My Experience of Becoming a British Nordic Walking Instructor
For me, becoming a British Nordic Walking Instructor has been about so much more than learning how to use a pair of poles.
It has opened the door to meeting wonderful people, exploring our beautiful countryside and, most importantly, helping others discover that exercise really can be enjoyable, no matter where you are starting from on your physical journey.
How it all began
I discovered Nordic Walking at the age of 45.
At the time, I was coming from a place of physical fatigue and burnout after years of working in very physical jobs and spending long periods committed to fitness.
Eventually, I hit a wall, and I felt stuck there for a very long time.
I tried fitness classes, yoga and running, but somehow none of them were quite hitting the spot.
Then came a Google search.
A few hours down a rabbit hole later, Nordic Walking popped up.
And that was the beginning of what has become a wonderful journey.
I completed my initial beginners' Nordic Walking training. From that point, my personal development of the technique, and my love for Nordic Walking, really began.
After about a year of Nordic Walking, I started to feel that I needed to tell everyone about it!
I had discovered this wonderful, all-over-body workout that offered so much more than physical benefits.
There were mental benefits too. Getting outdoors, having time to think, meeting people, building confidence and simply feeling better.
I wanted other people to experience that too.
Taking the next step: becoming an instructor
I attended the British Nordic Walking Instructor Course, and I found it to be such a well-rounded and comprehensive course.
It covered the technique, how to teach it safely and effectively, and how to work with people of different ages, abilities and fitness levels.
But it wasn't just about teaching Nordic Walking.
The course also covered:
- How to build and develop your Nordic Walking business
- The history of Nordic Walking
- How the activity has grown globally through the INWA community
The training gave me much more than a qualification.
It gave me the confidence to stand in front of a group and explain, demonstrate, encourage and adapt.
You learn how the movement works, how to use the poles correctly and how small changes in technique can make a huge difference.
I also found the literature and resources provided incredibly useful.
Having something to take home, refer back to and use as a clear list of the things I needed to do to take those first steps was invaluable.
And the support doesn't stop when you finish the course.
The continued support from British Nordic Walking and the instructor who trained you is something I have really valued.
Whether it's a question by phone or email, the instructors' Facebook group or opportunities for further personal development, there is always support there when you need it.
Building my Nordic Walking business
I built my business slowly over the first two years, and I started small.
I began with multiple beginner sessions, working on building numbers and getting people through the door.
Initially, I had one regular session a week.
Today, I run nine sessions a week.
That growth has been incredibly rewarding, but it hasn't happened overnight.
It has been a process of learning, adapting, listening to what people want and, most importantly, continuing to learn myself.
Because for me, becoming an instructor was never going to be the end of the journey.
It was the beginning.
Continuing my development: Children and Teens
When British Nordic Walking introduced the Children and Teens course, I knew I wanted to take it.
My calling to share Nordic Walking is still very much alive.
For me, it has never been limited to adults, or to adults who are already at a certain level of fitness.
I believe movement should be accessible to everyone.
So continuing my personal development and learning how to share Nordic Walking with children and young people felt like a really important next step.
And once again, the teaching and course content were outstanding.
It was particularly special for me because Katie Atkins, who had taught me all those years ago, had gone on to develop and deliver this course.
Her years of experience as a PE teacher in schools, alongside creating and developing fantastic children's and teens' Nordic Walking sessions in Bristol, really shine through.
Nordic Walking for children and young people
Teaching children and teens the same Nordic Walking technique that British Nordic Walking is so highly regarded for is incredibly rewarding.
The way it is taught is adapted so young people can understand it, engage with it and work through it at their own pace.
Nordic Walking can offer so much more than physical activity.
For children and young people, it can help develop:
- Physical awareness and body confidence
- Motor skills and coordination
- Balance and stability
- Confidence and self-belief
- Emotional regulation
- Decision-making
- Independence
- Communication and vocabulary
- Teamwork and cooperation
And perhaps most importantly, it can take some of the pressure away from winning and losing.
Instead, we can focus on growth, participation, teamwork and learning to work independently.
There is something really special about seeing a young person discover that they can do something they didn't think they could.
Today, I teach children and teens in Brownies, Guides and Scout groups, and I am working towards regular school sessions.
It's not about being the fittest person in the room
One of the biggest misconceptions about becoming a Nordic Walking instructor is that you need to be an incredibly fit or sporty person.
You don't.
You need enthusiasm, a willingness to learn and a genuine interest in helping other people.
As an instructor, your role isn't to be the fastest person in the group.
It's to help people find their rhythm, their confidence and their reason for walking.
One session might be a brisk fitness walk.
Another might be a gentle, confidence-building session.
You might be teaching complete beginners or incorporating balance, strength and coordination exercises.
You learn to meet people where they are.
And that flexibility is one of the things that makes Nordic Walking such a rewarding activity to teach.
From instructor to community builder
Once you start running sessions, you quickly realise that Nordic Walking is about community just as much as exercise.
The conversations, laughter, encouragement and friendships that develop along the way become just as important as the walking itself.
I've seen how a simple walk can bring people together.
Someone might arrive at their first session not knowing anyone.
A few weeks later, they're part of a friendly group, chatting away, laughing and looking forward to the next walk.
That's one of the reasons I love teaching Nordic Walking.
We're not just counting steps.
We're getting outside, exploring our local area, moving our bodies and spending time with other people.
The joy of seeing people progress
For me, some of the best moments aren't necessarily the big achievements.
They're the little ones.
Someone tackling a hill they previously avoided.
Someone improving their balance.
Someone discovering they can walk further than they thought.
Someone finding their confidence again.
Someone arriving at a session having had a difficult week and leaving with a smile on their face.
Those moments remind me why I became an instructor in the first place.
Why I keep doing it
My journey as a British Nordic Walking Instructor is very much still continuing.
For me, it's about continued development and being able to offer the enjoyment of walking with two poles, using the correct technique, to anyone and everyone.
It's about finding as many different ways as possible to teach and share Nordic Walking with:
- Adults
- Older people
- Children
- Teenagers
- Complete beginners
- People who may not see themselves as "sporty" at all
I truly believe that movement should be accessible, affordable, social and enjoyable.
There is something incredibly rewarding about watching someone arrive at their first session feeling unsure and, over time, seeing their confidence grow.
Being an instructor isn't just about teaching technique.
It's about encouraging people, adapting sessions, creating a welcoming environment and helping people discover what their bodies are capable of.
Every person who comes along has a different reason for walking.
Some want to improve their fitness.
Some want to get outdoors more.
Some want to regain confidence in their body.
Others simply want company, fresh air and a reason to get moving.
And that's where Nordic Walking can be so special.
Could becoming a Nordic Walking Instructor be for you?
If you love being outdoors, enjoy meeting people and would like to help others become more active, becoming a British Nordic Walking Instructor could be an incredibly rewarding path.
You don't have to have all the answers before you begin.
You simply need to take the first step.
For me, becoming an instructor has created opportunities I never expected.
These have included leading regular community walks, developing sessions for different ages and abilities, exploring new routes, meeting incredible people and building a community around something as simple and powerful as walking.
I started Nordic Walking because I was looking for something that could help me move forward when I felt physically and mentally stuck.
I became an instructor because I wanted to share what I had found.
And I'm still sharing it.
Because perhaps that's the greatest thing about Nordic Walking.
It's not really about the poles.
It's about where those two poles can take you.
Would You Like to Become a Nordic Walking Instructor?
If you love Nordic walking and would like to help others enjoy its many benefits, why not take the next step and become a qualified Nordic Walking Instructor?
British Nordic Walking offers internationally recognised instructor training through the International Nordic Walking Federation (INWA). You’ll learn how to teach the INWA 10 Step Method™ and lead safe, effective and enjoyable Nordic walking sessions. No previous teaching experience is required.
Whether you’re considering a new career, looking for flexible additional income or simply want to help more people become active outdoors, British Nordic Walking will support you throughout your training and beyond.
Find Out More
British Nordic Walking
Website: www.britishnordicwalking.org.uk
Instructor training: Become a Nordic Walking Instructor
Email: info@britishnordicwalking.org.uk
Take your passion for Nordic walking further—and inspire others to discover where their poles can take them