How to Walk With Ski Poles

Do not allow self-consciousness to prevent you from joining the throngs of people enjoying the benefits of walking with ski poles. Commonly known as Nordic walking, many people are using this form of fitness walking for regular exercise because the motion of walking with ski poles minimizes impact on the lower body while helping to strengthen the upper body from pumping the poles. Walk with ski poles to see if this exercise method suits you.

Things You'll Need

  • Walking shoes
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Instructions

    • 1

      Stand holding a pole in each hand. Place the loops on the handles of the poles over your wrists and grasp each pole handle loosely.

    • 2

      Take a step with your lead foot and simultaneously move the opposite arm and pole forward to approximately waist level. Keep your front arm bent slightly at the elbow as it moves forward. Move your back arm back behind your body slightly (also bent at the elbow) as the front arm moves forward.

    • 3

      Strike the ground with the front pole at the same time as your lead foot strikes the ground.

    • 4

      Keep the back foot in contact with the ground, rolling your foot smoothly through the step until you push off at the ball of the foot.

    • 5

      Take another step with the opposite foot and simultaneously move the opposite arm and pole forward. As you take this step, both your arms and your legs switch positions from being in front to being in back or from being in back to being in front. Keep both arms and legs slightly bent as you walk and extend the back arm out behind you at the same time as the front arm is extending out in front of you at waist length.

    • 6

      Strike the ground with the front pole again simultaneously to the lead foot contacting the ground.

    • 7

      Stay in constant motion with your arms swinging the poles in a controlled fashion and your legs taking steps. Each time you take a step with the lead food, thrust the opposite arm holding a ski pole forward. At the same time as your lead foot and opposite arm are in front, the back foot is behind and the opposite arm is behind.