Have you ever seen people walking around with two poles and wondered what it's all about? You may have thought they're off on a skiing trip even though it's mid-July, but actually, they're Nordic walking. A great way to exercise, especially as you get older.

By using two poles for propulsion, you use your upper body as well as your legs to propel yourself along, making you walk a little faster and feel lighter. It's great for posture, as you're more upright and the poles take the weight off hips, knees and lower back. As you're using upper body muscles, you burn many more calories than ordinary walking (20-40%) so it's a great way to tone up and lose weight.

Fiona Swan from Nordic Walking Devon says: "Devon has so many wonderful places to walk and Nordic walking is a great way to get outdoors and socialise whilst keeping fit at the same time. It's suitable for all ages
and fitness levels."

6 Benefits of Nordic walking:

- Tones the upper and lower body
- Burns more calories than ordinary walking
- Reduces the pressure on knees and joints
- Great for the Heart and Lungs
- Ideal for neck, shoulder and back problems
- Sociable and outdoors

Fiona runs regular walks around the Exeter, Teignbridge and East Devon area on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. For a free taster session go to www.nordicwalkingdevon.co.uk or contact Fiona on 01626 890120 or at [email protected].