Nordic walking is a type of physical activity, but to regular natural walking there has been added the use of a pair of specially designed Nordic walking poles.

Nordic walking was first developed by some cross-country skiers as an off-season ski-training activity in Finland in the 1930s.

In 1966, the first documented walking with ski poles outside of competitive sports training was demonstrated by a PE teacher in Helsinki. The idea of Nordic walking was born and was promoted as a physical activity which is suitable for all.