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More and more people are now hearing about Nordic walking, but aren't too sure what's involved. The only way to discover what it's really about is to try it and see.

Ski Fit ?

Get fit outdoors for your skiing holiday by Nordic walking.

Taster Session Offer

Group taster sessions are on offer at just £10 per person (instead of £15) ! For OAPs/benefit recipients, a taster costs £5. Click on next courses above for future dates and for special offer courses for OAPs/benefit recipients during the week.

Full Courses

One-on-one, one-on-two training and instruction for families with children also available, including tailor-made programmes near where you live ... and early morning sessions at times to suit you ! Click on next courses above to book.

Nordic walk this year in the UK's healthiest city !
Book an introductory session with Nordic Walking for Health and do something different in Brighton, recently found to be "the UK's healthiest city, according to a study by Sky Travel" (The Independent January 2007). Then, breathe in the sea air on the promenade and enjoy breathtaking views from the South Downs ... out in the great outdoors !

Brighton & Hove Nordic Walking Club

Club membership is open, and free, to people, who successfully complete a full course with Nordic Walking for Health. Fortnightly fitness walks costing only £5 (pole hire extra) are run on Monday mornings and Wednesday evenings for those interested in regular walks in the company with others. Motivational, fun & sociable !

What is Nordic Walking?

Due to its origins, Nordic walking is a bit like cross-country skiing without the skis. It is a new way of walking that can improve health, well-being and quality of life. As merely an enhanced form of natural walking, Nordic walking is suitable for all abilities and ages of people, who can walk swinging their arms. By exercising the upper and lower parts of the body simultaneously, it can:

• Improve and maintain your general health and fitness
• Enable you to keep fit at the level you want or need – from social walker to performance sportsperson
• Provide you with a new and different outdoors leisure activity
• Achieve specific: health benefits, fitness benefits social and emotional benefits

First developed in Finland during the 1930s for cross-country skiers to keep fit in the summer, Nordic walking evolved into more of a recreational activity in the early 1980s. The first official Nordic walking poles were launched in 1997 by Exel plc. Nordic walking is one of the fastest growing recreational fitness activities across the world with participants in over 30 countries. The International Nordic Walking Association (INWA) estimates that, globally, there were about 5 million people Nordic walking at least once a week in 2005.

By the end of 2006, there were over 300 INWA-certified Nordic Walking Instructors in the UK. Nordic Walking UK (NWUK), the national organisation in the UK, predict that there will be about 500 by the end of this year. UK Instructors taught an estimated 15,000 people to Nordic walk in 2006, up from 3 to 4000 in 2005.

In order to get the most out of Nordic walking, effective technique is essential. Qualified Nordic Walking Instructors are now available in East Sussex to teach you the correct technique through group or individual sessions.

It is recommended that you consult your doctor before taking part in a new exercise, should you be concerned in any way.

Where can I do it?

Nordic Walking for Health covers a large part of East Sussex from Brighton & Hove eastwards along the South coast to Newhaven and Seaford, inland to Lewes and northwards to the Ashdown Forest, covering Burgess Hill, Hayward's Heath, Forest Row, Crowborough and Uckfield.

Taster Sessions

Nordic Walking for Health runs Nordic Walking taster sessions from a number of locations (including selected retail outlets that sell the internationally endorsed Exel Nordic Walker Trainer poles) in:

Brighton & Hove

The NIVEA SUN Yellowave Beach Sports Venue, 299 Madeira Drive, Brighton BN2 1PS (01273 672222) www.yellowave.co.uk

riptide Fitness Centre, Kings Road Arches, Brighton BN1 1NB (01273 725444) www.riptide.co.uk

Red Roaster Coffee Shop, 1d St. James Street, Brighton BN2 1RE (01273 686668

On the Brighton to Saltdean Undercliff Path

The Ovingdean Cafe on the beach

The White Cliffs Cafe, Saltdean (01273 309219) www.whitecliffscafe.co.uk

Lewes

The Outdoor Shop 55 Cliffe High Street, Lewes BN7 2AN (01273 487840)

Forest Row

Global Adventurer The Square, Forest Row RH18 5ES near East Grinstead (01342 825069)

Regular Nordic Walking Clubs will then be run for competent Nordic Walkers in each area.

Taster sessions are held at weekends. Click on next courses above then book now (places must be booked in advance).

Gift Vouchers

Gift Vouchers are now available from Nordic Walking for Health for that special, fun and unusual present !

Single vouchers are worth £25 each entitling the recipient to a one and a half hour, introductory one-to-one training session that also includes the hiring of Exel Nordic Walker Trainer poles.