Great video from Toronto Canada which shows just how popular Nordic Walking in North America is becoming… Click link video.html?v=2163491747&p=5&s=dd#top+stories

Nordic Walking the Next Fitness Wave

Wow, every week now I am beginning to hear and see people excited as they take the once standard Walking exercise and add Poles. These Poles are being used for specific; rehabilitation therapies, wellness programming for disease processes such as diabetes, arthritis, neuromuscular challenges and of course cardiovascular-related diseases. All of these health challenges need an activity at some point like Nordic Walking because the ease at which one can coordinate this repetitive movement for significant health gains is remarkable!

This is the icing on the cake… Nordic Walking allows you to start at every level of Fitness, whether you might be looking to lose weight and or gain average to elite levels of conditioning. One of the most appealing factors is that by adding the Poles to Walking and practicing the easily learned technique, you find quickly that improved conditioning takes less time than most all other fitness products and programs. Nordic Walking is not better than other exercise, but I will guarantee that it simply has no limitations…

Nordic Walking Uphill

An amazing fact is 90% muscle activation will be achieved with relatively low physical exertion when compared to the 60-70% muscle activation of regular walking. In other words, you get “more for less.” Physical therapist, doctors, fitness coaches and likely your neighbors everywhere are all just now discovering this fantastically simple and effective fitness tool. No demographic of health, fitness, age, and coordination level is going to be left behind.

Please join us today, just jump into the next walking wave, by getting in touch with Terry Kennedy at tkennedy@balancewalking.com . He will advise you of the best starting point based on your needs; with proper fitted poles, instructional materials, and available coaches or walk leaders.

Concourse Athletic Club gets ready for 3miles

Sandy Logsdon

Yesterdays walk was a blast..  Fourteen people and their poles trekked over 3 miles through beautiful Grant Park on the most gorgeous fall day. We were fortunate to have Terry Kennedy,(the guru of balance walking) join us with his family.  Terrys passion and enthusiasm for balance walking was an added motivation for our seasoned pole walkers and even our first time beginner pole walkers.
It was Boo at the Zoo day, Halloween costumes were everywhere, children and their parents were dressed for the event, the Farmers market was open, two guys were drumming on empty plastic paint buckets, an acoustic harmonica player was off to one side, the playground was full, people were walking their dogs, there was a little boot camp set up on on the side of a hill , the parking lot was overflowing and the fabulous bungalow homes were decorated for the season  I feel confident that when people went home that afternoon the thing that was talked about most was “that group of people with the poles”!  That’s not something you see everyday! And YES, we are bringing the fanny packs   back!

Concourse Athletic Club takes a quick break

Komen Affiliates Increase Participation & Fundraising

Pink Year Round for Better Health

Balance Walking is a Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Corporate Sponsor and is excited to work with ‘All Affiliates’ to help grow their community outreach. Presently, in the SGK Participant Center used by individuals and teams located online contains some great resources to help increase fundraising. One resource area is labeled, 101 Great Ideas, which helps participants by suggesting creative ideas to help increase donations. Now with our partnership is the perfect time to take advantage of the “Pink Pole Balance Walking Program as the 102nd Great Idea!” In fact, we believe this will double participation and fundraising in local communities year round.

One neat thing about Balance Walking is that it creates curiosity and excitement without detracting from the Susan G Komens current schedule of events and programs. Integrating the poles brings an additional dimension to any Komen Event and will boost individual or team donations. The poles are guaranteed to attract attention and elicit questions, such as…

What are you doing?

First let me use my experience; as I confidently respond – “well one mile with these poles gives me the benefits of nearly 2 miles of regular walking (this is just one of the many benefit examples. You will also increase calorie burn to 90% muscle activation versus 60-70% of regular walking). The benefits come so quickly that I walk with the poles for 5, 10, 15minutes or more if I have time.” This eliminates the excuse – I have no TIME! And guess what their response is almost every time – more questions!

Where can I get the Poles?

This is a perfect opportunity to explain the partnership between Balance Poles and Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. We suggest letting all who ask; to know that $5 from each sale stays in the community and another $5 goes to the national office for breast cancer research. Order the Susan G Komen Poles Online easily or visit a participating Foot Solutions. This Question is usually followed with…

Where can I learn How to use Poles?

And of course I tell them; it’s easy with an online video, community walking groups, as I hand them an Invite Card.

Then of course, more questions – when and where does your group walk? As I hand them a 5 x 7 invite card, I also get their name and contact information for follow-up. And if you have an extra set of poles show them how and invite them back to use them as loaner poles until they make their purchase online. We suggest that individuals or team members work with their local Affiliate office to use the online tools to promote their group. Starting their own Meetup online is easy and very inexpensive (www.meetup.com). We suggest calling the Meetup “Pink Pole Balance Walking / (list area or team name here).

Sometimes people just want to get started and learn how and walk on their own where they live or work.

Look 1 ask a Friend, then it became 7

Susan G Komen 5k Atlanta Pink Team

What’s The Next Step?

• Contact: Your Local Susan G Komen Affiliate or Terry Kennedy at 770-916-5996
• Email: tkennedy@balancewalking.com
  
• Spread the Word! Enlist 5 or more supporters who may be interested in learning more and who would like to help grow your Teams Fundraising Goals Year Round

Here is a great video for promotion

Lack of activity and poor nutrition deliver a full plate of consequences today…

Obesity and Disease seems to be front page news everyday. We hear over and over, “Get Moving and Eat Healthy.” It’s clear this is a challenge. Yet, Balance Walking is an activity that’s easily done. No matter the age or ability, it takes very little time commitment. It is begins with the15minutes that keeps on giving, because of your muscle recruitment in the upper body. You can turn that1mile of walking with Balance Walking Poles in to the equivalent of nearly 2 miles of regular walking (depending on effort and skill). It is all inclusive for any level of fitness. It’s easy. It’s fun and extremely beneficial. It provides the momentum we all need for a more balanced and healthy lifestyle.

Health and Fitness Business & Parks and Recreation Systems getting on-board…

I recently had numerous collaborative conversations with over dozen executives from the US and China in the Health and Fitness Business, as well as the Parks and Recreation Systems. These professionals serve all areas such as; private, non-profit, city, state, and federal as well as serving the needs of those who have physical and/or socio-economic challenges. These collaborations have me convinced that this is the right time for Balance Walking. Each one of these individuals wants to learn more as well as where to get the poles. My belief with these responses confirms again that Balance Walking is the “Next Fitness Wave of this Millennium”.

Referred to as Nordic Walking or Pole Walking or…

Many are hearing more and more about Nordic Walking or Pole Walking as it is now beginning to seen and talked about in the US.  Balance Walking  encompasses many of the various pole techniques used in Nordic/Pole Walking from around the world. Varying the techniques when using your poles to deliver a safe, fitness and health exercise simply accommodates everyone. This activity will always deliver more and include the formulation for a balanced lifestyle – healthy eating, stress reduction, strength/flexibility and of course, the all important cardiovascular exercise.

Poor Health an Epidemic in US is not a secret.

A great video from the CDC was recently completed emphasizing what I believe; in we are creating a nation with new physical dimensions and disease challenges out of control. The statistics are revealing – “Obesity costs this country about $150 billion a year, or almost 10 percent of the national medical budget. Approximately one in three adults and one in six children are obese. Obesity is epidemic in the United States today and a major cause of death, attributable to heart disease, cancer, and diabetes”. The epidemic of poor health is pointing to answers that start first with making better activity and nutrition choices; beginning at home, in our schools, in childcare facilities, work sites and our communities.

Those that live with health challenges can begin today by asking themselves this question. How long will I permit this train wreck to literally run out of control before I make better choices in healthy activity and eating for myself? The CDC video and others similarly do well at pointing to the problems, yet the vital component needs a spark and fuel to sustain better health for everyone. The spark is an army of excited advocates and mentors saying, “let’s go and make a difference now and tomorrow”.

Balance Walking Poles and Program

Contact Terry Kennedy at tkennedy@balancewalking.com to get started with your Balance Walking Poles and Program. It’s easy to learn, it’s for everyone and of course it’s a great exercise. If you might consider regular walking, then you will be excited to know that the benefits are multiplied almost 2 times when you grab your poles and move for as little as 5, 10 or 15minutes at time.

Get Healthy — Get Exercise

“Exercise is the Best Medicine.”

Yes, we all are hoping that researchers can find a cure to cancer. Many of us are at some point in our lives, touched by cancer – whether it is our family, friends or even ourselves. So while seeking a cure we are now finding more and more research evidence that says – “Exercise is the Best Medicine.”

We are gaining headline attention by using phrases like; “Magic Pill” or “Wonder Drug” to describe the positive effects of Exercise over Cancer. That worries me to the extent that, catchy marketing media phrases used to draw attention can also turn people away from exercise. Remember – the old “too good to be true” line. I am more comfortable with leading others to exercise with one of Jack’s “LaLanne-isms.” He once said, “Exercise is King, nutrition is Queen, put them together and you’ve got a kingdom.” Having said that, some things never change, and our human nature unfortunately only moves when we can get something for nothing, threatened, or are afraid of losing something.

For years, we’ve known that a healthy diet and regular physical exercise is key to preventing cancer. The latest research is finding that for those who have already suffered from cancer, physical exercise can dramatically help with cancer patients’ recovery and long-term health. Macmillan Cancer Support, a British cancer charity, stated in a report that just 150 minutes of moderate exercise such as walking or gardening per week could reduce a breast cancer patient’s risk of recurrence or dying by 40 percent, reduce a prostate cancer patient’s risk of dying by 30 percent, and also help counteract negative cancer side effects such as fatigue, depression, osteoporosis and heart disease for all cancer patients. Additionally, getting more physical exercise can reduce the risk of colon cancer by as much as 50 percent.

Many Health Professionals Unaware of Benefits

However, despite strong emerging evidence that being physically active could dramatically improve cancer patients’ recovery and long-term health, a Macmillan online survey of 400 health professionals who deal with cancer patients found that many are not aware of this and most are not talking to their patients about it. Over half of the primary care doctors, nurses, and oncologists surveyed do not speak to their cancer patients about the benefits of physical activity, or at best they speak to just a few of them.

Ciaran Devane, chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Support, says, “Cancer patients would be shocked if they knew just how much benefit physical activity could have on their recovery and long-term health, in some cases reducing their chances of having to go through the grueling ordeal of treatment all over again.”

Exercise Not Just an Add-on to Care

According to Jane Maher, chief medical officer of Macmillan Cancer Support, “The advice I would previously have given to one of my patients would have been to ‘take it easy.’ This has now changed significantly because of the recognition that, if physical exercise were a drug, it would be hitting the headlines. There really needs to be a cultural change so that health professionals see physical activity as an integral part of cancer after-care, not just an optional add-on.” The Macmillan Cancer Support has created and is providing online many great tools and references that can be used when you are ready to begin exercise. One is the Move More Pack is a complete guide to becoming more active.

Balance Walking is Exercise for Everyone

We are training Masters, Coaches and Walk Leaders to teach and mentor new Balance Walkers beginning in the US and around the world. One of our new initiatives is to provide all of the local Susan G Komen Affiliates an Exercise and Prevention activity, by using the Poles for all their events, active walkers and supporters. In fact, even those who can not participate in the Komen Events, will support SGK with each pair of Balance Walking Poles purchased be directing a portion to go to Curing Breast Cancer.

Contact Terry Kennedy at tkennedy@balancewalking.com to get started with your Balance Walking Poles and program. It’s easy to learn, it’s for everyone and of course it’s a great exercise. If you might consider regular walking, then you will be excited to know that the benefits are multiplied almost 2 times when you grab your poles and move for as little as 5minutes at time.

Get Healthy — Get Exercise

This needs to be a wake-up call for all of us today. 5000 Steps equates to a sedentary lifestyle, not to mention most Americans are not getting enough exercise daily. It comes down to Balance in a world that is competing for our choices each day. Those of us in the health and fitness business clearly see the train wreck. In fact some of us are being challenged with the same challenging choices daily.

So let’s begin with the end in sight now, to choose healthy actions each day, and bring back balance to living healthier today. And should you get off track, get back on, with the end in sight today…

I might suggest we start today and look for supporting pillars ( people, products, and places ) that deliver safely health and fitness education, motivation and leadership . With my recent invitation to serve on the board with the “Weekly Fitness Challenge” I know there is an organization serving to that end. This organization is assembling a worldwide team to bring back Healthy Balance by using mentors in “Changing the Shape of the World” .  The essence is start where you are, and begin to gather together with others to commit as you are likely to succeed… A team of two, a group of many – at work, with family, friends and neighbors as this builds the needed motivation and mentorship.

Let’s get started now and Step It Up! Begin at work if you are one of those that sit much of your day. Be flexible when you encounter work challenges that rob you of your allocated time by simply returning back to your fitness routine when your work permits time.  Remember we are paid to work, yet all know we function with higher productivity when endorphins kick in behind the desk. Ask your employer to join in, as this will cement the working relationship.  Avoid at all cost of being judgmental with every bump ( fitness disruption ) in your new routine as this can become an achilles heel ( the reasons you quit ) to your long term success.

This is the beauty of walking with the new Balance Walking Poles as you will find quickly — convenience, ease of use, and endorphins kicking in — with your routine. Not to mention those that see you walking or jogging with poles will in their curiosity ask questions about the poles  and succumb to getting their own poles, especially when you talk – more calories. And if you do not believe me, try it anyway, as I will let time prove me right here.

To get started let’s do some quick math first, which will evolve in to a written goal, followed with an achieved goal. OK, take a 5 minute break at work on the move with your poles every 60 minutes and you will have on an average 8 hour work day — 40minutes of activity. Wow! Let’s see that is 5 workdays which converts in to 3 hours and 20minutes. Now of course no need to stick with 5 minutes as your schedule may permit longer or shorter periods of time. The calories used while walking with your poles nearly doubles over regular walking. This of course is dependent on your speed and skills.

Here are some good numbers for Steps and Stats

• 2.5 feet: average person’s stride length
• 2,100 average steps: about one mile
• 10,000 steps: about 5 miles
• 10,000 steps “without poles”: expends about 300 – 400 cal. (depends on body size ,walking speed, and skill)
• 10,000 steps “with poles”: expends about 500 to 600 cal. (depends on body size, walking speed,and skill)
• 1,200 steps: 10 minutes of walking
• 3,100 – 4,000 steps: 30 minutes of moderately intense walking

Note: all these equivalents are averages that will vary among individuals

Sources: Research Digest, Walking.about.com with additional calculations with Poles

Ranking Steps for a more active lifestyle

• sedentary: <5,000 steps/day
• low active: 5,000-7,499 steps/day
• somewhat active: 7,500-9,999 steps/day
• active: >or=10,000 steps/day
• highly active: >12,500 steps/day

Source: Tudor-Locke C, Bassett DR Jr., Sports Medicine

We will continue to study and research over and over and even debate exercise and disease processes. And with that debate on how much, how long and on and … I suggest lets all get up and move. The study below at least recognizes that you can not sit or virtually remain motionless most of the day and think that one 30minute session is all you need 5 days a week.

Even With Regular Exercise, People With Inactive Lifestyles More at Risk for Chronic Diseases

ScienceDaily (Aug. 1, 2011) — According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 25 percent of Americans have inactive lifestyles (they take fewer than 5,000 steps a day) and 75 percent do not meet the weekly exercise recommendations (150 minutes of moderate activity each week and muscle-strengthening activity twice a week) to maintain good health. read more click here

Related articles

• Walk Your Way to Fitness

• How Much Sitting is too much?

This is really a great time to serve those whom have served our country.  And we all know that behind all this service to our country are the families connected, usually at quite a distance, and for long periods of time.  In keeping with the “Let’s Move” initiatives today, we can join ACE, and Balance Walking and make a difference  NOW.

Those Coaches who are Joining Forces using their ACE credentials can be part of the comprehensive national initiative that provides ways for Americans to reconnect with and give back to our service members and their families.  The American Council on Exercise® (ACE®) is honored to support this important program by providing a way for fitness service providers to pledge 1 million fitness training service hours to actively deployed National Guard, Reservists and their immediate families.

Those of you whom are Certified ACE Coaches can easily click online and provide your service at no cost to these Service Men, Women and Families.  Many of you have already received the Balance Walking ACE CECs through our program and are encouraged to go online and make a commitment today.  As little as one hour.  I found this easy as you can see by clicking here.

So let’s take Balance Walking to these families with the  “Join Forces Community Challenge” and ACE® Today!!

In keeping with searching for answers I like to bring awareness in resources as they come available like this one linked here that support being active.  This article discusses findings and in essence states “When a cancer patient reports persistent fatigue following treatment, it is something that deserves attention.  It may be a symptom of other things that matter.”

Balance Walking because of each of the 4 pillars that involve more than just the physical activity of planting poles and moving, we believe the positive contributions to those challenged with good health may benefit with Balance Walking, in improved health, in that moment and beyond…

When I came across this article that said in a study; that walking to the photocopier and fidgeting at your desk contributes more than you think to your cardiorespiratory fitness, I thought, GREAT (your kidding).  How far do we lower the bar to get people to believe they can do very little and be healthier.

I do agree 100%, that getting up and moving if you sit daily is paramount to better health.  The research link I attached says; that fidgeting, doing loops around the copier or foot tapping among other things is helping your fitness.  We should realize that sitting motionless for years at a time at your desk for hours a day is a fast track to the grave. Lets not kid ourselves in to doing very little at work physically and believe this will make you FIT.

I do believe that an office activity break that can be of consistent duration, along with a measurable intensity is the key to “improved Health” (and of course add balanced nutrients and quite time).  Yet to speak on “improved Fitness” is another thing all together; as we need a specific activity, for a specific duration, with a measurable intensity (and the best overall activity will include components ideally that emphasis CV, Strength and Flexibility) with short and long range goals.

One of the greatest benefits we have found in an office setting with Balance Walking is one can simply get up from their desk, place the rubber paws on the poles and go for a quick walk. Even if it is only quick 3  to 10min loops in hallways, parking garages/lots or sidewalks.  The advantage with Balance Walking here is that you are standing and moving using 90% of your muscle which delivers an accumulative effect up to twice that of regular walking. Not to mention the much needed de stress time. You hear this all the time from runners  ” a runners high” as you will also experience the increase in endorphins while walking with poles.

Let’s not forget, after your quick walk their are some great stretches for neck, back and legs. There are many more benefits that I have not covered here which can be found on the main website at www.balancewalking.com

Take a quick read of the this fidget study in Canada that explored IPA (incidental physical activities).

Fidgeting your way to fitness.

Related articles

• Small Workouts Add Up to Big Gains in Overall Fitness (workingwellresources.com)
• 10 Exercises to Do at Work That Don’t Make You Look Silly (wisebread.com)

At Balance Walking we will begin training Master Coaches around the country over the next several months. The reason being as I was told by several leaders in Pilates recently across the country that… Quote, “the pole walking/nordic walking activity adds the perfect compliment to Pilates strengthening core muscles and building structural stability in your major weight bearing joints. In fact, Pilate’s professionals can see the meditative qualities of walking briskly with poles to be much like the focus and calm of Pilates.” Those trained in Balance Walking agree as even an athlete experiences this focused calm in their sport, they can likewise take Balance Walking to any demand level — low or high level aerobic training.

Pilate’s professionals do agree that Balance Walking will take their clients to moving outside of the studio (Walking) while drawing on the cardiovascular system which is vital in any fitness program. The cardio component is not the emphasis in a pilates classroom setting, so this becomes the perfect fit. Not to mention getting some fresh air.

Terry Kennedy is looking forward to next week (July 20th) in Orlando, visiting with one of the top local Pilate’s professionals residing in the Tampa area. He will begin training Charlotte Addington Weikel with the Master Balance Walking curriculum. Charlotte will then have the foundation to begin training other Pilate’s professionals with the education program under the guidance of Terry’s near to 40 years in Fitness, Sport and Business.  Charlotte of course brings the program to her studio and walkers (known as the Walkettes) at the B-Fit Pilates center in Tampa.

Needless to say this is an awesome time to be part of the ground floor growth of Balance Walking – the Next Fitness Wave of this Millennium…

We welcome all instructors with Pilates training to reach to tkennedy@balancewalking.com to learn more. You may also qualify for ACE CECs. All participants will be provided product and support to develop their own programs.

Related articles

• Pilates aids hip op recovery (humankinetics.wordpress.com)
• Balanced Body’s PILATES ARC (movementsafootblog.com)
• Pilates Exercise of the Month – Bend & Stretch with Flex-Band (pilatesintegration.wordpress.com)
• Beginners Pilates! (plantoprosper.wordpress.com)
• Pilates & Flexibility (pilatesintegration.wordpress.com)
• Osteoporosis Workshop at Pilates Certification Manitoba (pilatesintegration.wordpress.com)