• Nordic poles are available at such outdoor stores as REI, but can often be found at such discount retailers as Target, as well.
• Let your arms and legs follow their natural rhythm, with opposite arm and legs moving together, said Wendy Bumgardner, a Vancouver resident who writes about walking on About.com. You can start by dragging the poles behind you, she said. When you start moving the poles, they should remain diagonal. Do not plant them farther forward than the opposite foot.
• Do not lean forward, keep your spine upright and your feet underneath you, said Gregory Florez, a spokesman for the American Council on Exercise. Don’t take unusually short or long steps. As you progress, you’ll be able to take longer strides and make longer arm movements, which will increase the intensity of your workout, he said.
• “You don’t want the swing to come from your arms, but from your shoulders, back muscles and core muscles,” Florez added.