Join our local certified Nordic walking and yoga instructor Camille Martone at Iona Senior Services for a new and exciting health and fitness experience–Nordic walking and yoga. Participants must be able to walk a mile comfortably. Poles will be supplied, but if you have some, bring your own!

Nordic walking is a total-body version of walking that can be done both by athletes as a sport, and by non-athletes as a health-promoting physical activity.  It is fitness walking with specially designed poles similar to ski poles but adjustable. Trekkers, backpackers and skiers had been using the basic concept for decades, as an off season training activity.

Compared to regular walking, Nordic walking (also called pole walking) involves applying force to the poles with each stride. Nordic walkers use more of their entire body (with greater intensity) and receive fitness building stimulation (not present in normal walking) for the chest, the lats, triceps, biceps, shoulder, abdominals, spinal and other core muscles that may result in significant increases in heart rate at a given pace. Nordic walking increases energy consumption, improves aerobic capacity and muscular strength, in a short period of time compared to conventional walking without poles.  Nordic walking uses 90% of our muscles only second to swimming.

Nordic walking is beneficial to older adults as well as young people as an effective and efficient mode of exercise to improve overall fitness.  Participants will be trained to use the poles and should be able to walk at least a mile in a group.  The yoga will be designed as advanced gentle – Individuals should have yoga experience.

The Nordic walking would be outside in the neighborhood and yoga stretching inside at Iona Senior Services.  Poles would be provided, unless you elect to buy or bring your own.  You would need to bring good walking shoes, appropriate outdoor clothing, and a cheery disposition.

Camille Martone is a DC resident and a certified yoga instructor, Nordic walking and fitness instructor, and Craniosacral therapist. She has been teaching yoga and fitness to kids and adults for many years. She has taught yoga to underserved residents in SE DC through A Wider Circle, staff at a local middle school, senior yoga for DC Parks and Rec, chair yoga at Cordoza health Center, and mindfulness and movement to clients at Whitman Walker Clinic and homeless individuals at Thrive DC.

Please be aware of proximity to others and do not join our in-person events if you are ill.

By registering for any in-person and on-line activities you waive any liability as follows–

In consideration of my voluntary participation in this Fitness/Wellness Class (“The Program”), I hereby agree to release, hold harmless, and indemnify Iona Senior Services, and its employees, agents, and representatives (collectively “Iona”) from any and all actions, claims, and demands, for myself, my heirs, and/or my personal representatives, now and forever, as a result of injury, damage, or loss of property arising out of my participation in the Program. This release shall include any claims, demands, injuries, damages, or actions arising out of or connected with my use of Iona’s services and facilities, both on and off Iona’s premises, and from all acts of ordinary negligence on the part of Iona.

I recognize that the Program may include travel by public or private transit, private touring companies, walking, and other moderate physical activity. By agreeing to participate in the Program, I assert that I have willingly and knowingly accepted the risks inherent in such travel and activities, including bodily injury and property damage. I also assert that I have no physical condition, ailment, or limitation that would prevent me from participating in the Program in a safe manner. Finally, I assert that I have accident/health insurance coverage that will apply in the event of injury as a result of my participation in the Program.