Pole Positioning
Faye Smith, pictured on left, and Sarah Gilbertson, pictured on right, are both fans of using walking poles.
Faye (pictured above left) is a fan of using walking poles for descending hills.
' I climbed Ben Nevis and then walked across Hadrian's Wall three summers ago and I don't know how I would have managed the descent from Ben Nevis without poles. Our body weight is multiplied by 10 on steep descents and my knees were burning agony. A few weekends ago, I climbed two Peak district hills, Mam Tor and Kinder Scout, on a 24-mile walk but I had to bow out the 20 to 22 mile mark because of the pressure on my knees and not the distance, 24 miles that day in total.'
Experienced Nordic Walking instructor Sarah Gilberston, based in the Peak District, is pictured (above right) with hers poles at White Edge Trig Point.
She said: 'Nordic Walking is a great way to increase core fitness, spinal rotation and glute activation and enable you to power up your walks as you go as fast or as slow as you wish.'
Sarah supplies all the Nordic Walking poles to people who want to experience the benefits they bring to a walk. If it's muddy or slippery underfoot, they can give you extra confidence and can either come as a single fixed length or in up to four collapsible pieces. Their job is to keep you in an upright and symmetrical position when walking to strengthen the upper body and core and to take the pressure of joints. But to use the poles, you have to understand the technique – and that's where Sarah excels at ensuring everyone is using their poles correctly for maximum health benefits when she leads the group into the Peak District for 'pole positioning'.
''Nordic Walking will enable you to use 90% of your muscles, giving a good upper body workout as well as allowing you to pick up your toes and ankles properly. Proper Nordic Walking poles, unlike trekking poles, have a glove style strap which goes up from between the thumb and first finger.'
This is so when you release the pole using the Nordic swinging technique, you are still able to maintain control of the pole as you get into a good walking rhythm.
Nordic Walking amplifies the movements of ordinary walking in order to produce gains in speed. and pick up the pace. The walker walks with a straight back to open up the rib cage to improve breathing, and places the poles in turn on either side of their feet, so that they can land in the middle of their stride. The angle of the poles in relation to the ground makes propulsion easier. When the walker places the poles down on the ground, they grip them tightly in order to control the push forward. After the pushing forward, the walker lets go of the handle by opening their hand towards the inside of their body. The arm is therefore able to to move through a more fuller range of movement and swing without damaging the wrist.
Sarah explains that due to its low-impact, Nordic Walking is becoming a more popular form of walking for people who wish to avoid injury as well as to continue keeping fit in the Peak District or on walking holidays in the UK and abroad.
'I meet many people who want to learn how to walk with Nordic Walking poles to gain more stability and look after joints such as knees, so they an continue to enjoy walking and the world it opens up to them, for as long as possible'.
Sarah leads Nordic Walking sessions at Longshaw and also offers video analysis and advice on using poles. This can either be done on a one-to-one basis or in group sessions. Progression can include running with poles.
Hope Walking Info: HOPE WALKING
Nordic Walking Info: https://nordicwalking.co.uk/
Nordic Walking Instructor Sarah Gilbertson. Tel 077202 58878.
