“If you will stay close to nature, to its simplicity, to the small things hardly noticeable, those things can unexpectedly become great and immeasurable.”
About
I answered yes to the questions above as recently as the height of the coronavirus pandemic. Even as I loved being outdoors as a child and had hiked portions of the Appalachian Trail in my youth and young adulthood, I was spending more time indoors on virtual calls, and feeling more disconnected from the natural world. It was then that I resolved to start taking small steps to open my senses and receive once again the benefits of the natural world.
Connecting with the natural world is closer and easier than we think. And reaping the benefits can be enhanced by cultivating a simple and receptive disposition…a more “receiving nature.”
Modern life has trained us to prioritize thinking and doing, but we all have this innate capacity to simply be and receive the benefits of the natural world, and life itself for that matter…both the life outside and within us. My mission is to invite human beings to experience – touch, hear, smell, taste, and see – and soak in the gifts that are freely available in the natural world, thereby feeling more at ease, alive, and well in their daily lives.
I’m a National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC) and Kripalu Certified Mindful Outdoor Guide (K-MOG), with additional training in Mindfulness and Mindful Self-Compassion. I’ve been coaching, facilitating, and guiding individuals and groups, and training others to do the same, for the bulk of my professional life. I’ve worked independently as well as with Duke University Health System, the Veterans Health Administration, and the Whole Health Institute. I would love to work with you!
Jason Dudley, M.Div.
National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC)
Kripalu Certified Mindful Outdoor Guide (K-MOG)
Evidence
Numerous scientific studies continue to validate the benefits of connecting with the natural world. From looking out our windows onto water or green space, to spending time outside in your backyard, to having more immersive experiences in forests, nature’s positive impacts on human health and well-being are many.
- Increase feelings of calm and wakefulness
- Ease symptoms of anxiety and depression
- Heighten concentration, gratitude, empathy, and creativity
- Lower heart rate and blood pressure
- Bolster immune system and physical health
Research continues to expand, from roughly 60 studies in 2005 to 1,000 plus today. Recent studies recommend spending at least one to two hours a week with nature. Time in nature, wherever we find it, urban or rural, outside or in, approached in an open and receptive way, enhances our health and well-being in so many ways. Come experience for yourself!
“Start close in…start with the ground you know, the pale ground beneath your feet, your own way of starting the conversation.”
Offerings
Whether individually or in a group, virtually or in person, join me to rediscover more ease and feel more connected with the natural world, yourself, and others.
Virtual Webinar
October 28, 2022 at 12pm ET hosted by Duke Health & Well-Being.
An informational and experiential hour on enhancing your connection with the natural world. Cost: $20
Companion Calls
Schedule a 30-to-60-minute call with me for encouraging guidance on taking your next steps to connect with nature wherever you find it and with whatever time you have.
In-Person Groups
Stay tuned for upcoming Spring 2023 offerings on the wooded campus of Duke’s Center for Living in Durham, NC, or a Durham park or preserve near you.
Contact
“There are no lines in nature, only areas of color, one against another.”