Blackfish64 Posted October 9, 2014 Posted October 9, 2014 Otherwise known as, "Nordic Walking" is the main exercise I use to keep fit. I'm wondering if anyone on the board uses this technique and/or what you do to keep fit. I've been an avid walker almost all of my life. Stick walking raises the bar and makes an ordinary walk into an incredible workout, if that's what you're looking for. Easy to do, and works 90% of all the muscles in the body. You can't beat it for ease and simplicity... Well, 'ease' is really in reference to how easy it is to learn, and in your body's range of motion. As for it being 'easy', it is not an easy workout. If you haven't done it before, you will need to go slowly at first in order to let your respiratory system catch up with you. It is a very potent workout.
Wuzzums Posted October 9, 2014 Posted October 9, 2014 The tabata style workout I found to be the most effective cardiovascular workout out there. It takes only 4 mins too. After months of doing it I had a resting heart rate of 52-55 bpm, which is impressive considering it was 75+ prior.
Blackfish64 Posted October 10, 2014 Author Posted October 10, 2014 That sounds good. But what about the rest of the workout? I find the stick walking does everything. It's pretty amazing!
Blackfish64 Posted November 6, 2014 Author Posted November 6, 2014 I've never written about it myself, but if you run it in your search engine you can find hundreds of articles, videos, organizations, etc. https://www.google.com/search?client=ms-android-skt-kr&source=android-home&site=webhp&source=hp&ei=vcZaVPW4ONG4uAS24oGgAg&q=nordic+walking&oq=nordic+walking&gs_l=mobile-gws-hp.12..0l5.4748.9373.0.10686.16.15.1.9.9.0.221.2048.0j13j1.14.0....0...1c.1.58.mobile-gws-hp..1.15.972.3.zWtSgR3GjAs
fractional slacker Posted December 4, 2014 Posted December 4, 2014 If it works, keep doing it.Perhaps the gayest video ever
Blackfish64 Posted December 4, 2014 Author Posted December 4, 2014 Pretty good info. No need to go outside of range of motion for warm-ups, but people always do. Good way to get oneself hurt. They always have the fancy equipment. My walking sticks are just two bamboo I found laying out in the scrap pile. After that, all one needs is a sturdy pair of walking shoes or boots, and some old clothes that are going to get really sweaty. I never call it "Nordic Walking" because I've never been to any Nordic countries, and I don't use any of the popular equipment. I'm in Thailand and I use two sticks. It's Stick Walking. And that's that. People who go out on the road to try it with me for the first time, and usually the next six or seven times, are amazed at the workout it is. They can't keep up (even when they go at their own pace), and they usually quit. It's too tough for most people. Even people who deem themselves fit. It works 90% of all the muscles in the body and it is a good cardio workout, to say the least. Stick Walking forever. Love it.
shukie Posted December 9, 2014 Posted December 9, 2014 I'm told the sticks take massive pressure off of the knees as well. I could use that.
Blackfish64 Posted December 10, 2014 Author Posted December 10, 2014 I'm told the sticks take massive pressure off of the knees as well. I could use that. Absolutely right on. It does exactly that. Works the muscles in the legs, not grinds the joints. 90% of all muscle in the body goes to work. The next best thing is swimming. Initially, it is hard on the breathing. Take it slow and get used to it gradually.
Zerubbabel Posted December 11, 2014 Posted December 11, 2014 Hey!!!? I invented this about 20 years ago. I've always been a little ashamed being seen walking with my sticks - people do stare. What the guy in the video has wrong is the length of the sticks. Mine are just slightly longer than I am tall. I take standard ski-poles (as the guy uses) and add on another 2-3 feet of aluminum tubing and add in a 3/8-16 coupling nut at the bottom. The tips I use are just threaded rod and lock nut. Bend the threaded rod down so that it bites the ground at the more acute angle that long sticks do. I have worn-out 3 pairs of tips. What the long stick does is to direct upper body power into forward motion and you walk at very fast speeds. If you look at the video that guy is applying force more downwardly in a sort of lifting motion. Your legs hold you up, they don't need help (unless you have bad knees, back, etc). It definitely increases the intensity (calories burned per unit time). But it is not a "whole-body" movement. It targets Back (latissimus dorsi) and Triceps, the same muscles used in the motion of splitting wood. As an old man who still hikes in the mountains (Idaho) I always carry a Staff as long as I am tall. The one I use I made out of a composite tubing (like fiberglass) which breaks into thirds with pool cue-like studs and goes into my pack. The staff is needed on descents and the long length allows you to plant down the trail and support your weight as you go down. Short sticks are useless when the trail is steep. The ultimate would be break-in-half Nordic sticks that also nest together to form a stout staff for descents or come apart to be used on the levels and uphills, made of composites (don't like carrying aluminum poles in lightening storms). Any investors? The biggest downfall of these sticks - the sound can be very annoying. You have to listen to loud music. I personally utilize walking as a sort-of thinking metronome which boosts one's physical and mental metabolism. Think Nietzsche. .
Blackfish64 Posted December 12, 2014 Author Posted December 12, 2014 Those aren't ski poles. Those are Nordic Walking Poles, designed specifically for Nordic Walking. I don't have any of the fancy stuff either. My sticks are merely sticks of bamboo I found lying out in the yard. That's one reason I called this thread, Stick Walking, not Nordic Walking, as it is popularly known. I am not embarrassed at all hiking daily with my sticks. I have them decorated, too. Though I have to say, living here in the Thai village, I get a lot of stares. These simple people have never seen anybody do anything like this around here. In fact they've hardly seen anybody do much of anything at all around here, save the same old thing for fifteen hundred years. I keep my sticks only the height of my armpit. Anything shorter is too short and useless, and anything longer is a cumbersome pain in the arse. I use both sticks at all times, climbing, descending, walking, running, skipping, and with several different steps. Not a full body workout, but plenty close enough. 90% is awesome, powerful, and you can't find that with most kinds of workouts. I don't wear headphones. I prefer the sound of the sticks and whatever is going on around me.
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