But in this post, I shall break with my usual habit and talk about something fun and healthy and more importantly something that I, despite my fragile body, seem to be able to do--hopefully without making anything worse...so far, so good.
And what is this marvel of healthy movement that has not made my knee puff up, my sciatica start sending out signals down my leg, my hip freeze and/or my mid-back whimper with pain (yes, these are all things I deal with almost every day)?
Urban poling. Also known as "nordic walking".
The best way to describe urban poling is cross-country skiing without the skis or the snow, in other words, walking down the street with poles.
Here's a video to give you an idea of what urban poling is all about:
A much longer version of this video actually came with my poles. I don't want to be a salesperson for this particular brand of pole. I'm sure they're all just fine, but I'm posting the video because it shows urban poling in action.
So what would a "normal" person feel after 45 minutes or so of poling?
- your heartrate would be right up there
- you'd be sweaty
- you might be a bit out of breath
- you'd probably feel like you'd been out jogging (not that I can do that, so it's just a suspicion on my part)
My poles cost me about $100. You could probably find a used pair on Craig's List or e-bay for less. All in all, they're a pretty cheap way to get moving without getting your body totally out of joint.
I'd love to hear if anyone has tried them and what they think!