Fresh Air Nordic Walking

http://www.freshairnordicwalking.com

We offer nordic walking instruction, guiding, social walks and country hikes in and around Bedfordshire, Bucks and Northants borders. A little about why .....For me, it's not about being the best. It's not about being the strongest or the fastest either. It's about being a little bit better than I was before.

My name is Michelle Chalkley.

I don't mind admitting it, I was never into fitness in my younger years and I have never really been an active participator in any sport.

I never liked gyms either. They never kept me engaged for any sufficient period of time, so I didn't go very often and as a result they were a very expensive way of trying to convince myself that I 'kept fit'. But they were a good creche!

I've been fortunate in that I have generally been able to maintain a reasonable weight. But that's it. I've naturally assumed that because I've not been particularly overweight it follows that I am 'fit' and 'healthy'. But as I have got closer to one of those 'age milestones' I have become increasingly aware that I probably shouldn't leave it to chance.

I can probably thank my husband for my fitness 'awakening'. He's always struggled with his weight - long working hours, stressful job, bad eating habits and so on. And he had an expensive gym membership too! But because he wasn't addressing his health or fitness through any meaningful exercise i never felt the compulsion to exercise either.

Anyway, over the past decade or so, he has made much more of a conscious effort to do something about it. He's still a long way away from those weight loss success stories you see on the telly but he has made important steps to increase his overall fitness. A key one was buying a bike. And having completed a number of cycling challenges I do admit to having felt a little like a bike widow! And so I joined him and it was a revelation! And from there it has extended to country walking, hiking, skiing (now a family obsession) and even scrambling up mountains. Pastimes which, ten years ago, I would have never have seen myself doing.

What I have come to realise is that all we need to do is get out in the fresh air. It's right outside the front door.

Believe me, I am not evangelical about health and fitness and there will be plenty of people out there, professionals and amateurs alike, who will always be much fitter than I am. For me, it's not about being the best. It's not about being the strongest or the fastest either. It's about being a little bit better than you were before.

And it's also about being social and having fun at the same time. Anyone that knows me will say that I like people and Iike Community, a lot. I set up a social cycling group for like-minded women in the local area a few years ago; we go out for a cycle, we chat along the way and we have a cuppa (and if we feel we've earned it, a piece of cake) at the end. I expect few of them see it as part of their exercise routine (if they have one) and for me that is the key - it shouldn't feel like exercise. And if it doesn't then the chances are you will do it for longer and more often.

And that's why I decided to set up Fresh Air Nordic Walking. My wish is quite simple:-

to enjoy the outside doing something which is going to be good for health and mind;

to help you feel just a little better than you felt before;

to make new connections and build new friendships. To have a sense of fun and companionship along the way.

If you are interested in learning more, please do not hesitate to contact me or, better still, why not sign up for a free taster session. What have you got to lose?