Practising a Bounding Stride

Nordic Walking Exercises: Practicing a bounding stride

In this video, you'll learn how to do a bounding stride

The main idea is to lengthen your stride whilst placing more pressure on the poles and using your calves to propel yourself forward

You can practise the bounding stride for enjoyment, to travel faster or to raise your heart rate and give your upper body a workout

Here's how to do it in four steps: gaining speed, planting the poles into the ground, thrusting with your calves and thrusting with your arms

Firstly, gaining speed

Start by doing a few running steps at a moderate speed

Bend your arms to stop the poles touching the ground

Secondly, sticking the poles into the ground

Whilst continuing your running steps, increase the range of motion in your arms so that the poles contact the ground.

Thirdly, calf thrusts

Now, push off with your calves so that you're making small, explosive jumps from one foot to another

The more powerful the thrusts, the higher your jump and the longer your stride

Fourthly, arm thrusts

Now make use of the support of your poles to propel yourself even further and gain speed

Don't forget to maintain a wide range of motion in your arms by letting go of the handles of your poles

This exercise is great fun and feels good. Now you know how to do it, have fun with it!