WRITTEN BY SALLY O’BRIEN
Time spent in nature and the concept of a green prescription to enhance well-being is gaining traction world-wide. The term ‘Vitamin N’ (“N” for Nature) highlights nature as an essential nutrient for mental and physical health. Studies published in leading journals confirm that time outdoors reduces stress, lowers blood pressure, boosts mood, and sparks creativity. For corporate leaders, the effects can be particularly profound and restore focus. Unlike the attention required for work, office politics and screens, nature engages our ‘fascination attention’, thereby alleviating mental fatigue.
Meet Jacqui Edmiston, a certified Kripalu Mindful Outdoor Guide, and founder of ‘Elevate’ whose nature-based approach transforms how leaders and teams find balance, space and inspiration. Her experiences (often bespoke) deliver more than just a break from routine, but are part of a ‘green prescription’, a scientifically backed practice that harnesses nature’s unique power to heal.
“Nature is the ultimate reset button,” Jacqui explains, “offering a unique opportunity to foster connection and relationships with oneself and our natural environment. It helps us step out of the box literally and figuratively, to access a state of creative flow and clarity that’s hard to achieve in boardrooms or open-plan offices.”
Jacqui describes her own personal burnout that led her to create Elevate: “Working in the fast-paced world of mega-events like the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and World Cup events, I was addicted to the buzz that comes with organizing complex projects. I associated my career progression with “success”. I would get up in the morning with a long to-do list in my head and wouldn’t stop until my body and mind were too exhausted to keep going. My go-go mentality dictated that if I worked harder, I could achieve better results and then have the time to enjoy my life. But the reality was that time was passing me by and I was no longer performing at the top of my game at work, or in my personal life.” Jacqui made a change in her own life, and is sharing her ‘reset’ with others.
Imagine starting your day with a guided mindfulness exercise as the sun rises over a serene forest. Breathing freely, you’re invited to let go of mental clutter and truly embrace the present moment by engaging with each of nature’s elements. She explores how nature’s rhythms mirror effective leadership, emphasizing balance, adaptability and growth.
The afternoon unfolds with forest bathing or ‘Shinrin-yoku’, a Japanese-inspired practice that involves immersion in the sensory inspiration of your surroundings as you meander through ancient trees, witnessing any stress dissipate and presence grow. Evenings unwind with reflective journaling.
Elevate’s outdoor experiences offer the kind of relaxation that fosters transformation, allowing participants to cultivate mindfulness, enhance collaboration and address challenges with renewed and refreshed perspective. Maria, a senior manager at the International Olympic Committee says, “Jacqui has taught me the blissful power of walking mindfully through forests, giving me an accessible tool for relaxation and a new appreciation and connection to the sounds, colors and shapes of nature.” By integrating evidence-based wellness practices with the challenges of modern leadership, Jacqui creates opportunities for
corporate decision-makers to restore, reconnect with core values and foster resilience and innovative thinking.
Jacqui’s credentials in outdoor mindfulness and decades of leadership experience at global events sets her apart, the combination of wisdom and practicality ideal for addressing the challenges of modern life. Her next retreat at Crans-Montana in August will lay the groundwork for insights that nurture and shape growth, giving participants that space for creating meaningful change.
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