A former NHS worker is on a mission to get Thanet folk fit through Nordic walking.
Candice Hendel quit her job as a therapy practitioner with the NHS in London to move to Broadstairs in January.
Now the 45 year old wants to share her knowledge of rehabilitation, exercise and health by setting up the walking groups.
Nordic walking was developed by cross-country skiers, who needed to keep fit out of season. It involves walking with poles and provides an “all-over body” workout as it uses muscles in the upper body as well as the lower body.
Candice, who has been in the UK for 20 years after moving from South Africa, felt it was time to get out of the City and was attracted to Thanet due to the extensive coastline.
She said: “Thanet is a prime location for Nordic walking with all the beaches.
“It was quite daunting to give up a really good job but I wanted a fresh start for a fresh year and I really love the coastline here.
“I want to help people learn about exercise and Nordic walking does not exclude anyone. Everyone can do it, pregnant women, the young, elderly, the super fit and people with different health ailments. It is good for those who want to exercise but don’t want to go to a gym.
“You get a full body work out, top to toe, and it improves posture, stresses and strains and the joints.”
Candice took up the exercise in 2003 following a motorbike accident.
She said: “I had rehabilitation after the motorbike accident and had to learn to walk again. I used the exercise to make myself strong again and to take the stress off my joints. In 2007 I started teaching it. Everything is monitored and regulated, and I have a background in the NHS, sports and rehabilitation therapy and stroke therapy.”
Candice is hoping to launch the walks late March/early April and will be offering free 45 minute taster sessions followed by the option to book a four week course.
To find out more call 075 429 55052 or email her at [email protected]
Find out more at the Nordic Walking UK website here
The benefits of Nordic Walking
- Uses 90% of your body muscle mass
- Is great for weight loss because of a 46% calorie consumption increase.
- Significantly reduces pain and muscle tension in the neck and shoulder region by strengthening the large muscles of the back that pull down the shoulder blades.
- Increases your heart rate by 10-15% more than normal walking.
- Is a highly effective cardio-vascular workout and results in better blood circulation.
- Strengthens your upper body in a way walking or cycling simply cannot do.
- Reduces load on knees and other joints
- Rotates the spine, strengthens the spinal discs and reduces the incidence of back pain.
- Is a stress reduction/management tool.
- Strengthens the immune system.
- Is a safe, low impact exercise for people suffering from injuries or conditions that normally exclude them from the high effort activities needed achieve proper rehabilitation or reduce discomfort and pain. (i.e. it satisfies the needs of the 70-year old arthritic person and the out of season Olympic skier).
- Bone density is increased through the resistance training, and posture improved.
- Is backed by clinical and anecdotal reports of benefits for a range of conditions, including arthritis, back pain, cardiac syndromes, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, obesity, osteoporosis, repetitive stress injury, thoracic outlet syndrome and depression
- Alleviates mood disorders
