Duane Hicks
The Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre, United Native Friendship Centre, and Northwestern Health Unit are working together to get more people into urban poling.
The full-body exercise, which involves walking with specialized poles to give all the major muscles a workout, was the topic of a free workshop Monday evening at the library.
That workshop was led by the UNFC’s Aimee Beazley, a certified urban pole walking instructor.
Going forward, the library will be lending out poles for library users to try out.
Program director Andrea Avis noted the library wanted to help promote urban poling but realized the expense of the poles might prohibit some people from trying out the activity.
“So working together with the health unit, we are going to be able to purchase some and lend them out,” she noted.
“That way, people can gauge their interest in the new activity.
“If they are interested, they may purchase their own,” Avis said.
“But if they just want to get a feel for it, they can check the out the same as books—for three weeks at a time—take the skills they [learned] at the workshop on Monday night, take them home, and use the polls to advance their level of interest and activity.”
Avis explained the health unit will donate a few sets to the library while the library will purchase a few more.
The library soon may have six-10 sets of poles so one or more groups of urban pole walkers can go out together.
She suggested new mothers, seniors, families, or anybody else could try the poles out and walk as a group.
While the library might be more well-known for lending out books, movies, CDs, audiobooks, e-books, and e-books readers, Avis noted it’s not so unusual to lend out other types of resources.
“Other libraries have lent out fishing tackle before,” she said.
“Our library has lent out pedometers before and that was in conjunction with the health unit, as well.
“I think, because we are the experts in lending out stuff, it’s good they put the items into our hands and allow us to use our skills and facility to lend them to our patrons,” reasoned Avis.
Health unit health promoter Krista Anderson is excited about the lending program, as well.
“Programs like the urban pole loan program increase access to resources that support physical activity and a healthy lifestyle,” she remarked.
“It’s a great way for someone to try out a new activity without a financial investment,” added Anderson.
Urban poling is easy to learn—and suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels.
It involves walking with specialized poles with a rubber boot tip that absorbs vibration for walking on asphalt and propels you forward.
Urban poling can help you burn 20-46 percent more calories.
Poling involves all the major muscles, especially the core ones.
It also reduces stress to your hips, knees, and ankles while improving stability, balance, and posture.
For more information on urban pole walking, contact Beazley at 274-8541 or via e-mail at abeazley@unfc.org
