A Hölkkä training vest can boost your exercises by up to 60% - is this a new form of Nordic walking?

There are many health benefits to walking, regardless of whether you walk for recreation or physical fitness. Walking the same routes over and over again can get a bit boring, and you may also think of ways to make the most of your walking time. The good news is that there are many ways to make this daily dose of physical activity more enjoyable and even more effective.

An alternative to Nordic walking that also gives you a full body workout

Nordic walking is becoming increasingly popular due to its cardio and strength-training benefits. Walking with the poles gets the heart rate up while also activating the upper body, making it a full body exercise. It is also often considered ideal for people with joint problems. But now we have a new Finnish innovation in the market, the Hölkkä training vest, that can boost your exercise efficiency by up to 60 %!

Similar to Nordic walking, Hölkkä training vest is suitable for all levels of fitness - from beginners to experts

While Nordic walking is simply walking with poles, the Hölkkä training vest consists of a posture-supporting vest, elbow straps, and elastic resistance bands, which resist arm movements when walking or running. Hölkkä training vest fits comfortably and leave your hands free. A resistance bands can easily be snapped off in a few seconds if necessary. Additionally, the vest can be used to correct posture during daily activities. Next, we'll look at some benefits of Nordic walking and exercising with the Hölkkä training vest.

Nordic walking has been extensively researched for its health benefits. According to Dr. Aaron Baggish, who reviewed Nordic Walking in Harvard Health Publishing, walking normally engages only the lower half of the body, but Nordic walking engages 80 percent to 90 percent, providing significant calorie-burning benefits. Some studies even suggest Nordic walking burns up to 67 percent more calories than normal walking.

The Hölkkä training vest also offers a full body workout. In a study conducted by Varala Sports Institute in 9/2019, it was found that wearing the Hölkkä training vest increased the strain on upper body muscles during walking, jogging, and running as well as increased muscle activity in the lower limbs. Exercise with the Hölkkä training vest increased muscle activity of the transverse abdominal muscles by 40 % when walking and 64,7 % when running compared to exercising without it. With the vest on, anterior deltoids' muscle activity was 37,5 % higher when walking and 9,8 % higher when jogging. Wearing the Hölkkä training vest also relieves pain in joints of the arms, neck, and shoulders.

Those Nordic walkers with joint pain in the hands, neck, or shoulders from the impact of the pole on the ground may also find Hölkkä vests helpful. During the exercise, the resistance rubber bands of the training vest are flexible and follow the natural movement of the hands, preventing shocks to the upper body.

The benefits of Hölkkä training vest:

• Fitness enthusiasts and beginners alike can benefit from it
• Enhances upper body strength and efficiency when walking, jogging, or running
• Due to the vest's hands-free design, you can easily go e.g. shopping between walks since you don't have to carry anything. In addition, the resistance bands can be removed from the vest in a few seconds if needed. 
• The vest only can be used to relieve tension in the neck and shoulders 
• Increases oxygen and energy consumption

As the official reseller of Hölkkä training vests, Nordic Innovation Shop is delighted to provide additional information.

Learn more about the product:

Hölkkä training vest (Nordic Innovation Shop)

Contact information:

Satu Niskanen, Chairman of the Board, Nordic Innovation Shop, [email protected]

Stella Forsskåhl, CEO, Nordic Innovation Shop, [email protected]

Hölkkä training vest's official site: https://www.holkka.fi/en/