Due to a lack of instructors, Nordic walking sessions are suspended on Friday and Saturday afternoons from July 12 to August 31 inclusive. They will resume on Friday, September 6.

For those who want to get started with Nordic walking or practice the correct movements at a gentler pace, sessions are scheduled on Friday mornings from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM. Contact Juliette JOHO at 06 83 34 45 56 or juliette.joho@gmail.com.

Each session lasts about two hours, with warm-up exercises at the beginning and stretches at the end. For non-members of the Vosgien Club, a participation fee of €3 is requested for insurance.

Nordic walking originated in Finland, where cross-country skiers used to train in the summer by walking with ski poles. Walking with poles engages the arms and all body muscles: biceps, triceps, abdominals, pectorals, shoulders, neck, as well as the glutes, thighs, and calves. It improves respiratory capacity and contributes to weight loss. Since it does not generate shocks on the joints like running (especially on pavement), it protects the knees and ankles while strengthening bones and preventing osteoporosis. The only contraindications would be arthritis or tendonitis.

Nordic walking is particularly suitable for people in their forties or fifties who do not engage in sports but are hesitant to resume physical activity, as it allows for a gradual return to a healthier lifestyle and improved respiratory capacity. Recent studies have even shown that regular physical activity is beneficial for people with cancer.