THOUGHT you'd mastered the art of walking? Think again, and welcome to Nordic walking.

With my hands attached to two lengthy ski-style poles, I was trying to move my opposing arms and legs correctly as I tramped around York's Rowntree Park.

Suddenly, coordinating my limbs seemed inexplicably difficult. And, annoyingly, I wasn't even using the sticks, simply dragging them behind me.

My instructor, Trish Hirst, explained that getting the knack of this twisting motion - left leg and right arm forward together - often proved the hardest part of learning the discipline.

She said: "Depending on how much walking you have done before, the coordination seems to be the key.

"That seems to be where a lot of people have problems: getting the right arm and leg moving.

"As soon as you have got that it is just small building blocks from there."

Despite the initial difficulty, I soon settled into a rhythm and started to forget about the individual motions. I could see why Nordic walking has been hailed as a "super exercise" that combines the benefits of a standard stroll, an upper-body workout and improved cardiovascular fitness.

It originated in Finland and evolved from a form of off-piste training used to help cross-country skiers keep in shape during the summer months.

With each stride a walker is forced to push backwards on the stick opposite to their front leg, exercising arm and shoulder muscles.

Meanwhile, because alternate limbs are used, the torso twists, working the body's core muscles. Its advocates say that once the correct technique is learned you can exercise up to 90 per cent of your muscles and burn 40 per cent more calories than by normal walking.

They also boast that it improves strength and endurance of the arms and puts less strain on the shins, knees, hips and back for those with injuries or weaknesses.

"You can be walking but burning more calories and using more muscles. The fact that you get an overall body workout is excellent," said Trish. "I go every day now and I really enjoy it.

"It gives you an all over body workout. What people miss when they just do a normal walk is an upper body work out.

"Plus you walk at a faster pace when you are Nordic walking so you do get your heart rate up."

Nordic walking has become huge in Europe since it was invented by cross-country skiers and now has an estimated seven million people regularly taking part.

But it has been slow to catch on in Britain, which is something Trish hopes to change.

She is holding an introductory session in the city on July 17, while her partner instructor, Helen Brook, is giving people a taste on Tuesday from White Stone, Cold Bath Road, in Harrogate.

For more information log on to www.nordicwalking.co.uk or email trish@brookhirst.co.uk