Why is walking good?

Everyone who has two working legs walks. The lazier ones from the bed to the fridge, the ordinary people to school, work, to meet friends, the more active ones to do sports.

And then there are the "camino" type... Those who set out into the world, go alone, go with company, in rain, in sunshine, morning and evening, because the road awaits. This is not an ordinary walk, yet it is simple.

One foot in front of the other...

But why is walking good anyway?

The development of physical fitness is obvious. Muscles, lung capacity, blood circulation develop, happiness hormones are released.

Mentally, it can provide even more. People have a break from their usual environment, routine, stress, and literally walk away from problems. This can give us the opportunity to see things from a different perspective. Our brain works even when we pay attention to something else, for example, in the city we can count how many red cars pass us during a walk, or how many people do we see with glasses, in nature we can listen to the sounds around us, smell the plants, feel the wind, the sun on our skin. All this switches us off, but our subconscious is working.

Then suddenly, thoughts come out of nowhere. Maybe an idea pops into your head, a solution to one of your current problems. It could also be that an old thing comes to the surface that you may not have fully closed, and now you see that past situation differently. We say that it's easy to be smart in hindsight, but you can still use this experience later.

We can learn a lot about ourselves while walking. How much do we like to be alone, or how social are we? Or when do we need to be alone? Why do we need it?

The great advantage of walking is that you can do it anytime and for as long as you like.

• Do you only have a 5-minute break at work? Go for a walk.

• Are you sleepy after lunch? Get up and move around.

• Don't have any energy? Take a walk. It gets you moving and unwinds, it's not hard on your body, and if you're mentally tired, the fresh air will recharge you.

• Is it cold and the weather is bad? Don't worry, you're not made of sugar, dress properly and go outside for a while, listen to the rain, admire the snowflakes that are falling.

If you're planning on long-distance walking, it's a good idea to walk daily. This way you'll get used to it physically and be able to handle the load better, your legs won't have to adapt to the many kilometers in one day, and you'll learn how quickly you regenerate and how long distances you can handle.

You don't necessarily have to break the bank with your gear. You don't need special clothes, or the most expensive shoes and backpack. Look around at what you have at home. If someone said, "We're leaving tomorrow morning," what would you take with you on the trip? You can even take a few things out of your closet and walk around with them on your back. This way you can test out clothes you already have and how much weight you can carry. Because that's going to be one of the key factors.

There are many spiritual reasons for walking the camino:

• religion: originally, pilgrimages were started for religious purposes, and even today many people embark on them for this reason. I have also met people who got to know each other during the journey and prayed together when they walked together.

• sport: the thought that you can handle the physical strain, you may be used to going on day hikes, but you want to experience what it's like to walk this much every day. There are even some who cover the distances by running.

• health: I meet many people who have overcome some serious illness (stroke, heart transplant, depression, cancer, etc.), and after recovering from it, they want to prove to themselves that this does not define their personality and the rest of their lives. There are also those who set out with the goal of recovery.

Another big advantage is that you can meet all kinds of people. Nowadays it's a trend to be introverted, lonely, "anti-people". We get stressed about everything, and we find relief in not having to talk to anyone.

I have some bad news. Humans are social creatures. And online communities are not the same as real ones. If you follow someone's life, you may feel like you're part of it, but you're actually a complete stranger. However, during a walk or a longer journey, you'll come across real people. You can give someone a smile, and the braver ones can even start a conversation with others. And during a camino, someone will definitely talk to you, whether during the day, at the accommodation, or over lunch. And believe me, it's often good to just listen to the other person, but you can also get to know other cultures, traditions, and ways of thinking, which can all broaden your horizons and, believe it or not, will be useful in your everyday life.

Therefore, I suggest you go, listen to your inner voice and your surroundings. Open your mind and open your heart. Breathe, connect, experience. Have a good laugh at yourself or with someone. Because the saying is true: "smile and the world smiles back at you".

Have a good walk.

Hope these stories get you in the mood for your next adventure, and you found some useful information.  If you still need more details or build up confidence and courage for the start of your journey, don't hesitate to contact me or email me, I'm happy to help.

You can also find me on social media with more useful advice and travel pictures at @wander.with.dora name. Safe travels everyone.