On May 6th, Kereen Lazurko of the Saskatchewan Health Authority dropped by the Community Gathering Place in Humboldt for a pair of sessions of urban poling. The first session at 10:30 am saw around 17 prospective polers attend, while a lighter turnout showed up for the noon hour session. 

The activity, also known as Nordic walking, is gaining popularity as a healthy pursuit on the roads, alleys, and trails around Humboldt. Many people can be seen for a stroll with the extended poles and may have assumed that these were used only for stability, but that is not completely the case. 

Lazurko is a recreation therapist who sees many benefits in the activity, "Urban poling combines the upper body technique of cross country skiing with the lower body technique of simply walking. If you are walking, you are using only 50-60 percent of the muscles in your body, but if you add in the poles, you are using around 90 percent of your body's muscles. You get a much better work out."

Not only does this recreational form of walking work to increase the heart rate and lung capacity, but it also burns more calories than conventional walking. It also takes the pressure off lower body joints and your back thus reducing some joint pain associated with walking. 

Because they are perceived as more of a fitness tool, Lazurko explains that more people are inclined to use them if they have issues with stability or balance as opposed to a conventional walking aid. "Because the poles can be used by anyone at any age, they become more of a fitness thing, and people become less reluctant."

The other residual benefit is that poling simply gets people up and out. As Lazurko points out, "Sitting for extended periods of time is just as bad for your health as smoking. So you want to keep moving. Walking poles are available at many sporting goods outlets and pharmacies.