Nordic walking engages the whole body in your daily stroll

Invented in Scandinavia, Nordic walking is an increasingly popular activity for seniors and nonathletes who want to maximize the benefits of a daily stroll. Participants use poles as in cross-country skiing to push off with each stride. This engages more muscle groups and results in a full-body workout. Poles also improve stability and take weight off of creaky knees and joints. Better still, studies show that Nordic walking burns more calories than just plain walking.

Interested? Any old ski poles will do in a pinch, but specially designed models work best. They have rubber tips that grab pavement and wrist straps that secure the poles to your arms so you can maintain a loose, comfortable grip on the handle. The Instructor has an adjustable-length, lightweight carbon and aluminum shaft, and each pair comes with an instructional DVD ($149.95; leki.com).

Trekking poles are heavier and sturdier than Nordic walking poles and are made for mountain hikes over rocks and roots. The Trail by Black Diamond features a durable metal tip, and the shaft telescopes down for easy storage when not in use ($79.95; bdel.com).

People who already walk for fitness might notice some fatigue in their arms as they put their upper bodies to work for the first time. Group walks, clinics and instructional classes are held in some cities, and the American Nordic Walking Association (anwa.us) provides information on proper technique and the fitness benefits of walking with poles. So grab a pair and hit the slopes -- er, streets.