Exercise Anywhere 2012 - making walking work

Enjoy and learn from a range of practical and seminar sessions and a chance to share best practice.

8:30am	Registration and refreshments
9:00am	Welcome and introduction from Mike Rollason, Nordic Walking UK
9:20am	Exercise and the Management of Obesity by Dr. John Searle OBE
9:50am	"A step too far?"... Nordic Walking and the Community Activator model by Robin Gargrave
10.20am	Refreshments, marketplace and a range of practicals including: Gymstick - simply effective resistance sessions. We all know that upper body engagement is essential for maintaining independence in older age & that resistance exercise aids weight management but do we know how to take it to those who need it most? Gymsticks are portable and the resistance level id adjusted with a simple twist of the bar making them suitable for ALL levels and useable outdoors, in the studio, the pool or as additional kit in a busy gym. One piece of kit that can be adapted to work every muscle group at any level - inspired!
11.00am	Workshops - click here to see workshop details
12.30pm	Lunch, marketplace and a range of practicals including: Join Tanya Adolpho to find out how 15 minutes of fun functional movement can improve mood, range of movement and attitude to exercise. Smoveys were developed for sufferers of parkinsons disease in Austria but are now a worldwide hit with people of ages who join in smovey walks or practice the 10 'smoves' at home and organised sessions in locations as diverse as swimming pools and care homes!
1.30pm	The longest journey begins with a single step - walking for life by Bob Laventure, British Heart Foundation (BHF) National Centre for Physical Activity and Health, Loughborough University and Director Later Life Training
2.00pm	A practical look at outdoor fitness risk assessment
2.40pm	Refreshments, marketplace and practical activities including: Nordic Walking technique mini Tasters - Join Martin Christie NWUK Master trainer and his team for 15 minutes that will explain why Nordic Walking is sweeping the Nation! Find out how a skilled Instructor can use a pair of poles to get the' crosstrainer' effect with every step. Feel the propulsion and upper body engagement and understand how intervals, progression and rehabilitation can be introduced into walking programmes.
3.10pm	Workshops (repeated)
4.45pm	Conference close

Robin Gargrave Robin Gargrave was the director of Innovation and Development for Central YMCA and worked for them for 25 years. He devised, developed and delivered Central YMCA's Activator programme. A ground breaking training programme enabling increased community based physical activity via the training and development of community members giving them the skills, knowledge and confidence to support the adoption and maintenance of a more physically active lifestyle. In 2011 Robin was an expert witness to the House of Lords Science and Technology sub committee investigating behaviour change in healthy eating and physical activity. Robin is a qualified Fitness Instructor and Nordic Walking instructor and has extensive media experience in TV, radio and press. He was the first recipient of the Register of Exercise professionals Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006.
Bob Laventure British Heart Foundation (BHF) National Centre for Physical Activity and Health, Loughborough University and Director Later Life Training. A former education advisor in physical education and the arts, Bob has been working with the BHF National Centre for Physical Activity and Health since it opened in 2000. He has a remit to lead the development of the BHFNC programmes, partnerships and resource development in relation to older people and physical activity. His current work at the BHF National Centre includes the dissemination of the new CMO Guidelines on Physical Activity and Health, the Go For Gold and Walk With Me programmes in Scotland and promoting physical activity with people living with dementia. In addition to working with organisations across the UK, Bob also works with a number of European and international working groups involved in physical activity and older people, including the European HEPA, EUNAPA and THENAPA Programmes funded by the European Community, the World Health Organisation and is a member of the Advisory Board for the International Council on Active Ageing. In August 2012, together with Professor Dawn Skelton from Glasgow Caledonian University, Bob will co-host the 8th World Congress on Active Ageing in Glasgow.
Dr John Searle OBE John worked for 25 years as a consultant in the NHS. He had to take early retirement in his mid-50's as he had developed rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Exercise was very beneficial in managing the illness so he went and qualified as a personal trainer and fitness instructor, subsequently working with older people and others with chronic illness. He has been the chief medical officer of the Fitness Industry Association and is a qualified Nordic Walking instructor. He writes and speaks regularly about physical activity in disease prevention and as part of the management of long standing conditions. He is passionate about physical activity and exercise believing that it is the best possible 'medicine; there is.
Mike Rollason Mike has created a number of highly successful Leisure based businesses over a 27 year period. He combines his passions for sport and wellbeing with a love of business and his portfolio of enterprises includes: Ski and Watersports retail outlets Watersports centres in the UK and Greece Health Clubs Ski Chalets A major Leisure park that included a waterski cable tow and attracted over a million visitors a year A Leisure industry consultancy business Mike was a Director of the Fitness Industry association (FIA) for over 10 years and is a member of the Vanguard group that represents the industry at Government level he was also involved in the creation of the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs). Mike recognises that the key to success is belief in your product and a professional approach to every aspect of your business from sales to delivery. He is committed to helping all Nordic Walking UK Instructors to reach their potential and to provide exceptional service to the public.

Martin Christie - Master Trainer Martin was one of the Founders of the original Nordic Walking trainer courses in the UK - a qualified INWA national Coach, he developed the UK courses and he personally taught over 1,100 UK Instructors. In 2008 he developed the improved NWUK 2 level Instructor courses in order to ensure that Nordic walking was recognised as a creditable and professional solution to wellness in the UK. In 2008 he was part of a team of Fitness Industry experts that created the CYQ accredited Nordic and Fitness Instructor course aimed at providing an entry level fitness qualification for those seeking to develop sustainable walking programmes.
Trish Cowie Trish Cowie has over 35 years experience in the Leisure Industry and specialises in GP Referral, Cardiac Rehabilitation and Active ageing. She has spent the latter part of her career working with specialist populations and is passionate about making a difference.
Jason Feavers Jason first tried Nordic Walking as part his Cardiac Rehabilitation instructor training. Jason found that Nordic Walking complemented his existing running and mountain biking training, as well as being a safe and effective method of training for clients with health conditions including heart conditions, hypertension, type 2 diabetes and many orthopaedic conditions including osteoarthritis. Jason lectures on exercise referral and was the creator of the NWUK Wellbeing programme.
Jo Fields Jo is a specialist nurse practitioner working at the breast cancer unit at Poole Hospital. her primary interest is improving outcomes following breast cancer diagnosis. Following a 3 year project that used Nordic Walking as part of a weight management programme, Jo believes exercise is plays a vital part in the recovery and quality of life of cancer patients. Jo is currently studying for a PHD at the University of Southampton and as part of this has started collecting data on the effect of Nordic walking on joint pain resulting from cancer treatments.
Bernadette Kennedy Bernadette Kennedy is a Chartered Physiotherapist who has worked for over twenty years in the NHS. She has worked in a variety of specialist fields both within acute hospitals and based within community services. Since 2003 she has lead the Integrated Falls Service in Wandsworth. She has presented this service at professional and health conferences and published an article in the Osteoporosis Bulletin in 2010. She is currently undertaking a research study into this service in collaboration with Roehampton University. She has always been passionate about the holistic benefits of sports and leisure activities for all but has also experienced the special demands of high level sports having played basketball for England in her youth and assisting national sports teams as the squad physiotherapist. She is married and has two sons. Recreationally she cycles, runs and of course Nordic walks...
Clare Oakley MCSP MSc Claire has run the practice for nearly 25 years, she trained in Bristol and then worked in London at the Hammersmith Hospital. She specialises in treating sports and soft tissue injuries, shoulders and core stability. Clare also works with vascular patients and Nordic Pole Walking. She is interested in Acupuncture and a member of the AACP and Physio First, having just opened a hydrotherapy pool which is proving to be very popular. She has completed an MSc degree in sports injuries in 2007 and is currently involved in Nordic Walking research. Clare is off to work at the Olympics in July!
Nicola Parsons Nicky moved from 15 years in medicine to train as an exercise referral and cardiac rehabilitation specialist in 2001, in order to help patients improve their health outside the hospitals. She trained as a Nordic Walking Instructor in 2008 as she felt that, as well as being a fitness activity that could be enjoyed by everyone, Nordic Walking is an extremely effective rehab tool in a huge number of chronic medical conditions. Nicky is also a BASI Nordic National Ski Teacher and a member of the Mountain Leader Training Association (Hill Walking Group Leader qualified).
Clare Spafford MCSP Clare qualified as a physio in 2003 from the University of East London. She has worked at The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust Hospital, specialising in orthopaedic and musculoskeletal outpatients, where she gained experience in musculoskeletal problems, post-operative orthopaedic physiotherapy, lower limb rehabilitation, sports injuries, core stability and hand therapy. Clare has been involved with Steps since a work placement here as a student in 2002, and now work here part-time. I am qualified in acupuncture and I am a member of the AACP and Physio First. She is currently doing an MSc in Sports Physiotherapy and is involved in Nordic Walking research. Clare is also off to work at the Olympics this summer!
Gill Stewart A Sports Therapist and former long distance and ultra runner, Gill has over 30 years experience in the fitness Industry. She has a passion for wellbeing and was the creator of one of the first GP referral schemes in the UK - Since then her career has involved Community leisure, Health Club management and a National membership sales role - she has a unique insight into all aspects of fitness delivery and understands the pressures involved. She still leads regular Nordic walking technique courses and delivers presentations and demo sessions all over the UK. Gill is the driving force behind the NWUK unique programmes because she believes that the way to encourage lifestyle change is to ensure classes/walks are inspirational and provide noticeable results.
Tanya Adolpho Tanya is an all rounder, her lively personality ensures she has packed group classes (she teaches Gymstick, Exercise to music and Aqua. She is also a specialist in exercise for children and currently works at Bromley College as an education programme Manager. A key Member of our team, she delivers Nordic Walking Instructor training, Smovey, Gymstick and some of our modules such as wellbeing.