30 Oct 2024
Do you enjoy walking, hiking, rambling? Are you happier exercising in the “green gym” – outdoors in the fresh air?
Have you thought that instead of gym machines, walking poles could be your fitness equipment? Why? Well, used properly, walking poles are tools which can turn your walk into a workout.
They can give you all over body fitness, help you lose weight and lower your blood pressure.
The much-missed Michael Moseley on his Radio 4 show, Just One Thing, encouraged listeners to “pick up some poles”.
Here’s some verified science: regular walking uses approximately 75% of our muscles, but incorporating body walking poles will improve that by around 20 per cent.
Your speed is increased without feeling that you’re putting in too much effort. You will burn fat and work your core, your legs and your upper body muscles – not just your arms but also the large muscle groups of the back. And it will reduce stress on the knee joints by around 30 per cent.
As Michael Moseley said, it is one of the best forms of exercise for improving your heart health.
So all you need is a pair of walking poles, right? Wrong. Just hiking with poles may provide balance but not much else. If you don’t learn the right technique you won’t get that all-over body workout or burn as much fat. Over the years, the teaching technique has evolved from one based on cross country skiing to a more natural style, including a focus on posture and foot placement. Key to this is the introduction of the new Total Body WALX pole designed by UK fitness walking experts. Designed to support the whole hand in a natural walking position, these are transforming pole walking with their adaptability and comfort.
At Walx Ver Valley, expert tuition and guidance is led by qualified instructors and walk leaders who can tailor fitness programmes to your level of ability and any personal health issues. Groups are led on a variety of walk locations of varying distance and pace around St Albans and the surrounding countryside.
And as well as all that, Walx Ver Valley includes the option of 10K challenges, special photography walks led by a professional photographer, as well as guided discovery and local history walks.
Interested? Then come along to get a feel for what WALX is about. Everyone is welcome. You can meet the team, make new friends and have fun getting active outdoors. It’s easy. Become part of the WALX revolution.
For any queries, contact Sharon Walsh to ask about the right kind of walk for you: sharon@walxvervalley.co.uk, www.walxvervalley.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/walxvervalley
