Why not enjoy the summer to discover a new sporting activity? On the sand before the beach is invaded, on a small country lane or on a mountain trail, experience the bungy pump, closer to fitness than conventional walking.

Dynamic sticks for a fun activity

Nordic walking (Sauvakävely in Finnish), inspired by the summer training of cross-country skiers to simulate the slide, was officially launched in Helsinki in 1997. Today 10 million followers in the world, including one million in France , indulge in this practice, which consists of accentuating the natural pendulum arm with the help of poles.

6 years ago, to make this activity more fun, a Swedish manufacturer has devised new sticks. "They have a pump system of 20cm that can offer a resistance of 4, 6 or 10kg depending on the model. Rubber tips for hard floors and washers to avoid sinking into the sand or snow make it easy to practice in varied terrain, "says Eric André, whose company Hydratechnic distributes exclusively in France the brand Bungy Pump of Sweden.

Walk ... and sculpt his silhouette at the same time

The gesture of the bungy pump is similar to that of Nordic walking (propulsion of the body forward and longer strides), but it promotes more coordination of upper and lower limbs.

"Once the height of the stick is set and the wrist is held in the handstrap, the right foot and the left arm are advanced first, then the left foot and the right arm, by sliding each stick behind one by one, the elbow along the body. We must never plant the stick in front of us, "explains Marion Bouzigues, a sports coach who introduces the spa guests of the Thalasso Blanco (Hendaye) on the beach. She adds: "It's a perfect discipline to tone the triceps." Quickly we find the right rhythm and walking becomes fluid.

A soft sport without risk of joint trauma

90% of the muscles are solicited . The pressure exerted on the stick makes it possible to strengthen the upper part of the body muscularly. The back is naturally placed in the right position, the backs then working simultaneously with the abdominals. This posture promotes an opening of the rib cage, thus increased oxygenation.

"The momentum, generated by the push of the stick and reinforced by the pump system, helps the practitioner to easily start the next movement, without shock on the joints," says Arja Jalkanen-Meyer, a Finnish pioneer in Nordic walking. France and trainer bungy pump.

A real fitness

" This sport-health activity mixes walking and fitness . Warm-up at the beginning of the session, then cladding exercises and pilates to gently work the deep muscles: the outings organized by the hiking clubs become fitness sessions, "adds Arja. Sports clubs and gyms use these sticks for muscle building and stretching, but also to stimulate the cardiorespiratory function and tone the silhouette. Some physiotherapists even include them in re-education sessions.

Beautiful calorie expenditure

This discipline, which has 25 000 followers in the hexagon, also seduces those who wish to lose weight. Regular training helps to eliminate a little fat without losing muscle mass.

A study by the Modo Sports Academy Institute in Ornsköldsvik reveals that at 6km per hour a walker without a stick spends between 220 and 330kcal . If he performs a Nordic walk, he burns between 304 and 455kcal. With sticks of bungy pump, it consumes between 390 and 600kcal. It is not far from the 700kcal estimated during a jog.

No need to be a great sportswoman to enjoy these benefits. No expensive equipment. The only investment: sticks from 89.95 € per pair, adjustable to your size.

Learn more:

marchenordiquefrance.blogspot.fr: all the news of the bungy pump, calendar of trips and training courses, addresses of clubs to practice
www.thalassoblanco.com: bungy pump on the beach
www.bungypump-france.fr: online purchase and list of resellers