Nordic Walking Classes Coming to Senior EmPower Day

Glen Arbor, MI, September 12, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Free Nordic Walking Classes are returning to the Senior EmPower Day at the East Bay Calvary Church, Traverse City, Michigan from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Friday, September 18th, 2009.

The 2009 Senior EmPower Day will provide free Nordic Walking Lessons and the opportunity to hear from a variety of informative speakers and learn from other event sponsors and exhibitors.

Pete Edwards – owner/founder/coach of The American Nordic Walking System and www.SKIWALKING.com Nordic Walking Poles, will host the free Nordic Walking classes during Senior EmPower Day. He will also provide Real Nordic Walking Poles for participants to test-drive – durable one-piece Nordic Walking Poles sized specifically for each individual.

Walking with poles provides a more effective workout than regular walking – basically turbo charging the average walking campaign. Walking with poles can burn up to 40% more calories than regular walking.

Nordic Walking’s winning combination of improved posture, a unique 4-Wheel-Drive type action and shock absorbing benefits are helping many individuals to walk comfortably again. Nordic Walking Poles are helping individuals with balance and stability issues, knee issues or new knees, hip issues or new hips, back issues (including those with rods in their back), weight issues, multiple sclerosis (MS), parkinson's (PD), neuropathy, arthritis, bursitis, scoliosis, lumbar stenosis, fibromyalgia, post polio, osteoporosis, stroke recovery, cancer recovery and other limitations to walking. Nordic Walking poles are helping thousands of Americans get off the couch, successfully get outside, start walking safely and effectively launch much needed walking campaigns.

Nordic Ski Walking is the fastest growing fitness activity in Europe. Over 7 million Europeans are walking with special Nordic Ski Walking fitness poles everyday in the cities (with the removable rubber Nordic Walking Tips/Paws on), out in the country and up in the mountains - no snow and no skis required. Walking with the perfect length poles and with correct technique provides a more effective aerobic workout than walking without poles.

The free Nordic Walking Clinics will include an introduction to Nordic Walking, an explanation of the three basic levels of the American Nordic Walking System and an opportunity to demo real Nordic Walking poles – complete with removable rubber tips and patented comfortable straps (kind of like fingerless gloves). Edwards claims that one-piece poles custom fit to each individual’s height are safer, lighter and much more durable than twist-locking adjustable length/telescoping/collapsible poles. Seniors and individuals with balance issues should use one-piece poles because they are safer, lighter and more durable than cheap twist-locking poles. Seniors and individuals with balance issues should avoid cheap twist-locking/collapsible poles that have often been reported to rattle, vibrate and/or collapse unexpectedly.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, increased physical activity can help prevent risk factors for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity and some forms of cancer.

According to the Physical Activity and Health Report by the Surgeon General, moderate regular exercise has been found to be associated with decreased risk of cardiovascular diseases, some forms of cancer, and non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.

Nordic Ski Walking produces up to a 46% increase in energy consumption (Cooper Institute, Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sports 2002 publication).

Walking poles have been used at the University of Wisconsin in the rehabilitation of patients after myocardial infarction (MI). In the MI study, the oxygen uptake increased on average 21% compared to walking without poles.

Advance reservations for Senior EmPower Day 2009 are required. Interested persons of any age may contact the Council or Commission on Aging in their home county or call Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan at 1-800-442-1713 (toll free) or 231-947-8920 for more information and to learn how to pre-register.

Plan now to attend this Powerful day of continuing education.

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