From sustainability-focused mindsets and a return to simplicity to curb undue stress, to government-sanctioned free access to nature (think Allemansrätten in Sweden), which fosters symbiotic relationships with the outdoors, and overall accessibility for everyone because they are egalitarian countries. The Nordic communal goal is a focus on holistic well-being that can be sustained over the long term by every individual, from professional athletes in their prime to elders.
The latest Nordic wellness trend, however, has rather practical origins. Ever wonder how cross-country skiers train when there’s no snow? Introducing Nordic walking; not to be confused with hiking with trekking poles.
According to its governing body, the International Nordic Walking Federation (INWA), which was founded in 2000, Nordic walking is now practised in over 40 countries for health, fitness, recreation, social connection, and competitive sport. As early as the 1930s, competitive cross-country skiers used poles with running shoes for summer training. But it was physical education (PE) teacher Leena Jääskeläinen who brought the concept to the general public in 1966, making it the first documented use of ski poles outside competitive training.
“I started Nordic walking in 1998 because it is a fun, social and efficient form of physical activity,” shares Aki Karihtala, president of INWA. “It takes people back to nature.” At the time, he headed the Sports division at Finnish Sporting goods company Exel, the world’s largest cross-country ski pole manufacturer.
It was Karihtala himself, alongside his team at Exel, who coined the term Nordic walking, which has been widely adopted “regardless of age, religion and culture, because there are no boundaries,” notes Karihtala, highlighting its accessibility. In 1997, Exel designed the first Nordic Walker® poles specifically for the activity. A year later, over 500,000 Finns, in a population of roughly five million at the time, had tried Nordic walking. It’s said to be especially effective because it engages the whole body while reducing pressure on your knees with ergonomically designed poles. The federation developed its progressive INWA 10 Step Method™ to teach people the simple technique safely and effectively.
Finnish trend and branding expert Katja Presnal is a newer convert to Nordic walking. “I’ve studied trends for over 20 years,” shares Presnal. Her personal lifestyle digital platform was read by over 100,000 monthly readers and millions annually. The irony of Nordic wellness being the hottest lifestyle trend at the moment isn’t lost on Presnal, who grew up in the Turku archipelago surrounded by bays and lush forests. According to Presnal, after two decades of travelling, she stopped “preaching trends” and started “walking the walk” by purchasing a 100-year-old former dairy tucked away in the Finnish countryside for a slower, more intentional way of life surrounded by nature, lakes, and walking trails.
