Coaching Outdoors

“It feels such a privilege when you get to walk literally and metaphorically; walk beside people in these kinds of transformations. It’s an incredible thing to do” ~ Ruth Steggles

Rose Dixey and Ruth Steggles teamed up in 2013 to breathe life into the collaboration known as “Fresh Air Fridays”. Online, in-person, community-based or corporate, Fresh Air Fridays offers a range of programmes to create an oasis within your daily life. From “Breathing Space” daily 30-minute virtual practices, half-day walk-shops and 12-week or month programmes, Rose and Ruth or their trusted facilitators unpack a theme through a combination of mindfulness, sensory activation practices and time for reflection. 

Our conversations trace the emergence of Fresh Air Fridays and how the concept has diversified, and touch on a myriad of topics with mindfulness, listening without commentary and self-awareness, all illustrated with an insight into participant journeys along the way. 
 

View podcasts and get in touch. 

https://www.coaching-outdoors.com 

Anna-Marie https://www.rfmcoaching.com 

Alex https://www.alexburnconsulting.com 

#coachingoutdoors #outdoorcoaching #coaching #ecopsychology #ecocoaching #bluespace #greenspace #natureconnectedness #naturalenvironments #ecology #nature #environment #mentalhealth #wellbeing #coaches #coachees #movement #thinkingdifferently

“The real healing happens outside”

 Susan Joachim is the President and Founding Member of the International Nature and Forest Therapy Alliance (INFTA) and her purpose in life is to promote public health through the preventive health practice of Nature and Forest Therapy.

 Her career stretches from project management work for US Aid in the rural areas of Sri Lanka, where she witnessed the simple life amongst nature, to the white four walls of Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors. She was deeply struck by the contrast of her personal experiences hiking in comparison to the confined indoor nature of counselling. The discovery of “Shrinin-yoku” inspired her to travel to the epicentre of research in Japan, to learn from the experts and bridge the gap back to Australia. 

 In our conversations Susan describes the key elements of a typical “Shrinin-yoku” session, how her clients seek relief from loneliness, loss, grief, health or relationship challenges and ongoing trauma inflicted by the pandemic, and her desire to replicate research from Japan in Australia.  
 

View podcasts and get in touch. 

https://www.coaching-outdoors.com 

Anna-Marie https://www.rfmcoaching.com 

Alex https://www.alexburnconsulting.com 

#coachingoutdoors #outdoorcoaching #coaching #ecopsychology #ecocoaching #bluespace #greenspace #natureconnectedness #naturalenvironments #ecology #nature #environment #mentalhealth #wellbeing #coaches #coachees #movement #thinkingdifferently

“As my vision quest guide always said, “don’t press the panic button too early”” – Penelope Mavor

This episode of the Coaching Outdoors Podcast brings a number of our past guests back to answer 4 of the top questions we are asked the most by our followers.

Our guests are international, joining us from the Netherlands, Sweden, Spain and the US, as well as from across the UK. Their backgrounds are equally as wide ranging, from survival experts and mountaineers, to seal rescue specialists, sustainability experts and equine coaches.

Our guests: 
Cat Boersma
Dave Stewart
Jacqueline Harris
John Farrell
Nick Smith
Penelope Mavor
Toby Cowern
Lennie Noiles
Lizzie Larbalestier 

They share their insights and experience in answering these top 4 questions – how do they take notes when coaching outdoors, how do they deal with inclement weather, what challenges or unplanned events have they encountered and their 2 top tips for successful outdoor coaching sessions?

Their different coaching styles and approaches mean we get a really great range of answers to these questions. To take notes or not to take notes? That really is a question! Planning is most definitely key with outdoors coaching, as is the contents of your backpack (**other brands of poncho are available**) and if you do plan properly the weather is unlikely to be an issue. There are always opportunities for unplanned events and challenges, however, often in the form of animals, and these can be great opportunities to integrate. 

The key is… “Be open minded and curious, curious for what’s to come” – Cat Boersma


 View podcasts and get in touch. 

https://www.coaching-outdoors.com 

Anna-Marie https://www.rfmcoaching.com 

Alex https://www.alexburnconsulting.com 

 #coachingoutdoors #outdoorcoaching #coaching #ecopsychology #ecocoaching #bluespace #greenspace #natureconnectedness #naturalenvironments #ecology #nature #environment #mentalhealth #wellbeing #coaches #coachees #movement #thinkingdifferently

“Trust in connection with outdoor coaching…this starts to build way before your clients even reach out to you. It starts in two pathways. The first, if a client considers outdoor coaching they are going to stalk you potential longer than they would do another coach because they need to have a bit more trust in you because you’re taking them to a place they’ve potentially never been before”

This episode of the Coaching Outdoors Podcast delves deep into the topic of research into the benefits of taking coaching outdoors, both for the coach and the client.

Claudia Geratz is working hard on her MSc dissertation, looking at how the coaching alliance develops within the outdoor space, and took time out from her analysis and write up to share some of the exciting findings of her research.

Claudia’s research has identified a number of key themes which can help us to understand the benefits of coaching outdoors: space; trust; movement; freedom; connection; side-by-side walking and the coaching alliance. As well as the vital importance of post-it notes when you’re doing thematic analysis!

Watch this space for the written research once Claudia has completed it.
 

View podcasts and get in touch. 

https://www.coaching-outdoors.com 

Anna-Marie https://www.rfmcoaching.com 

Alex https://www.alexburnconsulting.com 

#coachingoutdoors #outdoorcoaching #coaching #ecopsychology #ecocoaching #bluespace #greenspace #natureconnectedness #naturalenvironments #ecology #nature #environment #mentalhealth #wellbeing #coaches #coachees #movement #thinkingdifferently

“I wanted to be the pebble in the pond that is the ripple of change, it means something to me”

Paul Jefferies, of Pebbles Associates, joins us for the next episode of the Coaching Outdoors Podcast from his home in the Peak District. 

Paul’s made the decision to become a coach following a health scare which lead to a realisation that a change of career was needed and, by using the Ikigai Framework (Passion, Mission, Vocation and Experience), that not just coaching, but outdoor coaching was his passion and his mission was to give something back.

We talk about the journey Paul took from being a corporate business leader to an outdoor coach, as well as the benefits he finds his clients gain from taking their coaching conversations outdoors.

Paul shares a multitude of great stories from his client’s experiences using metaphors, for example the importance of a leaf to one client and the use of terrain as a metaphor for change for another. Using water to talk about how to get from one place to another and using pace as an evocative way of letting clients process their thoughts. Paul also delves into the power of walking side by side.


View podcasts and get in touch. 

https://www.coaching-outdoors.com 

Anna-Marie https://www.rfmcoaching.com 

Alex https://www.alexburnconsulting.com 

#coachingoutdoors #outdoorcoaching #coaching #ecopsychology #ecocoaching #bluespace #greenspace #natureconnectedness #naturalenvironments #ecology #nature #environment #mentalhealth #wellbeing #coaches #coachees #movement #thinkingdifferently

“Bluebells are such a hardy little plant; underground for three seasons and then they come back in spring. Strong, vibrant, green… It’s magic.”

Cat Boersma, former social worker, coach, founder of ‘Bluebell Coaching’ and outdoor person at heart works predominantly with members of the expat community in the Netherlands. We interrupt her two-month retreat to England to learn about her recent career transition from social worker to coach and qualifying as an ‘Outdoor Life Coach’ under Peter Kryger through the Atma Institute. 

She shares her decision to take time out to resource herself amongst the English countryside in spring, why she always carries juggling balls or bubbles in her back pack and the challenges she’s faced setting up her business.  

 

View podcasts and get in touch. 

https://www.coaching-outdoors.com 

Anna-Marie https://www.rfmcoaching.com 

Alex https://www.alexburnconsulting.com 

#coachingoutdoors #outdoorcoaching #coaching #ecopsychology #ecocoaching #bluespace #greenspace #natureconnectedness #naturalenvironments #ecology #nature #environment #mentalhealth #wellbeing #coaches #coachees #movement #thinkingdifferently

“One of the questions is ‘and is there anything else?’, that’s a clean language question”

New Zealander, John Farrell, joins us for this podcast episode which focuses on Clean Language and Equine Coaching – two very interesting topics.

John got into coaching 20 years ago thanks to his wife and a rather unexpected fire walk, and hasn’t looked back since, developing his practice into outdoor coaching and then adding horses for a unique take on outdoor coaching.

Through the use of the Clean Language and Emergent Knowledge techniques, John helps his clients to develop metaphors to resolve their challenges and traumas.

The horses act as powerful archetypes, helping, often just at the right time with a friendly, gentle nudge to inspire the client with a spark of knowledge or understanding. They communicate on a sensory level, providing truly unique metaphors that clients will never forget. 

 

 View podcasts and get in touch. 

https://www.coaching-outdoors.com 

Anna-Marie https://www.rfmcoaching.com 

Alex https://www.alexburnconsulting.com 

#coachingoutdoors #outdoorcoaching #coaching #ecopsychology #ecocoaching #bluespace #greenspace #natureconnectedness #naturalenvironments #ecology #nature #environment #mentalhealth #wellbeing #coaches #coachees #movement #thinkingdifferently

“I’m facilitating that time, space and place for people to have that higher quality internal conversation”

Our next podcasts takes us to Sweden to meet the inspiring Toby Cowern, who’s list of qualifications and achievements is long and extremely varied. From wilderness survival and bushcraft skills, to canoe, mountain biking and dog sledding tours, and on to outdoor coaching.

Toby shares his backstory of how his love for nature and being outside shaped his career and evolved into outdoor coaching.

We delve into the importance of giving ourselves permission to spend time alone, immersed in the natural environment, as well as the use of positive psychology to promote meaningful connection with nature to help minimize trauma.

Toby also shares some of the tenants that create the foundations for the courses he runs, such as Nature Literacy.

We will no doubt be joining one of Toby’s courses next year!
 

View podcasts and get in touch. 

https://www.coaching-outdoors.com 

Anna-Marie https://www.rfmcoaching.com 

Alex https://www.alexburnconsulting.com 

 #coachingoutdoors #outdoorcoaching #coaching #ecopsychology #ecocoaching #bluespace #greenspace #natureconnectedness #naturalenvironments #ecology #nature #environment #mentalhealth #wellbeing #coaches #coachees #movement #thinkingdifferently

"What is your compost?"

 Life. Death. Birth. Rebirth. Growth. Decay. 

The cycles of life and inevitability of change lie at the centre of our conversations with the remarkable Penelope Mavor. Through her business ‘Earth Converse’ she encourages individuals to move beyond our cultural denial of death and engage in real conversations with themselves and the earth. 

Leadership coach and consultant; and founder of Earth Converse Penelope is on a life-long mission to help leaders best serve people and planet. Her nature work has been strongly influenced by the School of Lost Borders which offers vision fasts, guide trainings, and other programs that offer initiatory, transformational experiences to those seeking growth, insight, and restoration.

She has strong roots and wings; originating from New Zealand, spending time in United Kingdom, Italy and now resides in Spain. With a background in sustainability, she holds not one; but three (!) Masters in Regional and Resource Planning; a MBA in International Business; and Corporate and Business Coaching. Over the last 25 years she has worked in partnership with award winning and top leadership providers such as Common Purpose, Lane4 and Impact International.

Our conversations weave across the use of mirroring and metaphors in coaching, the inevitable and constant change of life, knowledge uncovered through medicine wheels, the mystery behind VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Chaotic and Ambiguous) and our human desire to leave legacy. 

View podcasts and get in touch
https://www.coaching-outdoors.com 

Anna-Marie https://www.rfmcoaching.com 

Alex https://www.alexburnconsulting.com 

#coachingoutdoors #outdoorcoaching #coaching #ecopsychology #ecocoaching #bluespace #greenspace #natureconnectedness #naturalenvironments #ecology #nature #environment #mentalhealth #wellbeing #coaches #coachees #movement #thinkingdifferently

"I can see niche markets evolving and I think that’s where there’ll be a variety and a strength; and coaching outdoors is one example of that"

Professor Jonathan Passmore muses over the wider coaching profession reflecting backwards over 2021; then forwards into 2022 and beyond. He delves into the accelerated growth of digital coaching, the democratisation of coaching and the unique skills coaches bring to their profession. 

Taking coaching conversations into nature sits within this wider ecosystem and our conversations look across the broader business world set against unprecedented global events which have unfurled over the last twelve months. 
 

View podcasts and get in touch. 

https://www.coaching-outdoors.com 

Anna-Marie https://www.rfmcoaching.com 

Alex https://www.alexburnconsulting.com 

 #coachingoutdoors #outdoorcoaching #coaching #ecopsychology #ecocoaching #bluespace #greenspace #natureconnectedness #naturalenvironments #ecology #nature #environment #mentalhealth #wellbeing #coaches #coachees #movement #thinkingdifferently