YORKTON — Two local Yorkton women, Anne Stupak and Karen Ransome, have become certified urban pole walking instructors.
After approaching the Yorkton Rec Department inquiring about walking clubs that had been initiated in the past, it was recommended to Stupak to partner with Parkland Valley Sports Culture and Recreation to implement a program to attract walking enthusiasts.
Doing some research into nordic walking and the benefits gained from walking with poles, Stupak found Urban Poling Inc. a Canadian women owned company and currently Canada's largest nordic walking pole manufacturer and distributor. Established in 2005, Urban Poling Inc has introduced five editions of poles as well as instructor certification programs.
Teaming up with Ransome, Stupak sought funding from the Parkland Valley Sports Culture and Recreation Department.
Once the two women received their certification in Urban Poling the poles were ordered and clinics were advertised and conducted.
May 11 2022 the Urban Poling Club Yorkton hosted its first walking clinic in the Flexihall at the Gallagher Centre preventing any delays due to the weather.
Registrations filled quickly and class was limited to 10 individuals.
The Instructors showed participants how to adjust the pole to reach the correct height to use while poling. The walkers were encouraged to start with dragging their poles behind them in a very natural way, swinging their arms in a relaxed motion. Then step longer and higher arm swing into a hand shake position. Then once the motion becomes familiar the walker begins planting the pole tips to the ground with a press on the outside edge of the hand onto the ledge of the handles each time the boot tip lands.
Each person was filmed walking at the beginning of the clinic and then again at the finish. It was apparent that most walkers were walking in a more upright posture, striding longer and with more confidence. Some won't master the technique in their first time trying it, but with practice, walkers will feel more comfortable and competent.
Nordic walking uses almost every muscle in the body and burns up to 20 per cent more calories than standard walking. So, yes the walkers were warmed up and feeling those upper body muscles that usually don't get used when simply taking a walk.
Walking with poles offers many benefits, from speeding up weight loss and improving posture, it naturally aligns your spine and strengthens your core. It's low-stress and low- impact.
The poles help to distribute weight and lessen the load with which we hit the ground, making a big difference for those with back, hip, knee, ankle or feet problems. This full body workout just needs a good pair of walking shoes and the Urban Walking poles which are available to purchase at the clinic.
Registrations for the Urban Pole Walking Clinics are taken by the Gallagher Centre by calling 306-786-1740 or visit the website. Only eight spots per session and poles are provided. Two sessions every Wednesday, with a 1-2:30 clinic and evenings at 7-8;30. Cost per person is $15.00 at the time of registration.
All urban poling clinics are held inside the Flexihall Walking track, preventing any cancellations due to weather issues or concerns about terrain.
Pole walking has certainly sparked the interest in the people who would regularly walk, this just steps it up a notch by using the upper body as well as the legs. Walking with poles for 30 minutes is like regular walking for 50 minutes.
The Club hopes to attract pole walkers in all categories from the relaxed leisure walker to the more focused athletic walker and in between.
The health and wellness benefits of just gathering together as like-minded individuals to get outdoors and walk is immeasurable.
Contact the group by e-mail or text 306-621-8926 to reach Anne Stupak or 306-621-3506 to reach Karen Ransome for more information or to purchase poles.
