Nordic Walking

[Nordic walking poles (left); Taking a break (right)]

I've always wanted to try Nordic walking, and today I had the chance! Nordic walking is basically fitness walking with specially designed poles. It's a full body workout which expends around 30-40% more energy than regular walking.

Co-ordination needed a little getting used too - I was never really that great at using hiking poles either, had to ditch them when I did the Hokkaido trek, a shame really, as it would have reduced the stress to the knees and saved me a lot of pain from major muscle soreness - but I got the hang of it pretty quickly if I do say so myself. It's all in the rhythm ;) I find that using hiking poles in a hiking situation is more technically challenging, like coordinating four legs to work in sync, but each leg might be having to do it's own job... which is one of the reasons why I only carry one hiking pole when I do bring a hiking pole.