If Victoria had a little more of that white stuff, I'm certain pole-walking would sprout up like daffodils in February. Pole-walkers are common folk in Europe, where the activity originated 100 years ago as summer training for Finland's cross-country skiers.
In these parts, however, the November air wasn't crisp enough to white out the weird looks our group of Iron Matrons got while ski-poling down Vancouver Street, during our introduction to Nordic Walking.
"I still think it looks dorky," said Sue Emslie, who also couldn't fathom pole-walking while trying to hang on to her "maniac" dog.
The Iron Matron group of Sue, Jo-Anne Kern, Fran Harper, Sandy Campbell, Deb Carnes and me were on our third of five adventures into fitness organized by Victoria Parks and Rec. In the past few weeks we've flung ourselves around poles in pole-dancing, loaded lines in fly-fishing and hip-swayed through pole-walking, and will carry on with water yoga, and 50-plus boot camp.
I, too, was a tad self-conscious about the pole walking, officially called Nordic Walking, an exercise regime refined about 10 years ago.
Our Norwegian instructor, Tora Cameron, who never poled on pavement until she moved to Canada, began the session with a little prep-talk. She noted Nordic Walking isn't rocket science, but harder than it looks. We figured that out pretty quickly in a tangle of poles and legs on the sidewalk outside the Crystal Pool.
Nordic Walking -- which differs from using poles as hiking aids in trekking -- uses upper body muscles not engaged in normal walking. A low-impact workout for 90 per cent of the body, Nordic Walking increases cardio levels, and burns at least one more cookie an hour than walking. That alone sold me. Just think, if you used the technique while jogging or in-line skating, you could probably eat Black Forest cake guilt-free.
It also eases the strain on those creaky knees and grinding hips. Tora has elderly clients who have gone from being bent over their walkers to pole-walking tall. The poles can be adjusted to different lengths, and there's an optional belt rig, with retractable cords, that attaches to the poles for a more intense workout.
The motion is like reaching out for a handshake, with the poles angled back.
"Walking should be natural, right? At least, it was until today," Sandy said, tripping over her "camel walk," of hand and foot on the same side moving together.
We did a couple of loops of the field, then went around the block, getting a little taste of pole-impulsion. They add thrust going uphill and brakes coming down the other side.
Fran thought the poles would be beneficial, but she didn't like the restrictive feeling of carrying them. Jo-Anne said she would invest in a pair (approximately $80 to $100) for hiking. Deb's take was:
Pole-walking's a thing to consider
'Specially if you want to get fitter.
Abs, arms, shoulders, back and chest
All get worked before you rest.
An hour's walk -- an hour of talk.
What could be more fun than that?
Reach those arms out, plant those poles.
Left, right; chit chat.
With the ambivalence of the group, I figured why not try this Nordic Walking again on my own turf -- away from so many curious looky-loos. I already had a pair of poles, admittedly bought for self-defence, not exercise, after run-ins with a dog threatening to turn me and my mutt into Kibble. So off I poled down the road to the Galloping Goose. It was impressive feeling the cardio effort kick in immediately, along with the tightening of stomach and butt (a feat in itself). The hip-swinging motion loosened my lower back, and added a neat rhythmic feel.
I even took the dog, threading her leash through a loop on my pants. It helped to have a somewhat reasonable dog. Our old black lab, Otis, would have been halfway to Sooke, dragging my pants, before I ever planted a pole.
After about an hour, I felt good, and was hardly even stiff the next day. Besides, the thought of having a cookie in the bank was a really happy one.
Being able to go out anytime, anywhere, by myself, made Nordic Walking a keeper in my books. So maybe I looked a little wacky, and brought a smile to people's faces. Really, what was so bad about that?
Want to walk into fitness? E-mail [email protected].
