I can smell the embers of a Nordic trend in the making from miles away. After all, even before the Swedish ethos of lagom (optimal balance) captured the world a few years ago, I’d been unpacking this Nordic mindset around wellness and lifestyle in my storytelling for years. I would go on to write an international bestseller, Lagom, with over 15 foreign editions.
From Swedish massages to Finnish saunas, the region is synonymous with wellbeing. While Denmark gave the world hygge (intentional presence), Norway friluftsliv (open-air living), Finland sisu (grit), and Iceland birthed “Viking wellness” with hot baths and cold dips, the reality is that all Nordic cultures share these values under different names. What makes lifestyle trends from the region particularly appealing globally is the foundations on which they’re built.
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From sustainability-focused mindsets and a return to simplicity to curb undue stress, to government-sanctioned free access to nature (think Allemansrätten in Sweden), which fosters symbiotic relationships with the outdoors, and overall accessibility for everyone because they are egalitarian countries. The Nordic communal goal is a focus on holistic well-being that can be sustained over the long term by every individual, from professional athletes in their prime to elders.
The latest Nordic wellness trend, however, has rather practical origins. Ever wonder how cross-country skiers train when there’s no snow? Introducing Nordic walking; not to be confused with hiking with trekking poles.
According to its governing body, the International Nordic Walking Federation (INWA), which was founded in 2000, Nordic walking is now practised in over 40 countries for health, fitness, recreation, social connection and competitive sport. As early as the 1930s, competitive cross-country skiers used poles with running shoes for summer training. But it was physical education (PE) teacher Leena Jääskeläinen who brought the concept to the general public in 1966, making it the first documented use of ski poles outside competitive training.
“I started Nordic walking in 1998 because it is a fun, social and efficient form of physical activity,” shares Aki Karihtala, president of INWA. “It takes people back to nature.” At the time, he headed the Sports division at Finnish Sporting goods company Exel, the world’s largest cross-country ski pole manufacturer.