202: The Transformative Power of Coaching with Netwalking
Aug 5, 2024
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Ellie Lloyd-Jones, an outdoor coach who integrates nature into her practice, shares her inspiring journey of using the outdoors for mental health and coaching. She highlights the transformative benefits of netwalking events, emphasizing how nature alleviates anxiety and fosters mindfulness. Ellie discusses her experiences helping neurodiverse clients thrive in outdoor settings, showcases the importance of community, and advocates for staying active to enhance well-being. Tune in for insightful stories about the healing power of nature!
Engaging with nature can significantly improve mental health, alleviate anxiety, and foster a nurturing environment for personal development.
Netwalking, which combines coaching with nature walks, creates a relaxed atmosphere that encourages meaningful conversations and enhances the coaching experience.
Ellie Lloyd-Jones's outdoor coaching philosophy integrates mindfulness and nature, facilitating deeper insights and personal growth through relatable imagery.
Deep dives
The Benefits of Nature for Mental Wellbeing
Engaging with nature significantly enhances mental health, helping to alleviate feelings of anxiety and claustrophobia. The host shares insights from Ellie Lloyd-Jones, who discovered a personal transformation through outdoor activities after feeling trapped indoors. Experiencing the outdoors brought a profound sense of freedom and relief from mental constraints, leading to improved emotional states for both herself and her children. The discussion emphasizes that being in nature not only fosters one's well-being but also creates a nurturing environment for children to flourish.
Coaching Outdoors: A Unique Approach
Ellie Lloyd-Jones introduces the concept and practice of coaching outdoors, where she combines networking with nature-based walks. This method allows participants to engage in meaningful conversations without the pressures of direct eye contact, creating a relaxed atmosphere. Participants often express that walking side by side in nature facilitates openness and enhances the coaching experience. This approach reflects a growing trend in coaching that values the therapeutic effects of natural environments.
The Impact of Outdoor Networking Events
Ellie reflects on her motivations for creating outdoor networking events, born from her own experiences of feeling drained at traditional indoor gatherings. By moving these events outdoors, she has been able to facilitate more relaxed connections among participants while encouraging movement and engagement with nature. Attendees express joy and lightness during these events, often leaving with a renewed motivation and a sense of community. The unique setting allows for a far more enriching experience compared to conventional networking formats.
Mindfulness and Nature: Holistic Coaching
Ellie's coaching philosophy integrates mindfulness practices with nature, enhancing both individual and group sessions. She illustrates this connection by encouraging participants to observe the natural world, which often serves as a metaphor for personal challenges and growth. This mindful approach, coupled with outdoor experiences, fosters deeper insights and helps participants articulate complex feelings through relatable nature-based imagery. The practice underscores the significance of adapting coaching methodologies to include holistic and sensory elements.
Challenges and Growth in Outdoor Coaching
Ellie discusses the challenges faced while developing her outdoor coaching model and the evolution of her business. Initially offering free events, she encountered issues with attendance but learned the importance of charging for services to maintain commitment. As Ellie expands her reach, she emphasizes the need for support in managing events and nurturing collaboration among other coaches, aiming to promote outdoor coaching nationwide. This journey highlights the intersection of personal development, professional growth, and the unwavering commitment to community well-being.
Ellie Lloyd-Jones, Outdoor Coach, joins host, Rob Lawrence to discuss her journey and experiences in outdoor coaching. Ellie shares how her move to the countryside for her own mental health and the positive impact of nature on her children inspired her to integrate outdoor elements into her coaching practice. Besides one-to-one coaching, she now runs regular group coaching in the form of netwalking events, as well as wellness sessions. Hear about her unique experiences as a coach and introvert, and why she believes that outdoor coaching is potentially ideal for clients who are neurodiverse.
You will learn:
· What Netwalking is and its benefits
· The impact of nature on wellbeing and self-care
· Personal experiences and real-life examples of outdoor coaching
“I set up my Netwalking events to bring people together, to get people away from technology. They are centred around common challenges people face and I set up coaching cards specific for that event.”
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