How to travel the Camino de Santiago in a healthy way?

¿Cómo recorrer el Camino de forma saludable?

How to get to do the Camino in a healthy way?

Thousands are the people who every year decide to try the experience of the Camino, either by faith, adventure, culture or the desire for new experiences. Walking the Camino de Santiago in a healthy way should be one of the main concerns of the pilgrims who travel it for the first time and who plan months before splitting all the details. Launching into adventure without minimal preparation can lead to physical problems, having to return home without having completed our goals.

Becoming a pilgrim is a physical and mental challenge that will surely collide with our daily routine and for which we have to prepare. The objective is that all this effort in planning and prior physical preparation that we dedicate to the Camino de Santiago be returned to us in the form of health and mental and physical well-being.

In order for you to achieve your goals, you must adapt the choice of your route for the Camino de Santiago to your time and physical aptitudes, prepare physically and mentally, take enough "fuel" with you to complete each stage, and know how to act in the face of setbacks. may arise. To get more detail on how to get the Camino de Santiago healthy, we have divided it into different sections.

?‍♀️ Should you prepare physically? How to do it?

The answer is simple, a resounding yes. A good preparation will allow us to focus on enjoying the Camino de Santiago instead of worrying about whether our forces weaken. Walking the Camino with confidence is very important and for this we must train both the strength and flexibility of our muscles several weeks before leaving (especially the lower train). It is highly recommended to do specific exercises in the gym to strengthen and schedule walks of increasing difficulty at least three or four times a week the month prior to our departure. Here you will find much more concrete information on how to prepare physically for the Camino de Santiago.

? What kind of backpack to take with you?

Not only is it important to carry in the backpack for the Camino de Santiago (remember the famous 10% rule), it is also very important the backpack itself that you choose, since they are not worth all. It is very important that it is an anatomical backpack that has ribbons or straps that allow us to secure it to the chest and lumbar area, so that the weight is distributed throughout the upper trunk and not only on the shoulders. It is important that you have several compartments so that you can better order what you carry with you and have easy access to your goods.

?‍♂️ How many kilometers must you travel on average at each stage?

Before planning the stages you are going to go through and their duration, you must make a realistic diagnosis of your physical condition and your experience. The average of the stages programmed in the Camino de Santiago is between 20 and 30 kilometers (some more and others less). If this is your first time and it is uphill, do not be afraid to shorten them and stop to rest in mid-stage locations if necessary. If the body asks you to stop or not force it further, you must apply common sense; The goal is to reach the goal and not be pulled by an overexertion.

? Are walking sticks necessary?

They are not essential, but the canes for the Camino de Santiago are very recommendable, since they help us to mark a continuous step and to have a third support, very useful for making descents and ascents in areas with steep terrain. There are two types of canes; the hiking, which can be folded, and the traditional curbs of the Camino de Santiago, made of wood and with a metal tip; Both are equally recommended.

? How to prevent our forces from failing while we walk?

There are many factors that influence fatigue as we travel the Path. On the one hand, as we have already spoken, we must have done enough prior training; before and after each stage you have to stretch so that the muscles do not seize, you have to hydrate frequently and eat food regularly and plan several stops to rest in the middle of each stage. It is recommended to start each stage early, especially in summer, to ensure that we do not walk during the hottest hours of the day (from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.).

? How to take care of the feet of wear caused by the Camino?

The feet are the part of the body that suffers most on the Camino de Santiago, since they support more weight and more kilometers than ever. Foot care begins with prevention by choosing footwear for the Camino de Santiago. If you wear shoes, it is essential that you mold them weeks or months before pilgrimage while preparing physically; otherwise you can easily find problems with chafing. It is essential that you keep your feet dry to avoid the appearance of blisters, and that is achieved c