Beloved Moments on the Road — What the Camino de Santiago Gave Me, with Wellness Travel Expert Kang Roje

Beloved Moments on the Road — What the Camino de Santiago Gave Me, with Wellness Travel Expert Kang Roje

The Camino de Santiago, which leads pilgrims from all over Europe to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, in northwestern Spain, is famous as a journey for finding peace of mind. Wellness travel expert Kang Roje, who creates a range of retreat programs under the name Earthy Girl Journey, drew on her experience of completing the Camino to design a *Camino de Santiago travel program. How is a pilgrimage with her different?

Interviewer Park Jinmyoung
Interviewee Kang Roje (Wellness Travel Expert)
* Earthy Girl Journey’s Camino de Santiago 15 nights and 16 days will run twice: the first session from April 4 to 19, and the second from April 25 to May 10. Bookings are available through Pitch by Travel.

What led you to become a wellness expert?
Once I started yoga and freediving, wellness became a keyword I couldn’t separate from my life. What the two have in common is that you train not only the body but also the mind, continuously. Nothing changes overnight; you have to keep honing yourself. You also need respect for the people you practice with and for the natural environment that makes the practice possible. As I learned and shared those values, I found myself on the path of a wellness expert. I’ve led many retreat programs, including yoga meditation and freediving tours, in the Philippines, Indonesia, Viet Nam, Thailand, Egypt, and India.

Was completing the 800-kilometer French Way of the Camino de Santiago last spring an extension of that practice?
Walking the Camino is a meaningful experience in itself, but I was curious what kind of synergy would emerge if I combined it with yoga and meditation. It was a journey where, in the villages I passed through, I could experience local culture, meet new people, exchange inspiration, and reflect on myself.

I hear you designed a travel program based on that experience.
It’s called ‘Earthy Girl Journey Camino de Santiago 15 Nights, 16 Days’ (Earthy Girl Journey Camino de Santiago, for short), and it covers the 315 kilometers from Leon, Spain, to Santiago de Compostela. It will run twice, each time with a small group of women. Every day you walk 20 to 30 kilometers, taking in beautiful scenery and discovering the charm of each village. The day ends with yoga and stretching, then dinner with travelers from around the world at an albergue (a pilgrim hostel). I designed it hoping that the journey itself would feel like a gift, not just a matter of getting to the finish.

What sets it apart most from other Camino de Santiago packages?
I suppose it’s the wellness element, caring for body and mind. Yoga, meditation, and stretching after a day of walking relax the body and mind and help you look more deeply within yourself.

What would you pick as the highlight of this trip?
Without a doubt, the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela! After the whole journey, you arrive at the cathedral, where a Mass for pilgrims is held, a time of blessing for the road you’ve walked and the road ahead. Pilgrims embrace warmly and share what they felt along the way. The first session of Earthy Girl Journey Camino de Santiago is scheduled to arrive in Santiago de Compostela in time for Easter, so it’s a chance to experience the Easter Mass. The second session, arriving a month later, won’t have the Easter events, but you’ll be able to take in the vibrant energy of spring with your whole body.

Among the six points * you emphasize for this pilgrimage, freedom and flexibility stand out most.
I think it’s probably what people interested in this journey are most curious about. Each day’s destination is set, but I hope participants will travel freely and flexibly, at their own pace and in their own way. There will be times when you want to walk alone, times when you want to talk with new people, and times when you’re not feeling well and want to take a bus.
* The six reasons she gives for what makes this journey special are freedom and flexibility, small experiments, solidarity among women, the host’s experience, a wellness expert, and a small group.

What was the most memorable moment of your walk?
When I set out from St. Jean Pied de Port in France, I was simply happy and excited, thinking of the people I’d meet and the beautiful scenery ahead. Perhaps because I walked looking only at the destination rather than focusing on the moment, the first few days were really hard. It wasn’t just physical stamina; I was also constantly conscious of the pace of the other travelers who had started with me. It’s not a race to see who arrives first, and you don’t have to walk with anyone, yet I couldn’t help it. I practiced again and again holding back my racing mind and focusing on the present. Facing and accepting the pain, habits, and cravings that come up on the road at every turn wasn’t easy, either. It took a long time to find my own pace, but I think I grew a step in the process.

Since finishing the Camino, have you felt changes in your life firsthand?
I stayed in albergues throughout the trip and met many pilgrims, but the conversation I had with David, who runs an albergue in a small village called Santa Catalina de Samoza, was the most impressive. When I told him that someday I’d like to lead a yoga and meditation program in English, David encouraged me, saying, “This place is for you.” That gave me confidence, so the next morning I pushed back the day’s schedule and held a yoga and meditation class for pilgrims. The theme of that class was ‘Moments of Love.’ I asked the participants to recall the love and care they had received along the journey, and to hold in their hearts whoever came to mind in a tight embrace. At the end, we also took time to comfort and embrace ourselves. In that moment I felt the love and warmth inside me, and I cried.
The Camino taught me about love. I learned that love isn’t an abstract concept; it exists in small actions and warm moments, and it fills our lives. That fullness guided my steps and finally carried me to Santiago de Compostela. In a word, it was a journey that completely changed my life, as I shared the love I’d received and was filled with love again. I think that’s also why I came to design this travel program.

Who would you recommend Earthy Girl Journey Camino de Santiago to?
I strongly recommend it to women in their 20s to 50s who want to step out of their comfort zone. In particular, I hope it draws those who want to experience a different culture, discover a new side of themselves, and connect with nature. I’m confident it will be an opportunity to live the rest of your life with a more independent and open mindset.