About Vitality Coaching
What is Vitality Coaching?
Your Vitality is your life force. It is your mental vigor and physical capacity to live a meaningful life.
Either you regularly care for your vitality, or you leave your vital force to chance. The choice seems simple. Doing something about it can be hard.
How do we learn to grow our vitality? Rarely do parents train their children to cultivate vitality. This crucial life skill is not taught in school, at work, nor even in medical schools. In your life you have probably witnessed role models that inspire you. You’ve seen what is possible.
Yet you know that some parts of your life could be better. Might a mentor help you to increase your vibrance, intensity, and purpose?
You don’t have to do this alone. It’s wise to ask for help.
“I felt safe because I could tell that you were tracking me. You supported me when I got lost in my projects. It was like you were gently holding your hand on my back guiding me to stay on task, but without pushing. You always held my tender heart when I needed to shift from tactical to emotional. I trust that you truly care about me.”
—L.J. April 2023
Working with Coach Basin
Hello! Is it time for us to meet?
My super power is giving other people the gift of feeling truly seen, understood in their joys and struggles, and valued for who they are.
From the security of such deep connection, I can help you work to become an even better version of yourself.
I can be your personal “village elder.” You can bounce ideas off of me, and share any feelings that may be getting in your way. I track your goals as you scout out ways to get there. I hold you to your intentions… cheering your successes, and firmly nudging you back onto your path when you drift away. I’m your accountability buddy.
I have your back while you dare to try something new and scary. The first times we try a new behavior it feels awkward and unfamiliar. With enough repetition, though, we can prune back self-sabotaging behaviors and build helpful new habits in their place. You can learn to trust yourself to take care of yourself.
Many people do their best work when they have a steady hand resting gently on their shoulder. It can be easier to stay true to yourself when someone you trust is keeping you accountable.
Everyone needs support. Nobody succeeds alone. Shall we walk together on your higher path for a while?
“Basin has been my coach for years on many different personal projects. Basin is very kind with me…but always tells me straight if I start to lose focus. I guess you could say they are compassionately demanding.”
–Timothy G.
Who Is Coach Basin?
“The thing we tell of can never be found by seeking, yet only seekers find it.” —Bayazid Bastami
I have devoted my life to seeking greater awareness, increasing my personal presence, and cultivating nurturing relationships. The strongest and clearest personal identity within those quests has been that of Nurturing Parent.
My second strongest identity is that of Discerning Ape, which is how I understand my responsibility to care and feed the primate body that I inhabit while I navigate our overcrowded Information Age landscape.
Some tracks left by those explorations:
Reared four offspring to adulthood, and am now a grandparent
Ran an environmental education center for 20 years bringing underprivileged youth to a homestead farm on National Park coastal bluffs. Raised $5.4 million dollars
Sailed across the Atlantic Ocean and North Sea aboard a 50’ sailboat in 1976, and recently hand built a wooden cruising sailboat
Served as Marin County Planning Commissioner for 8 years, being named 2000 California County Planning Commissioner of the year for integrating ranching and environmental community interests
Judo black belt and sensei of the University of Virginia Judo Club
Led 1,200 teenage drug addicts on 125 rock climbing outdoor challenge rehab programs, and led 4 one-month residential teen programs involving farm work & wilderness camping
Trekked to Mount Everest, Cho Oyu, and Makalu in the Himalaya, Matterhorn in the Alps, Grand Tetons in the Rockies
Co-created and co-led a 3 month online course: Dismantling Whiteness, 2021
High school wrestling captain, state medalist, and 6 year Ukiah High School Varsity Wrestling Coach
Co-founder of Waldorf-inspired Greenwood School; 13 years on the Operations Committee
Board of Directors, Wilderness Transitions
Dance Wave class instructor and DJ for 6 years
Ran a house painting company for 8 summers, and worked for years in building and home improvement
Rock climbed the southwest face of Half Dome
Created somatic, movement-based relationship workshops: “Ferocious Intimacy,” “When to say YES and how to say NO,” and “Rowdy & Tender Partner Dancing”
HAI Global: Intro workshop leader, Community Night Presenter, Evolutionary Leaders Program graduate, Intern graduate, Advanced Communications Training evaluator
Cultural exploration: spent between one to six months in each of: Japan, Nepal, Virgin Islands, Spain, Germany, Scotland, Bahamas, England, India, Switzerland, Mexico, Guatemala, plus 2 years in Puerto Rico
From the many experiences of a well lived life, I have seen what brings people more passion, more results, and more satisfaction. I’ve also seen a lot of good intentions go nowhere.
I have already done a lot of scouting of the lay of the human landscape. Tell me where you want to go.