It is two weeks since my injury and while not ‘walking’ I can still feel twinges of discomfort. It has lessened, but still pings my hip as I walk around my home. Looking online, it appears that the recovery is 4 – 6 weeks so I have some time yet to heal. I miss my daily walks and more so my long weekly walks of 10 miles or more. Two weeks without these walks makes me feel an odd combination of antsy and sluggish, both at the same time.
Looking into the hormones related to exercise today, I learned that exercise produces dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin. Based on this, walking daily for a month or more on the Camino would create feelings of alertness (dopamine), happiness and euphoria (endorphins), calmness and contentment (serotonin). Walking consistently for a few months prior to my Camino this past Spring, then five weeks on the Camino along with continued walking since my return must have created a healthy amount of consistent hormones that my body is sorely missing.
We walk the Camino for many reasons – a pilgrimage of faith, personal time to reflect, shared camaraderie with like-minded people, and the ongoing communion with nature that is both prayerful and serene. Those of us who have walked the Camino also have experienced the essence of miracles and synchronicity. What also happens for most is a healthier physical body derived from the daily exercise, fresh air and reduced stress. I never thought about that when I was planning for my Camino – yet, it’s such a wonderful additional reason to walk The Path that continues to call for me to return.
Whether on the Camino or at home, I’m a firm believer in the ‘happy hormones”:
- Serotonin: Serotonin is sometimes called the happiness hormone. Serotonin regulates the mood, prevents depression and makes you feel happy. Serotonin can be released by getting exposed to sunlight, by eating foods rich in carbohydrates and by exercising.
- Endorphins: Endorphins can make you feel good, reduce your anxiety and your sensitivity to pain. Endorphins are released by exercising.
- Dopamine: Dopamine helps you to feel mentally alert. The lack of it might cause lack of attention, lack of concentration and bad moods. Dopamine can be released by eating foods that are rich in protein. All those eggs eaten on the Camino fit into this category!
I can imagine how difficult this is for you! I missed more days walking last week than I have in a long time (not your long walks but walks nevertheless) and wondered why I was feeling down and out. Then it dawned on me that I had missed my walks.
Knowing you, you will another way to get those happy feelings while you are waiting to walk!
I was walking anywhere from 6-12 miles a day for two months when I was hit with a stress fracture of my foot in addition to developing plantar faciitis. After a few days without walking I really began to feel sad….I soon realized it was because I missed my walks. I am still out of commission as far as my walking goes, but I am now in the gym riding the bike and lifting weights to stay strong. According to my doctor I am still on track to walk the Camino Portugues next May! Buen Camino…
I’m so glad you have found another form of exercise until you can once again begin walking!