Private Lessons & Walks

Private Lessons and Private Walks

Regular Private Lessons

For people who cannot join our Group Walks and Courses based on scheduling issues - or because they would like additional walks to train harder.

For people with Nordic Walking experience who have done a course with an INWA associated teacher before, we recommend an initial lessons to assess your technique and help you develop any weak spots. After this you may want to schedule further lessons to improve your technique and avoid developing bad habits.
For beginners we recommend 2-4 lessons, based on your learning style. To cover the teachings of the initial Foundation course, you will need at least two lessons (in one or two sessions), which will cost £130 in total.

After your you learned Nordic Walking through Private Lessons, you can come on Group Walks or book some Private Walks, where you can receive some feedback and suggestions.

Cost per Private Lesson (1 hour, pole-hire included): £65. If you cannot work-out for a full hour, we can offer some shorter lessons, however, this only applies to people with specific health issues, such as Parkinsons or similar.
If you bring along a second person, this person pays £35 (per hour).
Offer for Families: 2 adults and up to 3 kids (age 10-16): £140 for a private session (1 hour).

Private Walks

We offer Private Walks for people who have done our Foundation Course (or the equivalent training through Private Lessons).
This is for people who prefer to walk at a different time than the Group Walks, or would like to intensify their training.
Private Walks have a different structure from Private Lessons. They are really a guided walk. You will still receive some feedback and advice on how to improve, but the focus is on the walk:

£45 per hour (shorter walks are possible for people with health issues).
Share your Walking time: And additional person on your private walk only pays £10 (or £12 with pole hire). They must have taken our Foundation course or Private lessons to join

We also can arrange half day or all day countryside walks - please inquire for pricing.

Private Lessons for Health Goals

For people who would like to use Nordic Walking to support them with a health challenge, such as illnesses, surgery or rehab.

Nordic Walking is excellent for people who live with chronic illnesses (such as Parkinson's, MS, Long Covid, Musculoskeletal disorders), as it allows them to keep walking, work with their bodies in a positive way and be in nature.
It also has proven mental health benefits for people who live with cancer, and it can support people who go through chemotherapy or recover from breast cancer surgery.
Many people also use Nordic Walking after accidents, surgery or illness, or to support them during weight loss or rehab programs.

Andrea has a wealth of experience teaching people with specific goals or health issues. She has undergone continuous professional development to provide Nordic Walking training to people living with Parkinson's disease. As an experienced life coach and Tai Chi teacher, she can also support her clients with mental coaching, breathing exercises and meditation practices.

Once we understand your needs, we will suggest how we can work together (private lessons, private walks, possibly additional simple tai chi exercises or mind-body coaching).
Carers are always welcome to participate in our private lessons free of charge.

Other Pole-Walking Techniques (not Nordic)

These special private lessons are for you if you are not keen on Nordic Walking as a sport, but would like to learn pole walking to:

make your everyday walking easier and saver (for example if you have balance problems)
replace your crutches with poles after a leg-injury (this will help you gain more agility and relax your upper body, but it is only possible once you can bear weight on the injured leg)
plan to go on a mountain trip.

You will learn the Trekking pole technique (poles are mostly in front of your body), as opposed to the Nordic Walking technique (poles are behind your back and serve to propel yourself forward). Trekking can usually be learned in one lesson.

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.