Nordic walking made me stronger

Kay, 40s, claims Nordic
walking helps osteo, asthma
& other medical conditions

"I gave up running in my 20s after sustaining a bad sprain, in my 30s exercise became more of a chore, then in my 40s I took up walking.

I love walking outdoors and I hate gyms. I walk almost every day rain or shine, and Auckland offers so many great places to walk.

My mother had osteoporosis like her mother before her. And, when she died, I had the most terrible year. After her funeral my husband, two kids and I all left the UK for a new life in Auckland. I joined adult education classes and a walking group.

But it wasn’t long till I started to get really stiff and sore after my walks and my hips and back were becoming really painful. After a bone density scan, I found I, too, was heading towards osteoporosis, both hips and spine already had osteopenia.

Determined not to end up like my poor mum and struggle to walk, I carried on walking but not for as long. Then I came across Nordic walking. At the first class I was clumsy and uncoordinated, but after a few more classes I began wondering why I had never tried it before. The technique is fabulous, it engages the upper body so you get more out of your exercise and you feel like you’re not actually exerting yourself as the poles support your body.

There is less stress on the joints and I found out that Nordic walking burns more calories and, because I use more muscle, I was able to get fitter faster. It was great fun, and my class started the North Shore Nordic Walkers!

I organise weekly walks, social and sports event training. We did a half marathon recently and I came in 2nd place in the Nordic Walking section of the 21km half marathon.

We have such fun and great adventures on our walks, we do get funny comments like “where’s the snow? The mountains are that way”, but we take it in good humour and we know that the benefits of Nordic Walking outweigh the funny looks and comments that we get.

I walk with people with knee problems, back and shoulder complaints and one walker has lost an amazing amount of weight. Nordic walking has helped her asthma and, because it’s good for posture, balance and coordination, it can help with a number of other medical conditions as well.

Now I’m waiting for my next scan to check my bone density, but I definitely feel fitter and stronger physically.