This Autumn the WALX team re visited our partners in Taiwan to help them expand the WALX programme both in the City of Taipei and the wider mountainous Island

WALX Taiwan have already built a network of walks plus engaged with hospitals, spas and tourist locations but they knew it was time to train more instructors and develop their wellness/rehabilitation sessions

Gill and Martin flew back for a second visit which lasted 10 days in VERY different conditions to the first trip in 2024. That year the heat and humidity were factors which had to be considered when planning outdoor courses but this year it was tropical rainfall (which is not at all common in the Autumn) that led to floods, landslides and the closure of some towns completely!

We pride ourselves on being able to adapt to most conditions and managed to train 27 new Instructors, deliver a pole walking for rehabilitation and stability course and built a team of 4 professional Master Trainers to continue the roll out.

However, never before have we had to resort to delivering practical sessions in underground car parks, the metro station and a pagoda!

Sometimes the rain was so heavy you could not hear yourself speak and many areas were under water yet the students were positive and kept smiling throughout! They were from a mix of backgrounds including some experienced Nordic walking Instructors plus fitness staff from local gyms and keen outdoor enthusiasts from stores operated by our partners in Taiwan.

The mission was to build an Island wide programme of fitness rehabilitation and wellness walking plus a range of hiking experiences in the stunning mountains that surround Cities like Taipei.

Despite the unprecedented weather conditions, the 10 day visit was a huge success with professional and motivated students, great organisation and amazing hospitality.

Our methodology of adding power and results to a natural walking gait via WALX poles and a range of balance, strength and functional movements fits perfectly into the ethos of  many of those who attended the course too – see testimonial below.

It was great to be with like minded individuals whose sense of fun, love of nature and passion for pole walking shone through. We were sad to leave but feel confident that WALX Taiwan will go from strength to strength in the future

To find out more about the programme in Taiwan see their website HERE

This is an excerpt form a testimonials from one of the new Instructors……

On the first day of the course, Martin from WALX began by emphasizing that in learning to walk well, the focus should be on the person, not the technique. He cautioned against over-correcting posture too often, as it can discourage learners and halt progress. Instead, instructors should keep walking fun, making learners want to continue.

Under this people-centered teaching philosophy, there were no rigid movement commands. Instead, learners were guided through simple, purposeful exercises designed to help them feel: “Am I moving taller? Quicker? Am I engaging my core?” The focus was on experiencing the use of poles and enjoying the natural rhythm of walking—feeling differences through motion rather than memorizing steps. More importantly, participants explored the contrast between ordinary walking and pole-assisted walking. 

WALX walking aims to help every participant achieve balance across physical, mental, and social well-being—this is the true essence of WALX.

During October 21–22, Taipei was soaked in constant rain. Yet for the first time in my life, I practiced walking in the rain, completely immersed, without an umbrella. I am grateful to Martin and Gill for introducing the WALX Guided Awareness Training Approach—a method that doesn’t tell you how to move, but guides you to sense, notice, and discover your body’s movements and shifts. Thanks also to the FTG teams for their support, and to all classmates for making this learning experience so rewarding and memorable.

We will be returning to Taiwan in 2026 and hope to see some of them at our Festival in 2025 too.