Nordic Walking Training

Learn Nordic Walking

You only get the full benefits of Nordic Walking if you use the right technique. Our training is based on the International Nordic Walking Federation (INWA). Their ten step teaching method helps you develop a highly effective, sportive and safe walking style. We cover this curriculum in four hours of training - delivered in two courses (or you can take private lessons):

The Foundation course (2 hours) teaches posture, pole use and dynamic walking technique. This course is mandatory to join our group walks.
The Optimizer course (2 hours) helps you increase your speed and fitness impact.

Why is it so important to learn Nordic Walking properly?

Nordic walking is a full body workout and has many well-documented health benefits. To get the full benefits, you need a good technique. This is different from walking with trekking sticks. You use the poles to propel yourself forward, engaging 90% of your muscles and burning up to 45% more calories than regular walking. When using poles as a beginner, it is easy to miss these great benefits and to build up bad habits, which may damage your health (for example, bent wrists or bad posture can lead to joint pain).

Everyday Pole Walking versus Nordic Walking

Nordic Walking is a sportive way of pushing yourself forwards with your poles, which gives you a great workout. However, you may have different needs for using poles: Achieving more safety when walking or shifting some weight off your hips and knees into your arms. We call this Everyday Pole Walking or Trekking.
If you have balance problem, are anxious about slippery terrain, or plan a mountain trip on steep, rough ground, you might want to use two poles. This is safer and healthier on the body than using one walking stick.
The way you use your poles in Trekking versus Nordic Walking is very different. We teach both styles, but for Trekking/Everyday Pole walking, we do not run courses (private lessons only).

Courses for Nordic Walking

Level One: Foundation Course

This 2-hours course introduces you to fitness walking and helps you prevent damaging your body through bad technique. The Foundation Course is mandatory if you like to join our Group Walks.

Content:

Basic information about Nordic Walking and different pole types.
Posture: Create an awareness of good posture and the ability to self-correct.
Walking technique: Practice the basic moves of Nordic Walking, with the correct arm and leg rhythm and upper body dynamics.
Foot-technique.
Pole technique; place the poles correctly and at the right angle - propel the body forward with your arms.
Trail etiquette and safety: how do deal with horses, dogs, bad weather, etc.

Who can participate:

Everybody, as long as you are able to stand/walk for two hours and swing your arms.
The course mostly consists of basic exercises, individual feedback and advice on how to improve. Then we go on a twenty minutes walk. We will take a sit-down break after about an hour.

Costs: £48 (pole-hire included). For people who like to repeat the course: £38.
Meeting point: Studland Road/High Lane, Hanwell, West London - see map

Schedule Foundation Course (one session of 2 hours):

Saturday morning (9.30-11.30am)
Options are: 7 June, 5 or 19 July
more courses will be scheduled

Level Two: Optimizer Course

In additional 2 hours, you will fine-tune your Nordic Walking technique, so that you can achieve increased fitness benefits. You can choose after a few weeks of practice whether you like to join this course.

Content:

Revisit the Foundation Course basics and work on exercises to improve technique mistakes or weaknesses.
Advanced walking technique (arm-swing with full extension of the pole, active release of the pole at the end of the move).
Improved body dynamics with stronger lean and rotation techniques
Safe and smooth uphill and downhill techniques
Speed drills and agility. Breathing techniques for sportive walking.
Each participant will receive feedback and individual advice on how to improve.

Who can participate:

Walkers who have done our Foundation course, and practiced their walking for a while.
People who were trained by a different INWA instructor, but had to take a break and now need a refresher. People who come from other schools than INWA will have to take our Foundation Course first (some exceptions apply)

Costs: £48, pole-hire included. For people who like to repeat the course: £38.
Meeting point: Studland Road/High Lane, Hanwell, West London - see map

Schedule Optimizer Course (one session of 2 hours).

Saturday 1.00-3pm
29 March or 3 May

Private Lessons

We also provide private lessons and private walks. More info

Poles and Equipment:
Nordic Walking Poles are special - don't buy poles before the course!

Please contact us before you buy poles, so that you get the size and type right. You will need dedicated Nordic Walking poles with the typical gloves/sleeves. These will enable the 'push-back' motions that give you a full-body workout. Trekking or Walking poles are different (heavier handles with ribbons) and cannot be used for our sportive way of walking.
You can borrow poles for the course and your first few walks. After this, you will need to buy your own poles to join the group. We have Covid-19 measures in place to keep our poles clean and safe.

Eugene enjoys his new sportive poles: The excellent Gabel X5 with a Carbon content of 85%. The higher the carbon content, the better the pole. We can give you advice on what to choose based on your walking style and frequency.

Other equipment/clothing:

Trainers, running shoes or light walking boots (no hiking boots with hard soles, you need to be able to roll your feet).
Appropriate outdoor clothing (rain and sun protection, thin gloves in winter).

Our Teaching Method: Step by Step

Basic walking technique
1. Posture, Upper Body Dynamics and Footwork

Keeping your body in alignment.
Posture: Straight back, squared but relaxed shoulders, chin level, chest out, stomach in, lengthened spine.

Dynamic Walking: Lean forwards and rotate slightly. Roll your feet from heel to toe.

2. Walk with correct Arm-swing: Create the basic movement for Nordic walking:

Swing your arms from the shoulder joint (not from the elbow).
Coordinate your arm and leg rhythm.
Learn the correct angle of the pole (roughly 45degrees).

Basic pole technique
3. Place

Find the right position for your pole (roughly by your back foot, pole is at 45degree angle).
Practice the right grip of the pole: Close your hand softly around the pole handle – use the pressure of a friendly handshake.

4. Push

Propel the body forward by pushing down/back into the glove.
Use a smooth, steady pressure, with a progressively relaxing hand.
The more firmly you push the pole, the faster you will go.

5. Swing forward

Swing the pole forward clean and crisp, avoiding pole bouncing, dragging or double planting.
Keep your knuckles pointing down towards the ground.
Reach forwards as if to make a low handshake.

Foundation Course:
We focus on the first 5 steps. If you are able to do these, you are Nordic walking in a high impact and safe way, and you may join our walks. You will have found a smooth, relaxed way to propel yourself forward, using most of your muscle, while avoiding straining your joints.

Advanced Pole technique (high speed/sportive walking)
6. Extend fully

Push further behind you; Keep the tip of the pole in touch with the ground as long as possible.
Push your hand past the pelvis – ultimately, you have a straight line from the shoulder to the tip of the pole. The pole is a continuation of the arm, parallel to your back leg.

7. Release actively

Release your grip and let go of the pole-handle.
Press the heel of your hand against the strap.
Learn how to open and close your hand with the right timing.

Advanced Foot work and Upper Body Dynamics
8. Optimize your footwork

Coordinate the push of your foot with the final push-back of the pole.

9. Intensify your Lean and utilise your Shoulder Rotation

Create more forward momentum and increase your speed
Lean from your ankles, not your waist – keep your chest open, work with your belly muscles.
Integrate movement of the upper and lower body; allow your torso to gently rotate as you push the pole backwards.
Enables you to go faster, as you can extend/push your poles even harder.

10. Breathing technique

Keep your breathing down in your lower belly area, even if you work out hard; no shallow breathing .
Find a breathing rhythm that supports your walking speed.

Optimizer Course:
We revisit the first 5 steps, and then work on steps 6-10. When you use these advanced methods of Nordic walking, you engage more muscles. This burns more calories and kick-starts your metabolism. It also opens your chest and boosts the circulation the whole way down your spine, bringing oxygen and nutrients to the discs and vertebrae.