The Transformative Power of Pilgrimage and Walking (ft. Chris Clark)

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Chris Clark, PCC, is an instructor in Lumia’s life coach training program. She’s also a seasoned leadership coach with a unique practice that integrates nature-based techniques and spiritual mentorship. With a 20-year background in communications, marketing, nonprofit, and higher education spaces, Chris brings a wealth of experience to her coaching practice.

Chris has developed a multifaceted approach that combines her diverse interests and expertise into a cohesive body of work. Her coaching practice is rooted in her background in environmental conservation, which sparked her interest in exploring nature-based techniques and spirituality.

Chris is also trained as a shamanic healing practitioner, and her coaching incorporates mindfulness, Buddhist philosophy, and indigenous wisdom traditions from a cross-cultural perspective. 

Chris brings a wealth of knowledge and insight into today's topic: the significance of pilgrimages and walking in nature. You can connect with her here!

The Transformative Power of Pilgrimage and Walking (ft. Chris Clark)

At Lumia, we constantly explore emerging trends in the wellness marketplace to provide real-time data for coaches. 

One trend that has been gaining attention is the concept of pilgrimages and the profound connection people have with walking in nature. Chris's unique practice, which combines leadership coaching, spiritual mentorship, and shamanic healing, makes her the perfect person to dive into this topic alongside Lumia founder, Noelle Cordeaux.

What is a pilgrimage?

Pilgrimage is not just a journey of traversing time and space in your physical body, but an inner one. The idea of a pilgrimage provides a container for introspection and transformation, similar to the space created in coaching. 

Chris shares her experiences with pilgrimages, such as Brigid’s Way in Ireland and exploring the land connected to poet and philosopher John O'Donohue’s work. Chris found the embodiment practice of pilgrimage appealing. It helped her connect with her ancestral roots and the land in a deeply meaningful way.

“Doing pilgrimage brought me back to the essentials– my whole job for a period of time was to walk and to rest and to notice, taking my body sometimes to the limits of what it could do. It takes a while to drop out of the world or the context we come from and into the essence of what it is to be a human. Walk for long enough, and we return to the simplicity of what it is to be a human animal, fully alive to our senses.” - Chris Clark

More Resources:
Using Nature in Coaching: Deeper Connections and Improved Outcomes

The Top Four Emerging Trends in Coaching and Wellness in 2024

Pilgrimage and nature as coaching opportunity

The Global Wellness Summit's trends report highlighted a significant disruption in the wellness space, with a surge in interest in returning to nature and spirituality. This trend reflects changes in society, with more people growing discontent with the fast-paced way of life. 

There’s a real hunger for slowing down, simplifying, and reconnecting with ourselves, with nature and with our community. As coaches, paying attention to these trends and understanding these shifts in global consciousness is crucial for serving our clients well.

The role of coaches in facilitation connection with nature

Nature offers many metaphors that can be powerful in the context of coaching. Whether it's understanding the growth process through the metaphor of a seed becoming a tree, or finding strength and resilience in the behavior of animals, using these metaphors within a coaching session can help clients navigate their journeys. 

For many, the idea of venturing into nature can be daunting. Yet, engaging with nature equips people for handling discomfort and teaches them to embrace the unpredictability of life.

Chris emphasizes starting small, like taking a short walk or spending a few minutes outside each day. The goal is to build a connection with nature gradually and intentionally, pushing our edges just a little more each time.

“People say they often feel a “connection” in nature. What this often entails is a sense of being part of something larger than themselves, a feeling that in turn helps disrupt the sense of loneliness and isolation that’s becoming a predominant and troubling feature of modern life.” - Chris Clark

Practical Tips for Incorporating Nature into Your Life

1. Nature Sit Spot: Spend 20 minutes in the same spot in nature regularly. This could be your backyard, a park, or even a spot by a window. Over time, you'll begin to notice the rhythms and life around you, integrating yourself into the natural environment.
   
   
2. Local Excursions: Plan a short pilgrimage to a local place of significance. This could be a park, a trail, or a historically significant site. The intention is to connect deeply with the land and your inner self.
   
   
3. Community Connection: Engage with others who share your interest in nature and spiritual journeys. Whether it's through local groups or online communities, sharing your experiences brings more meaning and joy!
   
   
4. Give Yourself Grace! Not every experience will unfold the way you expect it to, so hold your expectations loosely and be open to surprises along the way.

“As a shamanic practitioner, I have been deeply trained in how to listen to the land. Even so, a lot of times I don't feel what I think I'm “supposed to feel” when I go to a sacred place. We show up as we are. Every adventure is a good one. Let’s be kind to ourselves and the expectations we hold of what it ought to feel like.” - Chris Clark

Incorporating nature into coaching practice can profoundly impact both coaches and clients. Whether through pilgrimages, walking in nature, or simply sitting quietly in a natural setting, these practices offer a pathway to a deeper connection with ourselves and a better understanding of our place in the world.

Want To Become a Coach Who Works in Nature?

The first step is a quality foundational coaching education! A lot of talented people like you dream of working as a coach, but aren’t quite sure how to get there. We train and certify adventurous coaches, making sure you’ve got all you need to build a career you love and transform lives, on your terms. If you're ready to learn more, come check out Lumia Life Coach Training!

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