Nordic Walking For Health

Our health writer, Colleen Shannon, hears about the latest fitness trend from Scandinavia.

BACK in the 1930s, competitive cross-country skiers in Finland had a problem. They wanted to train all year round, but even in their northern climate, they lacked snow in the summer.

They decided to fake it during the warmer months, and started walking briskly with their poles. The skiers soon discovered this extra training gave them a huge advantage in the sport.

Decades later, ordinary people across Europe started to take up the idea. Today, some 10 million folk around the world – including in the UK – enjoy this pleasant and effective path to fitness, which is known as Nordic walking.

It is easy, affordable and suitable for anyone who can walk a bit.