How I Became a Nordic Walking Instructor with British Nordic Walking.
Nordic Walking is my third career, and the one that finally felt right.
I started out in pharmaceutical manufacturing and IT at Boots HQ. A voluntary redundancy gave me the chance to travel and rethink my direction, leading me towards something far more fulfilling.
Looking back, the signs were always there. At Boots, I loved running with colleagues, setting up a 5-a-side football league, and leading sponsored walks. I realised I wanted a career centred around exercise as medicine, helping people feel better, move more, and improve their health.
During my sabbatical, I retrained as a personal trainer and discovered Nordic Walking. I chose to work outdoors with people rather than in a gym. Nordic Walking felt accessible, social, and genuinely effective from the start.
Building a Career in Nordic Walking
Over the past 20 years, I’ve run three weekly Nordic Walking classes in and around Nottingham. Alongside this, I’ve delivered ad hoc Nordic Walking sessions for schools, workplaces, and national health initiatives.
During that time, I’ve taught many people how to Nordic Walk, and in return, I’ve learned a great deal from them. One of the best parts of being a Nordic Walking instructor is the people you meet. Every group brings different personalities, stories, experiences, and perspectives. There has also been plenty of coffee and cake along the way.
Some of my highlights include:
• Starting my instructor career with three years working on the QMC hospital staff wellbeing project
• Gaining permission for Nordic Walking at parkrun in 2011
• Introducing Nordic Walking to senior public health professionals
• Recording a Nordic Walk for BBC Radio 4 with Clare Balding and my Nordic Ninjas, a group of young adults with learning disabilities
• Entering races alongside fellow Nordic Walkers, including the World Nordic Walking Championships in Finland and the Robin Hood Half Marathon
Why Nordic Walking Works
Nordic Walking is about far more than walking with poles.
It brings people together, improves physical and mental well-being, builds confidence, and helps people develop healthy habits that last. Nordic Walking is suitable for a wide range of ages and abilities, making it one of the most inclusive forms of outdoor exercise.
As a Nordic Walking instructor, you become part of that journey.
Over the years, I’ve loved building friendships, creating communities, and helping people feel stronger, healthier, and more active through Nordic Walking classes and guided walks.
Still Loving It 20 Years On
Recently, we celebrated 20 years of Nordic Walking in Nottingham and Heanor with a series of themed classes, including Dress to Impress, 1920s-inspired sessions, and Finnish culture celebrations.
It perfectly reflected what Nordic Walking has become for so many people: fun, social, inclusive, and occasionally a little bit quirky.
Why I Became a British Nordic Walking Instructor
I finally found, in my 30s, a career I could truly feel passionate about.
It’s worked out financially. It’s taken hard work, commitment, and plenty of energy, but it’s also brought a huge amount of enjoyment. Perhaps best of all, it’s a career that keeps me active and engaged as I get older.
If you’re looking for a flexible career in health and fitness, becoming a Nordic Walking instructor could be the perfect fit.
Through British Nordic Walking instructor training, you can learn how to teach safe, effective Nordic Walking using the internationally recognised INWA 10 Step Method™.
A career in Nordic Walking combines:
• Purpose
• Flexibility
• Community
• Outdoor exercise
• The opportunity to improve people’s health and wellbeing
Interested in Becoming a Nordic Walking Instructor?
British Nordic Walking is the UK’s only provider licensed by the International Nordic Walking Federation (INWA) to deliver instructor training using the INWA 10-Step Method™.
Whether you’re looking for a complete career change, additional fitness qualifications, or a rewarding way to help others become more active, British Nordic Walking training courses can help you get started.
Find out more about Nordic Walking instructor courses, Nordic Walking training, and becoming part of the growing Nordic Walking community in the UK:
https://www.britishnordicwalking.org.uk