Lauren Wood
Womens Nature Coach
Reconnecting women back to the wild
“Tell me what else should I have done? Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon? Tell me what it is you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” – Mary Oliver
My Story
I have spent most of my life with my nose in the grass, climbing trees or exploring wild landscapes. I know the importance of connection with nature for our mental, physical, spiritual and emotional states. Therefore I have spent my career dedicated to helping others to find that connection for themselves.
In 2017, after multiple burnouts from working in the outdoor industry, I developed M.E. I was suddenly confronted with the prospect that I may never again be able to explore the mountains. It was a dark time.
Little did I realise that my M.E. was a blessing in disguise.
Working with what energy I had, I learned to enjoy nature in a way that was possible to me. I learned bird language and the magic and medicine in wild flowers. I learned to read the weather and make fire. I became a part of nature rather than trying to “do stuff” in it.
In 2018 I trained to be a One of many Coach. The experience helped me to manage my energy and finally get back to the mountains.
Through talking to my female friends I heard that there was a deep longing for connection to the wild. To feel the freedom and joy and connection that came from time in nature. But low confidence, few skills and lack of time and energy were holding them back.
It was nature that kept me grounded through my illness. It was nature that helped me to remember who I was when all felt all was lost. Knowing the power of immersion in nature, I realised I had the skills and experience to help others to find that for themselves. So that is what I set out to do. From there, One Wild Life was born.
With a background in Ecology and over a decades worth of experience in leading adventures, from the rainforests of Borneo to the wilds of Snowdonia, I know that there is more to enjoying the outdoors than simply doing stuff outside.
My passion is helping women to “know” the wild. To understand it like a friend. To read its language, move with the landscape and to embody that wildness within themselves.
I believe that women who embody the wild have a certain magical quality to them. A quality that shines in the workplace, at home with the family, out with friends, and inspires others to want the same.
And so nature connection spreads through our communities like roots through the soil so that together we may grow a wilder future.
If you would like to get involved, please contact me to find out more xx
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My Values & Beliefs
Connection
We cannot thrive unless we are connected to others. Whether that be other people or being part of the unfathomable web of connection, the ecosystem that keeps us alive. The more we open ourselves to connection, the more we can grow. One Wild Life commits to connecting with others to grow a community of like minded women who know the wild.
Curiosity
Nothing is ever as it seems and whole new worlds lie just beyond our assumptions and current ways of being in the world. When we explore with an open heart and a curious mind we can learn things we never knew we never knew. “In order to understand the world, one has to step away from it on occasion”. Curiosity is at the heart of my coaching. I am always ready to see you with a whole new fresh perspective.
Courage
In a world of civilised society, it can take a certain amount of courage to live wildly. I believe that deepening our connection to nature is not always an easy task. But it is necessary non-the-less. Our courage can hold us steady until we find our way. One Wild Life commits to acting courageously by speaking up and daring to be just as it is.
Joy
Rumi advised “Do what makes you come alive. The world needs people who come alive.” I have learned that when we follow our bliss and do what lights us up, we are more likely to succeed and in doing so, find fulfilment. Joy and playfulness are interwoven into my workshops as standard. Because why grow if we can’t enjoy the journey?
My Approach
I combine wilderness skills development with One of many Coaching tools to help you to manage your time to allow more space for adventures WITHOUT guilt.
Build confidence in skills such as navigation, fire craft and foraging so that you are free to explore the wild in your own way, in your own time.
Develop connection practices that will help you to build a deep relationship with nature, find a greater sense of well being and feel at home in the wild.
Learn to work with nature as a way to help you to learn more about yourself so that it can act as your own personal development partner for years to come.
