Episode 17
Today it is my pleasure to introduce to you my sister Gail Fortier, a visual artist and my partner Phil Hallford, a retired college professor in social sciences. Today they are going to talk to us about using nordic walking poles – they look kind of like ski poles.
Hi Gail what compelled you to start using the poles?
Well you spoke about them a lot and I was resistant until I had an upcoming trip to France – our retirement trip. There was going to be a lot of walking and I was afraid that I would not be able to keep up.
You had just gone to a meeting and come back with a whole bunch of nordic walking poles. I tried them and I thought “yes” I can walk with these. And I did! We got to France and we walked 20,000 steps a day. We went to Marseille and we walked up and down the Old Port and I took them on the train to Avignon and Cassis. Avignon is an old medieval city, where the Pope lived. And we went to Cassis which is a sailing port with a beach. I had no problem on the little trains and tour buses with my poles. It was just easy, easy and in fact one shop keeper said how fast I was going to my husband. And yes, when you practice and you have the straight arms boy you move!
So that was it, my trip to France and I have not stopped using them since then.
And you said they gave you special attention there because you had your poles..
They did in Marseilles which is very connected to the sea. It is very open and bright. And the people are open, bright, and cheerful. They would see me with my poles, tried after walking and they would offer me a chair, and ask me if I was ok, and help me out. But in Avignon, a very tall dark city, windy paths, like in a maze…I went into a place there and they wanted to know if I was going to hit the paintings with my poles…haha ..so you get both reactions.
Gai What difference do the walking poles make for you?
The main difference is that I have arthritis and I am heavy ..at least I was.. heavier than I am now…and (without the poles) pushing off with my feet would hurt and my hips would hurt after a short time. And this did not happened with the poles. But I did have sturdy walking shoes, but once you have those, it was a breeze to walk. It was like taking 15 years off your age…it just made you walk like a younger person.
When you get walking, you just swing your arms naturally, and it is just a natural walking movement. Yes, I don’t think I would walk without them now…for a long walk.
Because the arthritis is in my back too and I have trouble standing still and straight for a long time. With the pandemic, when I have to get my blood tested, I have to wait in line for a long time. So I would take just one pole with me and support myself while standing in line. Nobody noticed that anything was unusual and I was able to stand a long time and not get the tremors that I usually get when standing still for a long time.
Gail what are your simple tips for listeners
Thank you Gail, Any final tips to our listeners? Yes, I would say that when I learned I was very rigid about keeping my arms straight and that really does help you to move quickly. But sometimes you just want to move around more slowly, and I found that a soft curve in your arm, was better.
In the winter, take the boots off the bottom of the poles, and then there is this tiny little pick at the bottom that is not sharp, but it digs into the ice.. as long as you have got the curve in your arm.
We walk everyday in the park and there is some up and down and you have to get out of ditches, and it gets slippery. Even in the last couple of days, I thought opps, it’s time to take off those boots. For me it was a big deal to learn how to take off those boots, because they are rubber and they can slip on the ice.
Thank you Gail, so how do you feel when you are using the poles?
They are so natural. They just feel like an extension of my body. I don’t really even think of them anymore. I think of them if I don’t have them. I think “what’s wrong/what is missing?” And then I remember that I left the poles in the back of the car. My husband is very protective of my poles and does not like to walk with me without the poles because I can really move with them.
People can use any type of poles, but you and I use the Urban Poles with a lip on the handle.
Yes it has a little build out that supports your hand while you walk. Then you don’t have to grip the pole. So your hand doesn’t get tired. So that is very nice.
And regarding the height of the poles. The ones I have (The Activator Poles) are easy to adjust the height. The height should be with your arm hanging at your side and bent at a 90 degree angle. Then your hand just naturally falls into the handle.
When I am adjusting my poles, there is a really good locking system. If I have to undo it, and pack them in my back pack (sticking out the end though), it is very easy to get back. I know I am on number 8.
It has been wonderful. Thank you Verla.
Let’s go over to Phil now. I will ask you the same questions.
Well as you know in my retirement, I like to think that I have become an avid cross country skier. I want to keep developing my skills and I enjoy it a lot. So that is how I entered into the idea of poling. I wanted to do something in the skiing off season that would develop my skill when it came to cross country skiing. So I did a lot of research on the internet on nordic poling. I watched you tube videos from Norway and Scandinavian countries where poling is really popular. They would actually use a cross country ski type step with their poles along actual ski trails in the off season, in the summer time. So that is what got me interested in nordic poling.
I think you introduced me to the idea of walking poles. You were an early adopter.
I remember when we were first talking about poles… some people think that poles are just exclusively for people who need assistance with walking.. which is a legitimate thing…but there is a whole other aspect about poling that I kind of like to let people know about. It is a fitness activity, that you can work at an develop a higher level of fitness with the poles.
What difference do the poles make for you Phil?
Well Gail said something that tweequed with me a bit.. I love to go on long hikes in the woods around my neighborhood and around your neighborhood as well, that are interesting an fun as well. So that I notice that after about 45 minutes, you are starting to get a little tired, and maybe are going a little slower … the poles help you to stay upright and keep your posture straight. The poles keep your walking pace. These are benefits that I had not anticipated.
Do you have any tips for our listeners Phil?
Yes, I have s couple of tips. The first one is about encouraging people just to use the poles and not to feel awkward when you are out there. Give this a real shot. At first you might be the only person out there on the trail that is using the poles. One thing I have noticed is that more an more people are taking up this hobby. So the first tip is to go for it and don’t worry about it.
The second tip in terms of actually using the poles, and Gail mentioned this as well, you can use the poles as strongly and as vigorously as you want. Or as gently as you want. So don’t think that you have to do it in a certain way. Find out what you are comfortable with and what is natural for you.
There is one technical aspect that is: If you want to do as the experts say, you should be locking your elbows, push off with the pole and your arm goes down by your side. You get a real push out of the poles that way. You will be surprised how fast you can go.
Yes and I tell people to keep their hands low and then hands to hip level.
Yes hand to hip.
Phil is there anything that I did not ask you that you wish I would have?
I guess the thing to remember is that poles are a lot of fun. Remember if you want to take a break from the poles, you can just carry them with you. And most of the poles that are available now are super light. Lots of fun!
Gail any last thoughts?
Paul (my husband) and I mentioned today that we have been going to the park every morning without fail. It has been a year. Over the year I have seen more and more people using poles. And it is nice. At first they were not sure of themselves and then everybody is watching each other and everybody is just doing it so well now. It is just nice to see and I feel part of it all.
Listeners if you are interested in buying Urban Pole brand specifically please email me – my email is on my website treesmendus.com for my 10% discount. Please check out my book Take Back Your Outside Mindset: Live Longer, Prevent Dementia, and Control Your Chronic Illness and go to my website Treesmendus.com for more free resources and transcription notes of this podcast episode. To support this show please subscribe, rate, and review this podcast.
So listeners thank you for listening to end, as Gail and Phil say, think about adding nordic walking poles into your outside time. You can do this for lots of reasons: having more stability, getting fit for cross country skiing, to stand up taller, put less pressure on your joints like your knees and hips, you will burn more calories, move faster, to feel safer and more secure.
So next time you go outside notice if you think nordic walking poles might help you. — that is a good thing, because if you ask me – we all need a little more of Your Outside Mindset.
