Preparing for the Camino: mind, body, and spirit
Last month I shared with you how I went from dreaming about a Camino to actually planning one. So now that it’s becoming a reality, it’s time for me to start preparing: mind, body, and spirit.
Mind
What am I doing to educate myself to have the best possible Camino experience? First and foremost, I have been relying heavily on those experienced pilgrims who have gone before me, particularly those who have shared their experiences on social media or in blog posts.
There is an abundance of information out there, and of course, everyone’s story and advice are a little bit different. So, what I like to do is take it all in, see what resonates with me, and then make my own decisions. An added bonus of watching all these videos is that the varied and beautiful landscapes get me even more excited for my trip.
Right now, I’m following two Facebook groups. One is specific to women over 50 on any of the Caminos. The other is specific to the Portuguese Camino. What I love about these forums is that you can get realtime information about trail conditions, weather conditions, and any safety concerts. There are also lots of recommendations for transportation and accommodations.
But the really great thing is that you can ask your specific questions, and you’ll get some very thoughtful responses almost immediately. So if you’re wondering whether there are restroom facilities along the trail you’ve chosen, or how much money you should bring, or if you need hiking boots or will trail runners work, just ask.
One of the common questions is, “Do I need to know Spanish to enjoy the Camino?” And the resounding response is that no, you do not need to be fluent in Spanish in order to have a successful Camino pilgrimage.
That said, wouldn’t it be polite and useful to know at least a few phrases? I’m thinking of the basic niceties like “Please, thank you, you’re welcome, hello, and goodbye.” But also the really important things like “May I have a cup of coffee please” or “Where is the bathroom?”
Towards that end, I’ve been spending some time each day on the Duolingo app. I know I’m not going to become fluent in Spanish in four months just by using the app, but I’m hoping that I will at least learn enough that I can show that I gave it some thought, that I tried. And I think it’s working.
In addition to the language, I would also like to learn a little about the history and culture of each of the places that we’ll be staying on our journey. For me, that is Baiona, Vigo, Arcade, Pontevedra, Caldas de Reis, Padron, and Santiago.
So, that’s what I am doing to prepare intellectually for the Camino. If you have further suggestions or recommended resources, please share those in the comments below.
Body
What am I doing to prepare physically for the Camino de Santiago?
Of course, everyone’s training will look different depending on their specific situation. For me, I am a 64-year-old woman, reasonably fit. I work out regularly…high-intensity interval training three times a week and yoga 2–3 times, as well as frequent walks.
The walks, however, are typically 2–5 miles, and I rarely have strenuous back-to-back days. In addition, I am strictly a fair-weather walker…meaning if it’s too hot, too cold, too windy, or raining, I get my activity indoors.
So for my training, I have decided to walk increasingly longer distances every Saturday and Sunday, no matter the weather…as long as it is safe to do so. It has also been recommended to include hills and a variety of surfaces in those training walks.
The good news is where I live in beautiful Southern Utah, there is no shortage of trails that fit that description. In fact, I am surrounded by beautiful walking trails…some paved, some dirt, sand, some volcanic rock.
There isn’t any cobblestone that I am aware of, but I think my available options will serve me well. As for hills, well, that describes at least portions of almost all the trails. So I’m set there as well.
In addition to the walking, I also want to include a regular post-walk stretching routine in my training and on the pilgrimage. For that, I spoke with my stretch expert at the Stretch Lab, as well as reviewed some trusted medical sites online, and put together a stretch routine designed specifically for walkers.
That pretty much covers my training plans. The other part of preparing physically for the Camino de Santiago is gathering the necessary clothing, footwear, and gear. That all important discussion deserves a blog post all its own, so we’ll save that for another day.
In the meantime, if you have any training suggestions or questions, please leave them in the comments.
Spirit
What am I doing to prepare spiritually for the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage?
To be clear, I am not walking the Camino as a religious pilgrimage. I do consider it a spiritual journey in the sense of getting to know myself better, strengthening my relationship with Mother Earth, and rekindling my sense of connection with all living beings.
I love this Spirit of the Camino which is printed on the Credencial del Peregrino:
- Live in the moment.
- Welcome each day—its pleasures and its challenges.
- Make others feel welcome.
- Share.
- Feel the spirit of those who have gone before you.
- Imagine those who will follow you.
- Appreciate those who walk with you today.
I am by nature a planner, a list-maker, an achiever. What I hope is that I can enjoy all the planning and preparation in advance, and then when I arrive in Spain, I can release all of that and be open and receptive to whatever the Universe brings me…that I can live in the moment and truly welcome each day’s pleasures and challenges.
So that is my goal. I’ve posted the Spirit of the Camino where I can be reminded often of why I am going on this pilgrimage, and I will make an effort to live more mindfully and welcoming in the days leading up to my journey.
If you’ve walked the Camino, I’d love to hear about your reasons for going on the journey, and whether your purposes were fulfilled. If you’re planning a Camino, I’d also love to know what your hopes for the pilgrimage are.
Related video
Your turn
- Please share any suggestions you have for Camino de Santiago preparations.
- If you’ve gone on a similar journey, what were your reasons and were those purposes fulfilled?
- What else is on your mind? Anything at all; I just love to hear from you.
These are all great ways to prepare for your trip! I do find trip planning so much easier nowadays with so many online first hand accounts of hikes, places to see/stay, and all that. I too tend to read and watch a lot about the places we’re going, take it all in, and then see what helps and resonates with me. Other than a few national parks trips I’ve never really done days of back to back hiking either but I definitely find myself doing more stretching at night before bed and in the morning before hiking again when we do.
Thanks Joanne! The internet has definitely made researching and planning for a big trip so much easier. I’m glad the stretching has helped you on bigger hiking trips. Fingers crossed, it works for me too.
Hi Christie, I think you have it all in hand. You sound very prepared for what you’re tackling – the challenges and the rewards. I think you’ll find it a really enriching experience because you’ve prepared so well – and I like that you plan to let all that preparation pay off by just being in the moment each day while you’re there – that sounds like the perfect end result to all that you’ve put into getting ready for it. 🙂
Thank you for the encouragement, Leanne. I often find the staying in the moment the most difficult part, but I’m hoping the repetition of walking and the lovely sceneries will help with that.
I am so impressed you are doing this. I think you will come away changed in so many ways. I really admire you for not only doing it but for actively planning what to do, how to do it, and why you’re doing it. I look forward to more posts. I must have missed it. When are you going?
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
Thank you for the kind words Marsha. We are leaving the end of May and walking from 5/31-6/5.
Hi Christie, this is going to be an amazing experience for you. I wish you well with your planning and preparations. It’s great to read of your progress.
Thank you Debbie. We are very excited.
Hi Christie, your approach to preparing for this journey is admirable. You certainly have a great training ground and the right attitude. I’m sure it will be the experience of a lifetime. You might remember that former blogger Donna at https://retirementreflections.com/ wrote about her Camino experience on her blog a few years ago. She has a series of posts that might be helpful. Best of luck. I look forward to following your journey.
Thank you, Suzanne. I do remember Donna’s posts about the Camino…in fact, she was the one who first put it in my head all those years ago. And I have recently gone back and read over some of her posts to refresh my memory.
Ah-ha!! You are studying Spanish on Duolingo like I am. It has increased my vocabulary but I still feel uncertain about my verbs!!
I remember Donna’s posts about the Camino, too. They are a good reference to you, I am sure. Hope by the time you hop on the plane for your adventure, you feel completely prepared mind, body and spirit.
Love the toed socks you have been sharing. I need some wool ones. Going to do a search for them now.
Yes Leslie, like you, I am studying Spanish on Duolingo. I’m in no way proficient, but I have learned quite a few words and basic sentences. I hope enough to be polite and get by.
Let me know if you get some toe socks what you think of them.
Hi Christie! I love The Spirit of the Camino. I think I’ll put that somewhere in my house where I can see it often.
And thanks for posting the stretches. I’d be grateful for any ideas you get from your stretch expert as well.
105 days until we fly out! (If my math is right. 😉) HERE WE COME!
The Spirit of the Camino really struck me too, Cindy. You’re welcome for the stretches. We can do them together in our hotel room!