co.uk/find

Hope you have a Healthy 2011

Peter

07703-404-931