Think walking on the beach is just for leisure? Not anymore! Helen Beckley, sports coach at Proactive UAE has found a way to crank up the intensity in the simple activity of walking with Nordic walking.
Nordic walking originated in Finland, as a training exercise for cross country skiers. People used walking poles to mimic hand movements of skiing as they hiked across the hilly terrain in the warmer months.
While teaching fitness classes in the UK, Helen realised how fun an activity and great a workout Nordic walking was and came up with the idea to bring it to the sunny beaches of the UAE.
Nordic walking is not your average stroll down the beach. The class involves taking long dynamic steps which get your heart pumping.
You use the poles to “pull” yourself forward with each stride. The pull helps you keep your pace up to tempo. Additionally, the range of movement in your arms is larger than traditional walking – this allows your upper body to get a nice workout as well.
Nordic walking, just like crosscountry skiing, is one of the most effective exercises for total body training and cardiovascular fitness because it is low impact, placing minimal stress on the joints.
Beckley is one of the UAE’s few qualified Nordic walking instructor. She said: “Nordic walking is for all ages. At first, some people are a bit nervous to try it, it can be quite intimidating. But once you find your stride and rhythm, you can see how much fun it is.”
Nordic walking burns nearly 50 per cent more calories than traditional walking. You can burn anywhere from 500-700 calories in one class, depending on your pace and rhythm.
Nordic walking became so popular in the 1980’s that an exercise machine was developed to practice indoors during the winter for those who wanted more of a challenge than treadmill walking.
Nordic walking incorporates the large muscle groups, including chest, back, legs, and core.
Beckley said: “Nordic walkers are required to maintain a straight posture while walking and keep their arms straight.
“The hands should swing from the shoulders and not the elbow. Walkers press into the poles with their hands as they walk in the same way as one would in a cross-country skiing.”
Consistently activating these muscle fibres not only allows for increased calorie burn, but also builds muscle.
Beckley can show you how to pick the right pole for your height. Additionally, there are poles for different types of surfaces as well.
“When walking in the grass or sand, we use spikes to enable walkers to get a better grip. On hard surfaces, we cover the spikes with ‘shoes’ to make the walk easy,” says Beckley.
Beckley’s class meets at 18:00 weekly on Sundays at Yas Island, Du Forum carpark.
“We walk around Yas Island, around the beach. The scenery is very beautiful,” she said.
"There’s so much to view around Yas Island, the landscaping, the beach, you won’t even realise you’re working up a sweat."
They cover up to 6km in one-hour session. The course will continue for a few weeks more, before the summer heat picks up. The class will then resume in September.
Don’t miss out on your opportunity to try this fun activity. Grab a buddy and head on down to Yas Island, Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
For more information on Nordic walking, contact [email protected] or visit www.Proactive.ae.
