It doesn’t include an urge to take a selfie in front of a gym mirror

An interesting article found via Instapundit: A single exercise session can have positive effects on your brain.

Main points:

• “…physical activity may protect against neurodegeneration and other aging-related forms of cognitive impairment.”
• “…exercise was shown to increase levels of dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and serotonin.”
• “Dopamine helps the brain to learn and is involved in the rewarding circuits.”
• “…serotonin…relieves anxiety and depression.”
• “…a single exercise session seemed to increase levels of so-called neuromodulators. These include endogenous opioids and endocannabinoids - that is, "feel good" chemical substances that are naturally produced by the brain when we exercise. These account for the runner's high effect and exercise-induced states of euphoria.”

A good Nordic walking excursion, even around your neighborhood can create those changes. A bonus: you can socialize with a walking partner, gaining even more psychological benefit.

Nordic walking compared to cross-country skiing

An article from a few years ago compared cross-country skiing and Nordic walking. Cross-country skiers invented Nordic walking so they could keep working out when there was no snow. 

Cross-country skiing is certainly the more taxing of the 2 activities, but there are ways to increase the intensity of Nordic walking. For example, turning your Nordic walking route into a circuit with different bodyweight exercises like pushups, planks, and lunges can get your heart rate up in no time.

Cross-country skiing	Nordic walking
Exceptional cardio-vascular workout	Excellent but lower intensity
Heavy upper body involvement	Full engagement of the upper body
Less beginner-friendly; must master skiing	More beginner-friendly
Low impact but terrain may be rough	Low impact on more hospitable terrain
Higher intensity for more fat-burning	Lower intensity but upper body involvement increases fat-burning over regular walking

How to tell Nordic walking is working your upper body

Check out this video of Nordic walking instructor Malin Svensson on a local newscast a while back. At 1:38 to 2:26, she takes the walker through a series of checks to demonstrate that using poles engages the upper body. Then she explains why it works that way.

At 4:04 she explains why hiking/trekking poles won't work properly for Nordic walking.

Try it on yourself. You can use a broomstick to try it out.