Nordic Walking a new fitness craze

Classes are available to learn Nordic Walking. COURTESY PHOTO Lindy Smith, a trained professional Nordic Walking instructor, is gearing up to launch a series of Nordic Walking classes to fit almost anyone’s fitness needs.

Nordic Walking is the art of walking using fitness poles, sometimes referred to as ski walking. With a pair of walking poles in your hands, a basic stroll becomes a surprisingly easy, fullbody workout. There are many benefits of Nordic Walking. It builds upper body strength, burns more calories than an average walk without poles, reduces stress to knees and lower back, and improves posture.

As with any sport or activity, it is best to learn from a trained professional the proper way to perform an activity prior to making it a part of your daily routine.

Lee County Parks & Recreation offers a variety of Nordic Walking classes taught by Lindy Smith. Classes will meet at the North Fort Myers Community Park, located behind the North Fort Myers Library at 2021 North Tamiami Trail. For details of each class, visit the calendar of events at www.leeparks.org or call 652-6002. 