Go back 8 years with me...
I was fresh off a breakup and I was searching for a new source of fulfillment within myself. I had always loved hiking and being outdoors, but that year, it became my sanctuary. I started leaning hard into hiking, hiking further, hiking regularly, exploring new trails, pushing my limits... and I started to feel something shift inside me and it sparked a journey of self-discovery I hadn't predicted.
I first fell in love with hiking as an entertaining form of exercise and I loved the empowering feeling of climbing to the top of a mountain and looking down at life below. Then I started to notice emotional shifts happening in me. I started to feel better about life, more grounded and calm. I started to see how time outdoors made me feel more balanced and connected. It was like I stumbled upon a form of mindfulness without even trying.
I would hike the same long loop every weekend with my dog, Rocky (RIP Roo Boy), and I remember one particular weekend when we reached my favorite spot on the trail, where you turn a corner and the entire Ojai Valley unfolds below in a stunning panorama. It was at that moment, gazing at the vast expanse, that I realized hiking was more than just exercise— hiking was my coping skill, my life hack for feeling good.
And from there forward, hiking became my vessel for personal growth, physical health, and, eventually, creating a whole new community of others who were stoked on spending time outdoors.
From there, I started to get curious about why my time outdoors was having such a positive impact on my self-confidence, my overall health and a positive mindset.
~ I noticed that if I something felt heavy or I was stressed out about something in my life, it never felt the same when I walked back in my door after a hike. While I was out, whether I contemplated the stressor or cleared my mind through movement, I returned home to a reduction in stress or a new perspective on the problem.
~ I recognized such a sense of joy and emotional revelations when I was out backpacking with friends. When life gets real simple in the backcountry, when I have everything I need in my backpack and zero life distractions, I'm able to get real present and wind up talking about any and everything on my mind. It's like Mother Earth and my friends are the therapist and I am processing my truth to them.
~ I noticed my nervous system was calmer and I fell in love with the details of nature that were always in my "backyard", I just hadn't spent intimate time with them before. The peace and joy I discovered in nature nudged me toward mindfulness, and I started to appreciate things like the changing colors of buckwheat over the seasons, the sensations in my body as I hiked and the views from the top. The realization came that breathing fresh air and savoring simple moments were far more fulfilling than the busy whoas of life.
~ And lastly, I started to get perspective on what, and who, really mattered to me and on who I wanted to be in this short lifetime. Time in nature gave me the gift of seeing the big picture and leaning away from urgency and superficial elements to life. It opened a door for me toward the simple, the authentic, the vulnerable, and that has stuck with me ever since.
So with all that I thought... why not harness the transformations I've had in nature and share it with others. Enter Thrive Wellness Workshop—a dream born from my experiences, designed to offer the therapeutic benefits of nature in a fun and approachable way. When it started, I was a pre-licensed therapist, new in the field, and deciding on the fly how to create nature adventures that speak to my community. What began with youth workshops in Ojai and Channel Islands camping trips soon expanded to adult events, thanks to the encouragement of enthusiastic parents of youth participants. I've connected with so many of you on a personal level and that would've never happened if it weren't for that breakup, those repeated weekend hikes, and the lessons of nature I opened my heart to in a time of need.
And now, I’m thrilled to invite you to our very first Mindful Hiking Club! This new venture embodies everything I’ve learned from my journey through nature. Every other Wednesday, we’ll gather to hike, practice mindfulness, and share life’s ups and downs together.
I’d love for you to join us on this adventure of growth and connection. Let’s discover the transformative power of the outdoors together!
Looking forward to seeing you there,
Tessa Magill
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