If you can walk and have no documented restrictions for participating in physical activities, no, you do not have to be physically fit. Every journey towards improving your physical health starts where you are. After the discussion component of your session, when we leave my workspace at the Ensign House, if you’re not ready for a bike ride or hike in the woods, we will walk to the Flower Bridge, which crosses the Farmington River. Depending on how you are feeling, we may continue to walk along Iron Horse Boulevard and the short trails that break off from it. Those first steps are so important as you begin your journey to excellent physical and psychological health. Let’s walk together!

No problem. Hiking starts with walking and having the proper gear. Before we go out into nature, you will learn what to bring on your first hike, including comfortable and supportive hiking shoes and light layers of clothing. On the trail, you will learn how to pace yourself and navigate various levels of terrain - mostly light to moderate in our part of Connecticut.  

In your discovery call, we will discuss your experiences with biking and whether you have a bike that you’d like to use during your BHTLC session. If you do not have a bicycle, we have comfortable, hybrid-style cross-training bikes that are available for a rental fee of $25. We have an extensive paved biking trail network to explore - perfect for safely traveling through nature.

One of my core beliefs about Biking and Hiking Trail Life Coaching is the importance of meeting in person for your Trail Life Coaching sessions. After the discovery call, when we meet for your first session, it is time to put aside our computers and phones so we can connect and work together. For transformational growth and change, we need to be together as you stretch, enhance your meditation/ breathing techniques, and discuss your overall health as you seek to improve your physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing.

Before your first session, we will discuss, and I will email you a list of suggested gear for hiking or biking. The list will include recommendations for light, warm, and comfortable clothing, and a wind/rain shell for potential changes in weather. We will also discuss the kind of shoes that are appropriate for the trails. I will look at the weather forecast for the day of our session and suggest which items are best for the current conditions. 

For biking, we will discuss the use of a helmet, gloves, padded cycling shorts, specialized biking shoes, or lightweight stiff-soled, low-top hiking shoes that work well for pedaling. If you decide to rent, we will provide a bike and helmet for you.

Each Adult Trail Life Coaching session consists of two components and takes place over a 2.5-3-hour period - either a morning or afternoon session. The first hour consists of indoor work. This is where you will learn a personalized stretching routine and begin the basic elements of deep breathing/meditation techniques. We will then begin our discussion, perhaps picking up on the elements addressed during your discovery call. The second component takes place outdoors. We will head into nature - either biking from a particular point on the Farmington River Valley Trail or hiking along the Talcott Mountain and Penwood State Parks, both easily accessible from the Ensign House.

It’s one thing to go out and end up in a little rain and another to go out in a downpour. We will not be going out during severely inclement weather. I will look at the radar for the day and suggest whether, in my opinion, this is a good day to explore the trails. In the end, however, it will be your call to decide if you’re comfortable with the current weather conditions.

Trail Life Coaching is not traditional therapy. It is a holistic wellness experience that blends gentle body alignment and stretching, deep breathing practices, meaningful conversation, and time spent in nature.

If, during your discovery call or a Trail Life Coaching session, you share thoughts of self-harm or concerns that would be better addressed by a licensed mental health professional, I will encourage you to seek mental health support so you can receive the appropriate care.

Book a twenty-minute discovery call. You are a unique person and have your own unique personal journey to take. In our virtual meeting, I will learn about you, and you will learn about the BHTLC program and my suggestions for moving forward. If you feel my program is right for you, we will book your first session.