Coaching Outdoors

“Realising the transformative and powerful experience of feeling that resilience from being able to gather things from the natural world and provide for yourself…it’s a really important thing I try to encourage, that it’s not an exploitative relationship, that it’s a reciprocal relationship, that you give back”

Robin Bowman is a true inspiration. The co-founder of The Old Way programme, mentor of teenagers at WildWise camps, tracker, bushman and expedition leader in the Kalahari and proponent of the ecological restoration movement.

Recording this podcast episode gave us so much to think about as we listened to his stories and examples. 

Such as spending time with the San Ju Bush people of the Namibian Kalahari learning indigenous bow hunting and tracking skills, and grass hut making. 

At his rewilding project Moor Barton, mimicking the behaviour of native animal species long since gone from our land to help rewild parts of the Dartmoor moors, gathering oysters and cockles on the bank of the river Dart, encouraging people to sleep outdoors and spend time in the woods at night and not be scared.

These are just some of the range of topics we cover in this podcast.

Robin is a champion for being a participant in nature, rather than an observer, and leaves us at the end with a real call to arms… now really is The Great Turning.
  

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 ‘Clearing’ is an oxygenated space where anything is possible. It is linked to the improvisation mindset ‘’yes and…” I use this as a space to coach in"

 Comedy meets coaching with trained actor, teacher and comedy improvisation performer, Chris Grimes who blends these three performance disciplines to inform his engaging, innovative and powerful approach to Personal Impact coaching. 

 From Uganda, Bristol and Gifford’s Circus we discover the threads of Chris’ backstory which have converged to form his coaching work in ‘The Clearing’. This is a space and place to think, free from clutter and full of inspiration. 

 Self-described ‘Sherpa with a flip chart’ Chris also collaborates with Dave Stewart for transformational journeys in the Scottish Highlands where the power of co-coaching, storytelling, a “yes and…” mindset and a healthy dollop of laughter collide.  

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

“It’s in a small woodland, that used to be a quarry nicknamed NLP - Natures Loving Palm - because you’re in a bowl of space with our fire within it… for me it's magical, because I get to see it in a snap shot every two weeks, through the years, through the seasons, through different climate… it’s gorgeous, a real special place because of the location and the work we do”

Mental health awareness and promoting positive mental health are two of the biggest challenges facing us today. 

Our special guest on this episode is Joe Thomas, arborist, nature lover and owner of “Joe Thomas Tree Care”. We have invited Joe to join the Coaching Outdoors Podcast to share his experiences of “The ManKind Project (MKP)” which has helped him, and his fellow group members, to become aware of, deal with and overcome mental health challenges.

Meeting every other week, surrounding a campfire, in a copse of trees, in woodland just outside bath, Joe and his fellow members use the MKP structured approach to open themselves up to talking about and sharing their mental health challenges. Through support from other group members and the natural world around them, they experience a safe place to explore their feelings and emotions. 

Having the meetings outdoors allows nature to play a critical part, providing metaphor, mimicry, safety, sensory security and emotional support. Joe shares with us how nature plays such an important part in the MKP process and why they choose to hold their sessions outdoors.

There are many lessons that can be transferred from the world of MKP into outdoor coaching, such as inviting nature play, nature connections and nature themes into the language of our conversations, to help bridge challenging emotional situations and providing a way for our clients to express themselves.

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 work that I do, is in the large part reconnecting people with themselves, through reconnecting them with nature"

Gerdi Voerwoert, is a Self-Leadership Coach from ‘Dare Greatly Coaching, a Hiking Guide, Ski Instructor and Host of "Daring Self-Leadership and the Nature Connection" podcast. 

She joins us to talk about the impact of the corporate world on her own personal health and her daring decision to shift her world from the Netherlands to Austria to live amongst the mountains.

Gerdi talks about the concept and importance of self-leadership, the differences of being a coach and/or guide, reconnecting clients with themselves through nature and the need for safety when taking people into the mountains. 

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 

Ghislain, a coach, teacher and consultant, joins us for this episode of the Coaching Outdoors Podcast, from Sherbrook, near Montreal, Canada.

He has been taking his coaching clients outdoors for over 15 years. Ghislain has a background in Urban planning and in retail, but found he lost touch with being outdoors as much as he wanted. Whilst coaching franchisee owners, however, he had a realisation that he wanted to change careers and not only become a coach…but an outdoor coach.

Ghislain takes us for a walk through the woods where he takes many of his coaching clients, sharing his thoughts on why spending time in nature, and coaching outdoors are so beneficial.

He talks about his love and constant search for evidence and research to explain the experiences he and his clients have, when stepping outdoors.

As coaches, many of us have moments of doubt ourselves. Ghislain also very candidly and openly shares his experience with Imposter Syndrome and self-doubt, which we may all be able to relate to at times in our coaching career.

Ghislain weaves stories and anecdotes from his coaching into our podcast, to bring to life the examples that he shares.
  

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 look up and there’s a bear!" - Jen Wills

 Jen Wills, former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency attorney turned leadership, well-being and nature coach and instructor from Virginia, U.S shares her coaching journey over a six month period. This episode is slightly different from our usual format with not one - but two (!) interviews in March 2021 and October 2021.  

 Firm nature advocate she outlines her coaching methodology ‘Nature Roaming’™, which integrates reflecting on intentions, connecting to nature and creating a plan to grow from the experience. This episode also dives into how she connects EQ-i 2.0™ assessments with nature to help clients develop the emotional intelligence skills of self-awareness, empathy and stress-management. She’s also co-created a new Community of Practice for Outdoor and Nature Coaching, hosted by the Metro DC Chapter of ICF, to create a space for coaches and others to share resources and their passion for nature coaching. 

 In addition, there’s bears, Yellow Jacket bees, fish, twisted trees and a whole lot more coaching delights.  

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

 “Walking is a natural phenomenon that allows us to access parts of our brain we don’t have access to when just sitting there” 

Lennie Noiles joins us from Denver, Colorado, to continue the international theme of series 3 of the Coaching Outdoors Podcast. 

Lennie is passionate about co-partnering with nature to create great outdoor coaching experiences for his clients. He steps back and lets nature do the coaching, providing context and moments of inspiration, realisation and clarity. 

Lennie is also an avid learner, gathering a wealth of research around why nature is so beneficial to us and, therefore, what the benefits are of coaching in nature, sharing some of the insights he’s learned along the way. Whilst also setting a challenge and a call to arms for budding researchers….how do we research the intangible aspects of outdoor coaching? 

With a route to coaching that was a series of “switch backs”, Lennie is an example of an outdoor coaching who’s childhood affinity to nature and accidentally becoming a coach, guided him to realise he could put the two together and take his coaching practice outdoors. 


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 thing that’s obvious as you start to connect to nature is that you can’t ignore the climate crisis" - Gwyneth Jones

Deep Adaptation Coach, Emotional Intelligence and Positive Psychology coach, aspiring gardener and herbalist, eco-activist, writer and Work That Reconnects facilitator. Gwyneth Jones joins us from the magical city of Prague (Czech Republic), where she tends her small garden and dreams about opening an ecological centre, where she can teach others how to reconnect to their souls, to the earth, to the land. 

In our conversations together we dive into how Emotional Intelligence (EQ) overlaps with nature, the results of her dissertation ‘Thirty minutes in nature a day can increase mood, wellbeing, meaning in life and mindfulness - effects of a pilot programme’ in partnership with the ‘Rewild Your Life’ thirty programme, the spiral methodology behind her work as a ‘Work That Reconnects’ facilitator, how to support clients deal with environmental collapse & much much more.   
 

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 could see the impact coaching had on the way people were being really reflective and having an impact on student outcomes”

The first episode of Season 3 of the Coaching Outdoors Podcast comes all the way from Sydney, Australia. 

Elle Smith met Anna-Marie whilst they were both doing triathlon’s in Sydney and has since also honed her outdoor coaching skills in a slightly different context - the Education sector. 

As Senior Learning Coach at St Andrew’s Cathedral School, Elle and her team have not only introduced coaching as a form of development for the teachers, but also transformed the way they coach the teachers and students by taking the coaching conversations outdoors.

Elle uses the concept of Netwalking to coach groups outdoors, finding that getting outside the walls of their very busy school day helps increase creativity, gain deeper levels of reflection, brings about a sense of calm and ultimately improves student outcomes - which is always their goal.

This is a podcast with a difference and shows how outdoor coaching can have benefits in many different contexts.


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

“Ideally, wouldn’t it be wonderful if everybody that was running coaching training had a module on coaching outdoors. Wouldn’t that be fantastic?!”

 Lesley Roberts is founder of Brave Conversations and Coaching Outdoors and award winner from the 2020 European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) Global Coaching Award for her online outdoor coaching programmes. 

 We track her initial connection to nature playing on a swing in her backgarden to becoming an Outdoor Education teacher, before moving into the corporate world, then creating her own businesses. She’s a trail blazer in the outdoor coach training world having designed two outdoor coaching programmes; Getting started coaching outdoors and Nature as co-facilitator. 

 Be swept away by Lesleys’ calming Scottish lilt for advice on how to tackle common challenges outdoor coaches face, the need to nail Maslow Hierarchy of Needs and power of collaboration within the outdoor coaching community. 

  

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