POLES for Hiking on Mt. Tam March 21, 2009

People think hiking pole use is intuitive – it’s not, there’s much to learn to achieve optimal benefit from your poles.

Hiking poles (also known as trekking poles or walking sticks) are becoming increasingly popular as hikers and walkers are discovering their many positive benefits. Used correctly, you’ll achieve optimal use. In this seminar, you’ll learn to:
· Reduce knee stress on downhill
· Achieve more power on uphill
· Improve performance & stability on all terrain
· Avoid hand/wrist/elbow/shoulder strain - convert energy into an upper body/core workout
· Recruit more muscles while walking, which facilitates fat-burning and weight loss
· Improve posture, prevent injury, avoid common mistakes, efficiently adjust pole length, pole care, equipment discussion and more

Multi-level training & drills appropriate for ALL levels – hikers, trekkers, walkers & people with balance issues. Easy pace, plenty of opportunities to practice using poles on a variety of terrain, or rest and watch. You’ll also learn many tips that will enable you to expand your hiking horizons and more safely & completely enjoy your outdoor experiences! Top quality poles provided. Discover the many benefits of "an extra pair of legs" !

This location is ideal because we have so many types of terrain within a very short distance.
Morning:
• Intro, discussion of your goal(s) and issue(s)
• Benefits of using poles
• Equipment Basics
• Straps, adjusting, baseline length
• Posture & How to use muscles vs joints
• Exercises to improve posture with poles
• Techniques for Flat Terrain & gentle slopes
• Stairs & obstacles
• Rocky Terrain with Long Foam Grips
• Bridges

Lunch with discussion of equipment types, hiking tips. We will be eating lunch near the cars, so no need to carry lots of stuff.

After lunch:
• HIKING with Steeper up and down,
• transitioning between techniques
• power walking with poles for exercise
• streams
• pole care & troubleshooting
• stretches (if time)

What to bring:
(Top quality trekking Poles & Gloves are provided)
• lunch (will be near the cars)
• Full water bottle or two.
• Sun protection: Sunscreen, Hat
• Hiking shoes or boots
• Variable weather layered clothing
• Day pack to carry water

During the seminar you will be able to try out different models if you are considering purchasing poles. Poles and gloves will be available for purchase (at a discount of course )

Note: All AdventureBuddies' seminars are 100% satisfaction guaranteed! To sign up, visit the website or send an email to:
Seminar (at) AdventureBuddies.NET

Official Website: http://www.PolesForMobility.com