Mar
30
By Margaret Boyes
On a breezy bright winter afternoon, fitness trainer, Tora Cameron, gave me a Nordic walking lesson on Dallas Road.
"We use special poles on and off road," said the blonde, extremely fit Cameron, "It's similar to cross country skiing which is one of the best cardiovascular exercises. Using poles engages 90% of your muscle mass."
Seagulls wheeled overhead as she demonstrated. "When you're walking or running you use muscles from your hips on down. If you swing the arms you get more cardio out of it but there's little upper body muscle recruitment. With poles you feel almost immediately that you're engaging almost 90% of the muscles in your upper body."
Race walking is vigorous and not everyone can do it, said Cameron. "This is almost like cheating. You get a better workout than you realize and are engaging core muscles. People with knee problems can go up and down hills which they couldn't before taking my workshops."
According to Cameron, Nordic walking was started by top cross country athletes 40 years ago for training when there was no snow. "Cross country skiers are among the most aerobically fit athletes. Using an elliptical trainer is almost like cross country skiing. You use a gliding motion back and forth."
Cameron came here from Norway 11 years ago. "There people aged about 25 to 55 use poles, but here it's mostly 50 plus. I rarely saw people using them in urban areas until six years ago. Then I started teaching because I've done cross country skiing."
"Using poles you burn 25 to 40% more calories than regular walking. Many of my clients use them for balance and stability. I walk quite vigorously with them but someone with a hip and knee injury will go more slowly. People come to me after a hip or knee replacement. They get more out of their walk and can go further without as much pain."
Posture is a problem for many clients. "As we age our shoulders tend to roll forward and we hunch over often without knowing it. Our upper back muscles stretch out and chest muscles tighten. Using poles make us stand up straight."
"They force people to keep arms and shoulders moving. And they help relieve stress in the neck and shoulders which is a problem, especially for women."
Cameron has taught Nordic walking for four years. "I've had several hundred clients. For some who were really active it's like a second chance. I have bad knees so it's hard to get my heart rate up. But with poles the heart works about 28% more than with regular walking. About a third of your body weight is transferred onto them so it's easier on the joints."
"To learn to use them takes just one lesson. With them you can control intensity and your level of fitness. You can use them when and wherever you choose. You just need poles and walking shoes with ankle support. You can use them in your lunch hour at work. You can use them before an operation to loosen up and afterwards for rehabilitation. You don't look disabled when you use poles. With a cane you use only one side of the body."
Cameron showed me how to make poles longer or short enough for a child. Most have wrist straps like ski poles and feet, one kind for pavement and another for trails. You can replace feet or use the shaved tip for trails.
Our lesson was over all too soon as Cameron had to rush to Esquimalt to help a client who was about to have an operation. You can reach her at 250-652-6005 and toracameron@gmail.com.
Margaret Boyes is a healthcare marketer. She writes articles, fundraising letters, sales letters, direct mail packages, e-mails, web pages and other communications. Margaret can be reached at (250) 370-1573, margboyes@shaw.ca and .