Known as a skiing nation, Finns have taken Nordic walking to their hearts in a very short time: nearly one million Finns already own walking poles. Nordic walking is an excellent form of exercise that enhances your physical condition quickly.
Thanks to Finlands solid traditions in skiing, the ease, variety and low cost of the exercise have made Nordic walking one of the most popular forms of physical exercise among Finns. In addition, the exercise has indisputable positive health effects.
Terttu Parkatti, docent at the Department of Health Sciences of the University of Jyväskylä, has studied the health effects of Nordic walking on senior citizens in both Jyväskylä and the United States. Her research shows that the exercise clearly enhances elderly peoples functional capacity after only nine weeks of practising.
After a period of exercising we tested the subjects muscular strength in upper and lower limbs, agility and nimbleness, as well as the condition of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Every participant showed significant positive changes.
Nordic walking is a more versatile form of exercise than basic walking. In addition to the legs, the poles provide exercise for the upper limbs and shoulders and an efficient rotating movement for the thoracic vertebrae, which increases upper body mobility.
Due to more efficient muscular work, a Nordic walker can consume as much as 20 percent more energy than a walker without poles. However, this requires a rather brisk speed, 56 kilometres per hour.
Terttu Parkatti points out that just going out with poles will not produce the best health effects the correct technique is the key to Nordic walking.
You have to take relatively long steps in order to stretch the pole far enough back. You should never have the poles upright in front of you; they should be moving to the front or back all the time.
The correct grip on the walking pole is relaxed. If you squeeze the pole too hard, your arms, neck and shoulders may hurt after the walk.
The technique is not all that simple to learn, which is why I recommend taking at least a one-night course in Nordic walking or otherwise acquainting yourself with instruction on the exercise, Parkatti says.
At first, aquajogging was a form of training trotting horses in Finland. Athletes began practising it in the 1980s, and at the beginning of this decade it made a breakthrough among ordinary leisure exercisers. Suomen Latu Ry (the Central Association for Recreational Sports and Outdoor Activities) organised a campaign to promote lake jogging in order to lure Finns in to enjoy the natural waters.
We trained aquajogging instructors and trainers. We wrote articles on the subject and established aquajogging groups. These were the same means that were used before launching Nordic walking, says Eevaliisa Anttila, President of the Finnish Institute of Aquatics, based in Jyväskylä. The aquajogging boom quickly spread around the country. It has become one of the fastest growing forms of exercise in Finland. This popularity can be attributed to Finns close relation to natural waters, good availability of swimming halls, as well as the simplicity of the sport.
According to research, aquatic sports possess the greatest user potential. However, many adults dont know the correct swimming techniques, and swimming with bad technique results in a sore neck and shoulders. Aquajogging can be learned by anyone. It is practised in an upright position, which is relaxing for the entire body.
Aquajogging is safe thanks to the special, floating water belt. The Finnish Institute of Aquatics, in co-operation with other Jyväskylä-based well-being technology companies, has developed two water belt models, Suvi and Hipper, which are currently the Finnish market leaders.
Aquajogging has several positive health effects: it enhances the general physical condition and muscular strength and is also a good tool for weight management. Water feels nice on the skin and increases the feeling of pleasure from physical exercise. Furthermore, aquawalking, -jogging and -running are all social forms of sport.
When exercising in natural water, the aesthetic and ecologic perspectives are emphasised. I wish Finns would learn to appreciate their clean lake waters more, Eevaliisa Anttila says.
One example of the popularity of aquajogging is the Aquajogging World Championships organised in Petäjävesi, in the Jyväskylä Region, on 1st July.
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Photo (below): Aquajogging has several positive health effects.
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By Pia Tervoja Photos by Petteri Kivimäki and Matti Salmi (aquajogging)
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