Ross-on-Wye’s first ever Nordic Walking classes

If you’ve ever heard of Nordic Walking and wondered what it’s all about, Ross-on-Wye is launching its first ever classes starting on Monday 7th June so you still have time to join if you’re quick – and better still, they’re free!

The Ross-on-Wye Community Development Trust recently launched its social prescribing project, Clover, following a grant from the National Academy of Social Prescribing to provide outdoor and wellbeing activities for people living in the HR9 area with a focus on mental and physical health. So if you want to get fit for the summer and try something new, Clover’s official Nordic Walking partner, ignite CIC, currently has two series’ of Led Nordic Walks on offer, with local qualified instructor, Amanda Lewis, meeting weekly in Ross-on-Wye.

Nordic Walking is an excellent physical workout for the whole body and if done correctly, it uses 90% of your muscles, building core strength, improving cardio performance, burning nearly the same calories as running and helping arthritic joints and posture. This unique exercise is really popular in Europe and was started in the 1930s by the Finnish cross-country skiing team as a way to keep fit in summer. Its popularity as a recreational sport has gradually grown since the 1980s and more than 10 million people now practise it globally. Interest in Nordic Walking across the UK gradually increased in the early 2000s and British Nordic Walking (BNW) estimates there are about 40,000 participants (up 20% in the last five years), seeing a particular interest after the first lockdown in 2020.

Ignite’s Nordic Walking sessions in Hereford have proven incredibly popular – all courses are currently completely sold out with a huge waiting list, so this is an excellent opportunity to try this out for free.

Starting on Monday 7^th June in Ross-on-Wye, there will be six initial sessions on Mondays between 11am and 12pm to introduce the basic Nordic Walking technique. After a short break on 19th July, there will be a further five led walks, from 11am to 12pm every Monday and then from 1.15pm-2.15pm on 16^th and 19^th August with a final session on 23^rdAugust.

Classes are selling out fast so if you would like to book your place, please visit www.clover-hr9.org.uk where you will also find details of other Clover activities, including Wellbeing in Nature, Mindfulness Weaving, Adult Literacy and The Friday Lunch Club.