Resumo
This research investigates the emotions experienced by the body during the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, using a phenomenological approach articulated with anthropology. It is based on the principle that the emotional body is culturally situated, expressing or silencing emotions according to symbolic norms. As a doctoral thesis, it is qualitative and participatory in nature, centered on the structure of the situated phenomenon. It uses the phenomenological approach as theoretical and methodological support and seeks to understand how emotions manifest in the pilgrim's bodily experience. Five social actors were interviewed. The interviews were transcribed and described according to Merleau-Ponty (2018) and Martins and Bicudo (1989). The pilgrimage proved to be more than a physical displacement, being motivated by self-knowledge, overcoming challenges, sports practice, solitude , and personal transformation. Places and people aroused deep emotions, symbolizing challenges, liberation, and connection. The accounts reveal experiences marked by generosity, companionship, and intense, albeit fleeting, affection. Emotions such as joy, sadness, fear, and anger were common, as was overcoming past stresses in search of balance. Proximity to nature fostered a redefinition of existence and a new relationship with oneself. Finally, pilgrims reported leaving burdens behind and taking with them symbolic experiences such as culture, bonds, and new behaviors. The Camino de Santiago is perceived as a space for healing and emotional reconstruction, where tranquility is the result of conscious choices, self-knowledge, and detachment. The experience broadens understanding of the body by integrating it with emotions and sensitivity, overcoming the body-mind dichotomy. Movement is recognized as an affective expression, not just a physical one. This proposes a Physical Education focused on self-knowledge, emotional development, and comprehensive education, where body, emotion, and thought intertwine in meaningful learning.