Many coaching clients are curious about something slower, more spacious, more human. Outdoor coaching offers that space, where the pace and conversation are led by you, but what’s the science behind it.
I concur with Jonathan Passmore’s research, which found that coaching clients often feel “more themselves” outdoors. I consistently notice that clients reflect more deeply and speak more openly in natural settings. The International Coaching Federation (ICF) also notes that outdoor coaching “reduces pressure and opens new perspectives.”
Shinrin‑yoku is the Japanese practice of relaxing and immersing yourself in the forest — an invitation to stop, look and listen. A wealth of research from Japan and the University of Derby shows that nature connection can reduce stress and anxiety, support the immune system and offer measurable benefits from forest air chemistry.
When outdoors, conversations naturally follow your senses. When guided to explore gently, oxytocin, often called the “connection hormone”, can rise through safe, grounding contact with nature.
Nature changes the body and brain. Cortisol is your body’s main stress hormone it helps you stay alert when something feels demanding. When cortisol drops, your body shifts out of “fight or flight” and into a calmer, more balanced state.
Cortisol can drop by over 20% in an hour in natural environments (Hunter et al., 2019). Lower levels are linked with clearer thinking and better wellbeing.
Phytoncides are the natural protective oils released by tree that help protect them from insects and germs. Phytoncides increase Natural Killer (NK) cell activity in our blood stream, it can help fight viruses, a preventative cure. A single woodland immersion can keep these immune‑boosting effects active for up to 30 days (Forest Bathing Institute; Forestry England).
Professor Qing Li’s research shows that breathing in phytoncides can:
Breathing forest air also activates the parasympathetic nervous system — essential for deep, restorative rest.
Being immersed in nature guides the brain away from stress and towards restoration. The University of Derby found that even one wellbeing‑trail walk led to:
(Derby Nature Connectedness Research, 2023)
Outdoor coaching is simply coaching — but more in touch with nature and your true self. Walking can increase brain blood flow by up to 60% (Oppezzo & Schwartz, Stanford), which is why your mind often feels clearer after time in the woods. These are the conditions where coaching becomes more human, more grounded and more open to fresh thinking.
If you’re curious about outdoor coaching in nature on your doorstep, I’d love to explore it with you. One small change really can make a meaningful difference. Get in touch.
Author: Maria Callow, founder of alexandrapatrick, marketing consultant, accredited coach.
Sources:
Passmore, Canessa‑Pollard & Prentice (2024) — “nature becomes an active partner…”; four experiential themes
Hunter et al. (2019) — >20% cortisol reduction
Forest Bathing Institute / Forestry England — phytoncides + NK cell activity + 30‑day immune effect
University of Derby (2023) — 24% ↑ nature connectedness, 25% ↑ happiness, 31% ↓ anxiety, 38% ↓ rumination
Oppezzo & Schwartz, Stanford (2014) — walking increases creative output / brain activation
ICF (2023) — outdoor coaching “reduces pressure and opens new perspectives”