[Joy Nalywaiko]

What does it mean to be connected to Nature, and how can that relationship support your coaching?

I used to think that being connected to nature meant being outside while doing something that I loved – such as hiking, trail running, camping, etc. But over the course of our Foundations week, I was quickly reminded that being connected to Nature isn’t how much I move in it or how much I run in it, but rather, how much I fully appreciate it. It is about how much I let it teach me. For me and my active self, this is truly reflected when I force myself to slow down. When I sit down and let it teach me. When I sit down and simply observe. When I let nature take over and realize that I actually WANT to slow down, sit down and observe.

I never realized that being in nature was so similar to meditation. I used to think running and hiking quickly were meditative for me and in a way, they still are. But to really become connected to Nature, for me, it is sitting (somewhat) still and finding the peace and tranquility that comes as the mosquitos start flocking or the flies start biting. Each annoyance of nature comes with its own lesson and it is up to me to sit down and really listen to what it is trying to teach me.

When the swarms of mosquitoes were flocking in the forest, there was a cloud cover. When the cloud cover passed and the sun came out, there was a fawn, meowing next to me. When the mosquitoes came back, the cloud cover had replaced the sun and the fawn was gone. This cycle repeated enough to quickly learn that as annoying as the mosquitoes were, the annoyances would stop or I would still my mind enough to not notice them, and the fawn would appear. Annoyances can teach me just as much (if not more) as the joys I experience while in nature.

When on the ridge, in my sit spot, I would go with the intention of living in neutral amusement – where my baseline is at a neutral level and I am amused by anything that causes a rise or fall in the baseline. But as I sat there, happily thinking the words ‘neutral amusement’, the flies began swarming around me, buzzing around me faster and faster in a royal state of annoyance and disdain until I started flinging my arms and legs to get them to stop. This made me realize that it felt much better to move around in my area, which turned into me rolling in the dirt among the sagebrush, giggling happily and finally, FINALLY feeling one with nature, in which I could sit still or roll around or look up at the world as if I was a wildflower and feel incredibly giddy, not even noticing where the flies were (even though I feel as if they were still flying around me in circles) but (actually) not caring at the same time.

The idea of neutral amusement and the actual feeling of neutral amusement are two very different things. The idea of connecting with nature and the actual, wondrous feeling of that connection are two very different things for me. Remembering to take that feeling into the present moment and keeping that connection through everyday life stresses is true connection in my eyes. And taking all of this into coaching is the only way that I can imagine helping empower clients through nature. By allowing that feeling of nature connection to enter into the present moment at any time, no matter if you are around 200 people in a line on the 4^th of July or on a paddleboard in the middle of a lake – but being able to find that connection at any time and in any place….remembering that nature is always there – no matter where you are.

[Joy Nalywaiko]

Hi Everyone!

My name is Joy and I’m getting really excited for the June intensive. I’ve been mostly overseas for my adult life and Denver is my home base in the US. I felt a calling to participate in this program after a series of events led me to a sort of awakening experience in Vietnam during Covid. I recently finished hypnotherapy school in California and will be doing a Yoga Teacher Training during July/August as well. I have an awesome business plan in mind that will include everything and I can’t wait to get started! I look forward to meeting everyone :).

I MIGHT be back in Denver before driving to Gunnison. I’ve been in Cali since March and am slowly making my way back. I can drive anyone that needs a ride IF I come back in time (otherwise, I’ll be driving up from southern CO). I’ll let you know as soon as I know :). I have a Subaru Outback and can bring three people as long as we can cram our things in the back.

Joy

[Joy Nalywaiko]

Lindsay – This was beautifully written. I love how you described your connection with nature – it really felt as though you were dancing through it as I was reading your post. I appreciate how you choose to integrate it into your coaching sessions, especially with the encouragement of your clients creating ideas of what they can do within the realm of nature to connect during your sessions.

[Joy Nalywaiko]

Hey Everyone! I can’t offer a ride. I will now already be in the Gunnison area this next week (camping for the next three weeks ;)) But it looks like it worked out with Amy. If anything changes, I will check in with everyone before the 25th.