It's not every year something new comes out of Finland. But Nordic walking - an exercise activity that originated among cross-country skiiers who were keen to train even when there was no snow on the ground - is rapidly catching on as one of the major mass-participation outdoor pursuits of the new millennium.
Nordic walking is simple. You walk as normal, but holding a pair of poles to give you extra support and propulsion. If you're a keen hiker or trekker, you'll find Nordic walking to be very similar to walking with hiking poles. The difference is that while hiking poles are used for support, Nordic poles are used to actually propel you forwards - effectively, you become a quadriped rather than a biped. You have four wheel drive!
The technique is not difficult, but if you're unsure or you're unused to heavy exercise you should consult an expert as well as your physician. You basically plant the poles on the ground at and angle and push against them with your arms, therefore using more of your body's muscle mass to push yourself forward. The idea is that the tips of the poles come no further forward that your lead foot as you plant a stride. The effect is to drive you forward at some speed.
Nordic walking offers a sackload of health benefits. First, it burns up to 40% more calories than regular walking. Despite some claims that it "doesn't feel any harder", you probably will work up more a sweat Nordic walking rather than regular walking, but the effort is easy to control and you don't have to push yourself too hard.
The other great health effect is that fact that Nordic walking exercises, tones and strengthens muscles in the upper body and core (lower back and stomach). If you like sports such as downhill skiing, kayaking and mountain biking, this "core stability" is really important, and Nordic walking is an easy way to develop it without having to find a snowy mountain or get in or on a boat or bike.
It's worth spending some money (around $100) on a proper pair of Nordic walking poles, if only because the glove grips they come with offer better support and comfort that the straps on regular walking poles. If you only have regular poles, they should be quite adequate to get you started before you decided to invest in an upgrade.
Get some practise in and you'll find that all the adventurous sports you enjoy on your vacation become much more enjoyable as a result of your increased levels of strength and fitness!