Hiking in nature is not only good for our bodies, it’s good for our moods, our minds, and our relationships, too.

I’m a hiker – “born to hike,” as my partner likes to joke. It does my heart and soul good to strap on a backpack and head out on a trail, especially when I’m alone and can let my mind wander where it will.

My experiences of hiking are unique, research suggests, benefits beyond what you receive from typical exercise. It helps keep your mind sharper, your body calmer, your creativity more alive, and your relationship happier. And, if you’re like me and happen to live where nearby trails allow for hiking among my ancestral homeland mountains (Vainom Do’ag) and desert plant life, all the better: Evidence suggests that being around natural elements may provide extra benefits, perhaps because of organic compounds that plants exude that boost our mood and our overall well-being.

You can find my partner and I on a trail anytime during the weekends. My motto is “Hiking4Life”

Photos and article written by Greg Mendoza.