This is more than a retreat faculty—it is a collaborative circle of wisdom, creativity, healing, and heart.

Each facilitator brings decades of experience, professional expertise, intuitive gifts, and a passion for helping others discover new pathways to wellness, resilience, self-expression, and joyful living.

Together, they create a rich tapestry of movement, sound, therapeutic touch, creative exploration, bioenergetic wellness, and meaningful connection.

Our Faculty Includes:

Dr. Michelle Greenwell, CIH BioEW, MSc CAM, BA Psych, TFH Instructor, TT, Tai Chi, Dance, Author
As the visionary behind this immersive experience, Dr. Michelle Greenwell brings an internationally recognized background in complementary and integrative health, movement education, bioenergetic wellness, Touch for Health, Tai Chi, dance, and stress resilience programming. Her work integrates science, movement, creativity, and energetic awareness to support deep personal transformation.

Anne-Marie Boudreau, ARCT, Concert Pianist, Sound Therapist, Improv & Intuitive Vocalist, Reiki Practitioner
Anne-Marie offers the healing power of sound, voice, intuitive musical expression, and vibrational awareness. Her exceptional artistry and soulful musical leadership invite participants into restoration, emotional release, and energetic harmony.

Colin MacLeod, Intuitive Musician, Grade 8 Violin Distinction, TFH, Sound Therapy, Recording Artist
Colin brings a deeply intuitive approach to sound and music, blending technical artistry with energetic sensitivity. His musical experiences create opportunities for reflection, healing, inspiration, and connection through vibration and resonance.

Donna Hutchison, Harpist, Intuitive Musician, Symphony of Radiance, Recording Artist
Donna’s exquisite harp artistry creates spaces of calm, beauty, and profound emotional restoration. Her intuitive musicianship offers moments of stillness, inspiration, and energetic flow.

Brenda Cox, MEd, Deaf & Audiology Specialist, Music Therapy, Intuitive Musicianship, Recording Artist
Brenda brings a remarkable understanding of sound, communication, healing, and music as therapeutic expression. Her unique perspective bridges science, sensory awareness, and intuitive creativity.

Marian Egan, TFH Instructor, Intuitive Artist, Certified Kinesiologist, Fitness Instructor (University of Limerick)
Marian’s work beautifully combines movement, energetic awareness, intuitive creativity, and personal empowerment. Her art experiences invite participants to express, release, discover, and reconnect with their inner creative wisdom.

Tanya Levy, MSW, TT, TFH, Artist, Writer
Tanya brings compassionate insight through her background in social work, Therapeutic Touch, Touch for Health, creative arts, and storytelling. Her offerings support emotional wellbeing, reflection, self-discovery, and healing through expression.

Denise Cambiotti, HCD BioEW, TFH, Muscle Tuners International
Denise offers practical and empowering wellness tools grounded in bioenergetic awareness, movement, and self-care. Her work helps participants understand the body’s signals and discover pathways toward balance and resilience.

Natascha Polomski, Doctoral student, MSc CIH BioEW, TT, TFH, Sound Immersion, Author
Natascha blends science, energy medicine, sound immersion, and integrative wellness practices to support relaxation, awareness, and transformation. Her work offers gentle yet profound opportunities for restoration and energetic alignment.

Evelyn Mulders, HCD BioEW, Kinesiology College of Canada, Sound Essences
Evelyn brings a nurturing blend of energetic wellness, Chinese Medicine wisdom, and the subtle healing qualities of sound and botanical essences. Her offerings support emotional balance, clarity, and whole-person wellbeing.

A Journey Held by Community

What makes this retreat so unique is not only the extraordinary expertise of each faculty member—but the way their gifts interweave.

Music meets movement.
Science meets intuition.
Art meets healing.
Sound meets stillness.
Energy meets expression.
Community meets transformation.

This is an experience where participants can explore wellness through many pathways, discovering the tools, practices, and insights that resonate most deeply with their own journey.

Whether you come seeking restoration, inspiration, emotional release, practical wellness tools, creative awakening, or simply time to breathe and reconnect, this faculty is here to support you every step of the way.

Your Cape Breton Sanctuary

To support your transformational experience, accommodations have been thoughtfully reserved at the beautiful Glendyer Bed & Breakfast—an exquisite historic home nestled in the heart of Cape Breton.

Imagine beginning your mornings with the gentle sound of the nearby stream, walking the labyrinth in quiet reflection, enjoying tea on the welcoming front porch beneath towering trees, and being lovingly cared for by gracious hosts who understand the art of hospitality.

As Cape Breton’s summer season is exceptionally busy, these rooms are being held only until the end of May for August bookings.

We encourage you not to delay in reserving your accommodations and securing your place for this extraordinary week of wellness, creativity, and transformation.

The post Meet the Faculty at the Artfilled Wellness Retreat: A Circle of Wisdom, Creativity, and Transformation first appeared on Greenwell Center for Holistic Health.

Cape Breton Island is one of them.

With its sweeping coastlines, salt-kissed air, lush forests, vibrant arts culture, and deeply rooted sense of community, Cape Breton offers more than scenic beauty—it offers space to breathe, reflect, and reconnect.

Now imagine pairing that natural healing landscape with movement, music, creativity, energy medicine, meaningful conversation, nourishing rituals, and expert guidance.

That’s exactly what the Artfilled Wellness: Cape Breton Island Energy Arts Immersion Retreat has been designed to offer.

This is more than a retreat.

It is an invitation to transform.

A Different Kind of Wellness Experience

Many wellness retreats promise relaxation.

Some offer education.

Others focus on movement, mindfulness, or healing arts.

Artfilled Wellness weaves these together into a truly immersive experience that honours the whole person—body, mind, emotions, energy, creativity, and spirit.

This is not about escaping your life.

It is about rediscovering yourself within it.

Whether you join us for a single day, a weekend, or the full retreat experience, each offering has been intentionally crafted to help you:

• reduce stress and restore balance
• reconnect with your body’s wisdom
• improve movement and energetic flow
• awaken creativity and self-expression
• experience music, rhythm, and sound as healing tools
• explore practical wellness tools you can take home
• connect with community in meaningful ways
• create space for renewal, insight, and possibility

Because true wellness is not something we visit briefly.

It is something we cultivate.

Why Cape Breton?

There is something extraordinary about healing in a place where nature itself feels like part of the facilitation team.

Cape Breton offers:

• ocean air and breathtaking natural beauty
• a pace that encourages presence
• a rich cultural heritage of music, storytelling, and creative expression
• an environment that supports nervous system restoration
• opportunities for reflection, movement, and inspiration

For those living in Cape Breton, this is a chance to experience world-class wellness programming close to home.

For those travelling from beyond the island, this is a destination experience unlike any other.

Cape Breton becomes part of the journey.

The Energy Arts Difference

What makes this retreat truly unique is its integration of wellness modalities that are often experienced separately.

Here, movement, creative exploration, energy balancing, tea ritual, mindfulness, sound, and self-discovery come together as one cohesive journey.

This includes opportunities to explore:

• Tai Chi and mindful movement
• bioenergetic wellness tools
• creative expression and arts-based healing
• music, rhythm, and sound exploration
• relaxation and nervous system regulation practices
• herbal tea experiences and mindful rituals
• personal reflection and empowerment tools

These experiences are not just inspiring in the moment.

They are designed to leave you with practical strategies you can continue using long after the retreat ends.

Meet the Facilitators

Transformation happens when wisdom is shared in safe, supportive spaces.

This retreat brings together an inspiring group of facilitators, each offering unique expertise, lived experience, and heartfelt leadership in their field.

From movement educators and wellness practitioners to artists, musicians, and holistic health professionals, the collective energy of the facilitation team creates an environment where participants can learn, explore, and grow.

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be introducing each facilitator and sharing the special gifts they bring to this immersive experience.

What Transformation Can Look Like

Transformation does not always arrive dramatically.

Sometimes it looks like:

• taking a deeper breath
• sleeping more peacefully
• noticing less tension in your shoulders
• remembering what joy feels like
• moving with more confidence
• finding words for something you’ve carried silently
• feeling inspired to create again
• reconnecting with your own intuition
• meeting people who remind you that healing happens in community

Transformation is often found in the smallest moments.

And those moments can change everything.

Who Is This Retreat For?

This experience is for:

• those feeling stressed, depleted, or disconnected
• wellness seekers wanting deeper transformation
• caregivers needing restoration
• creatives seeking inspiration
• individuals curious about energy arts and holistic wellness
• people navigating change, recovery, or personal growth
• anyone longing for connection, movement, and renewal

No prior experience is required.

Only curiosity, openness, and a willingness to show up for yourself.

An Invitation

At a time when so many people are carrying stress, uncertainty, and overwhelm, spaces that nurture whole-person wellness are not a luxury.

They are essential.

Artfilled Wellness is an invitation to pause.

To move.

To breathe.

To create.

To restore.

To reconnect with what matters.

To remember that healing can be joyful.

And that transformation can begin with one intentional choice.

Cape Breton is waiting.

And so is this experience.

Join us for the Artfilled Wellness: Cape Breton Island Energy Arts Immersion Retreat.

Whether you come for a day, a weekend, or the full immersive journey, your next chapter may begin here.

Learn more and reserve your place at the Greenwell Center for Holistic Health.

SUNDAY — ARRIVAL & OPENING TO POSSIBILITY

Theme: Flow, Intuition & Creative Awakening

Element: Water

Your journey begins with arrival, grounding, and stepping out of daily life into intentional restoration.

Experience Includes:
Welcome circle & retreat orientation
Introductions to facilitators and participants
BioEnergetic Wellness opening formula & intention setting
Intuitive Painting Experience with Marian Egan
Introduction to the Five Elements & Energetic Awareness
Cape Breton community exploration / Mabou Farmers Market
Evening Sound Bath & relaxation immersion
Reflection journaling

Transformation Focus:
Releasing mental clutter, opening intuitive awareness, setting intention.

MONDAY — AWAKENING THE SPINE & VITAL ENERGY

Theme: Resonance, Vitality & Alignment

Elements: Water + Fire

Today we awaken the body as a living energetic instrument.

Experience Includes:
Morning Tai Chi practice
Breath and movement activation
The Spiritual Essence of the Spine – Part 1
Frequency, resonance & energetic anatomy workshop
Dynamic Reset model experience
Dance + Tai Chi integration
Beach dinner gathering
Cape Breton social dance evening

Transformation Focus:
Posture, energetic flow, vitality, emotional release.

TUESDAY — CREATIVITY, EXPRESSION & COURAGE

Theme: Breath, Growth & Self-Expression

Elements: Metal + Wood

Creative expression becomes a healing pathway.

Experience Includes:
Morning movement integration
Creative exploration with visual arts
Art studio immersion
Mindful lunch & community connection
Inverness beach walk / sea glass reflection
The Spiritual Essence of the Spine – Part 2
Breath, boundaries & emotional release work
Evening integration painting / journaling

Transformation Focus:
Letting go, courage, creativity, authentic expression.

WEDNESDAY — GROUNDING, BELONGING & NOURISHMENT

Theme: Stability, Support & Restoration

Element: Earth

Midweek invites deeper settling into self and community.

Experience Includes:
Morning Tai Chi practice
Earth element grounding session
Nourishment-focused lunch outing
The Spiritual Essence of the Spine – Part 3
Group discussion & embodied integration
Nature reflection time
Beach restoration / mindful free time

Transformation Focus:
Belonging, nervous system regulation, internal stability.

THURSDAY — TRAUMA RELEASE & SELF-SOOTHING

Theme: Safety, Regulation & Gentle Healing

Elements: Earth + Metal

A compassionate day focused on nervous system support.

Experience Includes:
Gentle Tai Chi & somatic movement
Unwinding Trauma workshop
Breath, sound & embodied release practices
Emotional Stress Release tools
Therapeutic Touch for families & self-care
Community dinner gathering

Transformation Focus:
Releasing held stress, restoring safety, self-compassion.

FRIDAY — NATURE IMMERSION & EXPANSION

Theme: Awe, Harmony & Full-System Renewal

All Five Elements

Cape Breton becomes the classroom.

Experience Includes:
Cabot Trail adventure
Tai Chi in nature
Highland energy immersion
Spontaneous music & creative connection
Optional whale watching
Photography, journaling, reflective exploration
Celebration dinner

Transformation Focus:
Joy, spaciousness, inspiration, perspective.

SATURDAY — SOUND, MOVEMENT & JOYFUL RELEASE

Theme: Rhythm, Voice & Celebration

Elements: Fire + Water

Healing meets celebration through music and movement.

Experience Includes:
Sound healing immersion
Voice activation & vibrational exploration
Movement for emotional release
Community music connection
Beach integration time
Cape Breton square dance / social celebration

Transformation Focus:
Expression, joy, release, empowerment.

SUNDAY — CLOSING & INTEGRATION

Theme: Harvest, Reflection & Forward Momentum

Element: Earth

Transformation becomes sustainable when integrated.

Experience Includes:
Morning reflection
Cape Breton market visit
Group sharing circle
Closing BioEnergetic Wellness alignment session
Sound integration
Celebration & farewell ceremony

Transformation Focus:
Integration, clarity, confidence, sustainable self-care.

Included Throughout the Week

Participants will experience:

Daily wellness practices
Tai Chi & mindful movement
Sound healing & music immersion
Creative arts exploration
Nervous system regulation tools
Trauma-informed self-care practices
BioEnergetic Wellness techniques
Cape Breton cultural experiences
Connection, reflection, and community

Who This Is For

Perfect for:

• wellness seekers
• caregivers
• health practitioners
• creatives
• educators
• people navigating stress or change
• anyone seeking restoration and inspiration

No previous experience required.

Registration Options

Join us for:
single day experiences
weekend immersion
full transformational retreat

The post More Than a Retreat: A Transformational Wellness Experience in Cape Breton first appeared on Greenwell Center for Holistic Health.

Who is the healer?

In a world where solutions are often sought outside ourselves, this episode invites a return inward—toward the voice as a source of regulation, expression, and empowerment. Joined once again by Ann-Marie Boudreau, sound doula, intuitive vocalist, and classical pianist, this episode explores how voice becomes medicine when we allow it to emerge authentically.

The Voice as a Healing Instrument

The human voice is our first instrument. Long before language forms, sound communicates safety, emotion, and connection. In adulthood, however, many people disconnect from their voice—judging it, silencing it, or using it only functionally.

Episode 2 invites listeners to reconsider voice not as performance, but as presence.

Through humming, toning, breath-led sound, or intuitive vocalization, the voice can:

• Regulate the nervous system
• Release stored emotional tension
• Support clarity and self-awareness
• Restore a sense of agency in one’s healing journey

When sound arises from within, healing is no longer something done to us—it becomes something we actively participate in.

Introducing Ann-Marie Boudreau

Ann-Marie Boudreau brings decades of lived experience to this conversation. A classical concert pianist trained in both Western traditions and East Indian music in Chennai, India, Ann-Marie is also a multi-instrumentalist, intuitive vocalist, Reiki Master, Sound Doula, and composer.

Her work spans hospitals, hospices, retreat centres, and community spaces, where she supports individuals through sound journeys, bedside music, and vocal exploration. Ann-Marie’s approach is grounded, compassionate, and deeply respectful of each person’s unique voice.

Her guiding reminder is simple yet profound: sound is not something we perform—it is something we become.

Opening with Intention: The Autograph Tea Ritual

As with every episode of the podcast, Episode 2 begins with a tea ritual to support arrival and reflection. The featured blend is The Autograph from the Natalie MacMaster Tea Set, accompanied by the affirmation:

“Each of us has unique gifts for others to treasure. Create your special signature for others to be inspired.”

This herbal blend highlights the spiritual essence of pumpkin and lemon. Pumpkin offers nourishment, grounding, and gentle support—reminding us that healing unfolds when we feel held and sustained. Lemon brings brightness, clarity, and renewal, inviting expression and courage.

Together, they mirror the theme of this episode: honouring individuality while trusting the clarity of one’s authentic voice.

Voice, Mental Health, and Empowerment

This episode resonates strongly during Mental Health Month, offering accessible tools for self-regulation and emotional wellbeing. Voice-based practices help calm the mind, reduce anxiety, and create a sense of inner steadiness.

Rather than asking people to “fix” themselves, sound invites curiosity, compassion, and self-listening. When individuals feel empowered to participate in their healing, communities grow more resilient—a key principle in creating Blue Zone cultures rooted in connection, purpose, and shared practices.

Experience the Work In Person: Upcoming Retreats

For those inspired to explore the power of voice more deeply, listeners are invited to join in-person retreats with Dr. Michelle Greenwell and Ann-Marie Boudreau:

• February Retreat – Awakening Inner Resonance: Exploring body transformation through sound and voice
• March Retreat – Sound, Posture and Healing: Deepening awareness of frequency, resonance, and embodied listenin
• Inside your Tai Chi Practice – in West Kelowna, BC with Wine Country Tai Chi Society with Michelle
• August Summer Retreat – Artfilled Wellness: Cape Breton Island Energy and Arts Immersion Retreat – An integrative experience weaving sound, movement, nature, and community

These retreats offer a supportive space to experience voice as a healing ally—without performance pressure, judgment, or expectation. Participants are guided gently into listening, sounding, and reconnecting with their natural expressive capacity.

An Invitation to Remember

Episode 2 of The Power of Sound is a reminder that healing is not something reserved for experts or special moments. It lives in breath, vibration, and the courage to express what is already within us.

Your voice carries wisdom. Your sound has meaning. And healing begins when you allow yourself to listen.

Listen to Episode 2 and join us as we continue exploring the power of sound, voice, and self-care—together.

The post Who Is the Healer? Reclaiming the Power of Voice first appeared on Greenwell Center for Holistic Health.

At the Greenwell Center for Holistic Health, we believe that small, intentional daily practices can make a profound difference—especially during busy or celebratory times. In a recent Be Well Podcast episode, Michelle Greenwell sat down with Diana Devi to explore how movement, music, and simple nervous system resets can help us move through the holidays with greater ease, clarity, and vitality.

Meet Diana Devi

Diana Devi is a Clinical Pharmacist, wellness leader, podcaster, and Argentine Tango dancer who helps successful professionals look and feel up to 10 years younger by reconnecting with their bodies, confidence, and vitality. With over 30 years of experience in the medical field, Diana brings a deeply integrative perspective to health—bridging pharmacy, nutrition, exercise, and self-care.

As President of An Ageless Life, Diana works with individuals who recognize that feeling older, tired, or disconnected from their bodies can quietly affect confidence, opportunity, and overall wellbeing. Her work combines evidence-informed healthcare with embodied practices that support rejuvenation from the inside out.

An accomplished Argentine Tango dancer and instructor since 2010, Diana teaches tango as a powerful pathway to body awareness, posture, presence, and connection. She views tango not only as an elegant art form, but as a social and somatic practice that gently regulates the nervous system and restores confidence.

Diana is also the host of The Midlife Reset Show with Diana Devi from An Ageless Life with Diana Devi, where she explores modern approaches to aging well, reclaiming energy, and thriving through midlife and beyond.

The Holiday Challenge: When the Nervous System Is Overloaded

During the holidays, many of our usual wellness anchors are temporarily disrupted:

• Richer foods and sugary treats become more frequent
• Hydration and mindful eating can slip
• Exercise routines are often reduced due to travel or packed schedules
• Long periods of sitting, visiting, and resting replace regular movement
• Emotional dynamics—family gatherings, memories, expectations—can increase stress

These changes can overstimulate the nervous system, leaving the body in a prolonged stress response. When this happens, people may notice:

• Lower immunity
• Digestive discomfort
• Mood swings or irritability
• Brain fog and reduced mental clarity
• Fatigue that lingers beyond the celebrations

How Dance, Music & Gentle Resets Support the Body

In the podcast conversation, Diana and Michelle explore how dance and music offer an accessible, joyful way to support nervous system regulation. Even a few minutes of movement—especially when paired with music—can help shift the body out of stress and into a state of coherence and balance.

Dance encourages:

• Improved circulation and lymphatic flow
• Nervous system regulation through rhythmic movement
• Emotional release and mood elevation
• Reconnection to the body after long periods of sitting

Diana also shares a simple eye reset technique for the nervous system—demonstrating how subtle, intentional practices can create powerful awareness and shifts. During the episode, Michelle experiences new insights into her own nervous system patterns, highlighting how gentle practices often reveal what we didn’t know we were holding.

Nurturing the Body During the Season of Indulgence

Enjoying holiday foods and treats is part of celebration—but balance is key. When paired with nurturing practices like mindful movement, breath awareness, hydration, and calming rituals (including tea), the body is better equipped to process indulgence without tipping into depletion.

In the episode, Michelle and Diana also reflect on oolong tea, including Just Chill’n with its bright touch of cranberry—a grounding companion for moments of pause, warmth, and nervous system support.

Small Daily Practices, Lasting Impact

The message of this episode—and of the season—is simple: you don’t need to add more to your to-do list. By weaving small, nourishing practices into holiday routines—dancing to a favorite song, taking visual breaks, breathing intentionally, or pausing with a warm cup of tea—you can support your immune system, stabilize mood, and maintain mental clarity.

These gentle acts of self-care don’t take time away from celebration—they enhance it.

Listen to the full episode of the Be Well Podcast to explore how movement, music, and awareness can support your nervous system—during the holidays and beyond.

Gift Yourself in the New Year

As you prepare for reframing your wellness plan for 2026, consider the online and in-person classes that you can be a part of this season. You can register for in-person classes with the Wine Country Tai Chi Society in West Kelowna and Peachland, BC – get in on the start of their Blue Zone explorations with Tai Chi (be sure to read their blog post). On Cape Breton Island you can enjoy in-person classes with Tai Chi Cape Breton found on the calendar. Or check out the online classes like Symphony of Radiance and Qi YINtegration in the shop. Or, are you ready for a retreat? Check out the February post for “Awakening Inner Radiance.” The March retreat is almost ready to post, and stay tuned for our August Retreat on Cape Breton Island. So much to engage in and grow with as you bring your wellness focus into clarity in 2026!

The post Dancing Through the Holidays: Simple Ways to Calm the Nervous System & Restore Balance first appeared on Greenwell Center for Holistic Health.

This summer, we invite you to step into a new kind of wellness experience with Nature’s Resonance, a 4-week online series blending intuitive movement, live music, and the healing elements of earth, water, sky, and bloom. Hosted by Dr. Michelle Greenwell, CIH BioEW, and intuitive musician Colin MacLeod, this journey will align your body’s natural rhythms with the frequencies of nature—all from the comfort of your home, with exploration ideas in your favourite outdoor spaces.

The Science of Healing with Nature

Modern research in eco-psychology, bioenergetics, and somatic healing confirms what our ancestors always knew: when we connect with nature, our bodies innately remember how to heal.

Studies show that even short periods of time outdoors can:

• Lower cortisol (stress hormone) levels
• Reduce inflammation
• Enhance immune function
• Improve mood and emotional regulation
• Support creative thinking and clarity

When you add movement and music to this equation, the benefits amplify. The rhythm of the ocean, the sway of the trees, the shape of a blooming flower—these aren’t just metaphors. They’re blueprints your body can follow to restore vitality and peace.

Nature’s Resonance Series Details

Each session explores a theme connected to the elements and our natural world:

• Ocean Flow – breath, lymphatics, and emotional release
• Wisdom of the Woods – grounding, rooting, and expansion
• Blooming Shapes – sensory awareness, movement geometry
• Moonlight & Stars – stillness, cosmic rhythm, and inner light

Through intuitive movement from Tai Chi and dance, live improvisational music, and weekly tea rituals connecting you to the rhythm of the herbs in your garden, we’ll tap into the body’s innate intelligence, unlock creative expression, and magnify wellness from the inside out.

For those of you who love to dance, walk, run, do yoga, tai chi or qi gong, this series will enhance your daily practice and provide you with a deeper sense of the power of nature to heal, and how the frequency of sound can be a tuner to your wellbeing.

Class Schedule

Tuesdays in August (Aug 5, 12, 19, 26)
Time:
8–9 AM Pacific
12–1 PM Atlantic
4–5 PM UK

Where: Online (Zoom link shared upon registration)
Who: All bodies welcome. No experience needed.

Investment

Early Bird Special: $60 CAD for the full series (until July 31)
Regular Price: $75 CAD starting August 1
Bring a Friend Bonus: Register together and explore the ideas in nature throughout the week!

Bring the Experience Outdoors

What makes this series truly special is that it doesn’t end when you log off.
Each session offers ideas and inspiration that you can take with you into your week. Whether it’s a mindful walk in the woods, journaling by the ocean, or dancing under the stars, this series encourages you to explore your own relationship with the natural world—wherever you are.

Are You Ready to Tune In?

Let Nature’s Resonance be your invitation to pause, breathe, and reconnect. With every note, every movement, and every breeze, you’ll discover the power of your presence and the peace already waiting within you.

Register today and claim your early bird spot before July 31.

The post 🌿 Nature’s Resonance: Healing Through Music, Movement & Nature first appeared on Greenwell Center for Holistic Health.

Trauma is not just an emotional experience—it leaves an imprint on the nervous system, affecting the body in profound ways. Whether it manifests as chronic pain, digestive issues, fatigue, or emotional distress, unresolved trauma often lingers until it is given a safe way to release. Understanding how trauma is stored in the body and how movement can facilitate healing is essential for reclaiming balance and well-being.

Understanding Trauma and the Body’s Response

Trauma is more than a memory—it lives within the body. When faced with overwhelming stress or a traumatic event, the nervous system shifts into survival mode, often leading to chronic tension patterns, shallow breathing, or even dissociation from bodily sensations. Many people experience suppressed emotions that show up as physical symptoms, such as tightness in the chest, digestive discomfort, or headaches.

Michaela Jones, ND, works with clients who struggle with chronic conditions linked to unresolved trauma. She highlights how trauma isn’t just psychological—it gets embedded in the body’s tissues and nervous system, influencing posture, movement, and overall health. Without proper release, the body remains in a heightened state of stress, making relaxation and healing difficult.

Movement as a Pathway to Emotional Release

Traditional talk therapy is valuable, but it often doesn’t address the physical aspects of trauma. Dr. Michelle Greenwell, CIH, emphasizes that movement-based therapies like Tai Chi, Qigong, and somatic exercises provide a powerful way to unlock trauma stored in the body. These gentle, flowing movements create a sense of safety, helping to regulate the nervous system and restore balance.

Michaela explains how areas like the hips, shoulders, and jaw commonly store tension, reflecting emotional burdens that have not yet been processed. Simple somatic exercises, such as mindful stretching or slow, intentional movement, can release this tension and allow emotions to surface in a manageable way.

Michelle shares real-life examples of people who have experienced breakthroughs after consistent movement practice. Whether it’s improved posture, deeper breathing, or the release of long-held tension, these transformations highlight the body’s innate ability to heal when given the right tools.

The Science Behind Somatic Healing

The connection between movement and healing is rooted in science.

• The vagus nerve, responsible for regulating the body’s stress response, is directly influenced by movement. Engaging in slow, rhythmic motions helps shift the nervous system from a state of fight-or-flight to rest-and-digest, promoting a sense of calm and safety.
• Research has shown that trauma-informed movement practices, such as yoga and Tai Chi, reduce cortisol levels and increase emotional resilience.
• Neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to rewire itself, means that regular movement practices can create new, healthier stress-response patterns over time.

Michelle highlights the role of fascia, the body’s connective tissue, in trauma storage. Fascia holds onto physical and emotional stress, and spontaneous movements like shaking or trembling during healing work are natural signs of release.

Choosing the Right Practice for You

Not all movement therapies are the same, and it’s important to find a practice that feels comfortable and safe.

Michaela explains the differences between trauma-informed yoga, somatic exercises, dance therapy, and energy-based practices, offering guidance on choosing the best approach based on personal history and needs. Some clients may initially struggle with movement due to fear or resistance, but finding the right method can be transformative.

Michelle addresses common concerns, such as “I’m not flexible enough” or “I don’t want to relive my trauma.” Tai Chi, for example, is a gentle, non-invasive practice that allows individuals to reconnect with their bodies without forcing movement or triggering past trauma.

Practical Steps to Integrate Movement for Healing

Healing through movement doesn’t require hours of practice—it starts with small, intentional steps.

Michaela suggests:

• Performing daily self-check-ins to notice areas of tension.
• Using micro-movements, such as rolling the shoulders or stretching the spine, to release built-up stress.
• Incorporating a 5-minute movement practice before bed to improve sleep and emotional well-being.

Michelle offers a simple Tai Chi movement for beginners, encouraging consistency over intensity. Small, regular movements are more effective than occasional, high-intensity workouts when it comes to trauma healing.

Final Thoughts

By understanding how trauma is stored in the body and using movement as a tool for release, individuals can reclaim their health and emotional balance. Whether through Tai Chi, somatic exercises, or mindful stretching, engaging in gentle movement allows the nervous system to reset, creating a pathway to deeper healing.

Join Michaela Jones, ND, and Dr. Michelle Greenwell, CIH, for a live discussion on this topic Friday at 3 PM Central | 5 PM Atlantic on YouTube. Learn how to harness movement for healing and take practical steps toward emotional and physical well-being.

#HealingThroughMovement #SomaticHealing #TaiChiForTrauma #MindBodyWellness #TraumaRecovery

Ready to learn more about movement based practices? Check out the Events and Dr Michelle’s schedule of classes.

Are you in West Kelowna, BC? You can join Wine Country Tai Chi Society classes there. Dr Michelle Greenwell will be hosting a special Wellness Retreat Mar 21 – 23. Check out the registration information.

Join Colin MacLeod and Dr Michelle Greenwell at the 50th Anniversary of the Touch for Health Conference in San Diego. A special post conference workshop on movement to heal the body with music will be offered with a two day certificate.

Do you live in North Carolina? Have you been to a Marathon Jam event? Consider this special retreat happening April 12th. Stay tuned for more information.

The post Releasing Trauma Through Movement first appeared on Greenwell Center for Holistic Health.

At the Greenwell Center we focus on tools that the layperson can use themselves to empower their healing, and this includes movement, Tai Chi, dance, and tools from Touch for Health (TM), Therapeutic Touch (TM), NeuroReflex Integration, Brain Gym, and so much more.

Enjoy the documentary, and consider how our online and in-person classes could be supporting your daily wellness plan, and how our teas can help you gain the strength of the herbs and intentions that they include.

Award Winning Programs

To learn more about Tai Chi, you can find in person and online classes for Tai Chi Cape Breton, as well as the classes held in West Kelowna, BC with the Wine Country Tai Chi Society.

Dr Michelle will be in West Kelowna for their spring workshop in March, stay tuned for details.

The post What is BioEnergetic Wellness? first appeared on Greenwell Center for Holistic Health.

The post Square Dance first appeared on Greenwell Center for Holistic Health.

January 3rd marks International Mind-Body Awareness Day, an opportunity to reflect on the interconnectedness of our mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. While many of us are familiar with the Triangle of Health—body, mind, and spirit—pioneered by Dr. John Thie, it is essential to recognize the broader framework he later developed: the Pyramid of Health. This expanded model provides a deeper understanding of the many factors influencing our overall well-being and offers a holistic roadmap to achieving balance.

The Pyramid of Health

Dr. Thie’s Pyramid of Health builds on the Triangle of Health by integrating 12 interconnected factors. These factors are categorized into layers:

Inside the Skin

1. Structural: The physical body’s integrity and posture.
2. Chemical: Nutritional balance, hydration, and internal biochemical processes.
3. Intellectual: Both subconscious and conscious thought processes.
4. Emotional: The ability to experience, process, and express emotions effectively.

Outside the Skin

5. History: Our personal story, ancestral heritage, and the cultural and political narratives that shape us.
6. Context: Current events and societal circumstances that influence our lives.
7. Environment: The spaces we inhabit and the natural world surrounding us.
8. The Future: Our aspirations, dreams, and plans for what lies ahead.

The Foundation of the Pyramid

At the base of the Pyramid of Health lies the core of our being: our beliefs and spirituality. Dr. Thie emphasized four key elements:

• Truth: The necessity of honesty and authenticity for a healthy life.
• Faith: Unwavering belief in something greater than ourselves.
• Hope: The optimism that what we desire can become reality.
• Love: A limitless force that enhances our lives and connections

A Shift in Perspective

When faced with illness or imbalance, many individuals focus narrowly on physical aspects such as diet or exercise. While these are important, they represent just two of the 12 factors in the Pyramid of Health. A more comprehensive approach considers all layers, recognizing that wellness is influenced by our inner state, external environment, history, and future aspirations.

By embracing this broader perspective, we can release feelings of guilt or inadequacy about specific choices and instead cultivate a balanced, compassionate approach to self-care.

Practical Steps to Embrace the Pyramid of Health

This International Mind-Body Awareness Day, explore ways to nurture all 12 factors. Here are some suggestions:

• Structural Care: Practice meditation in movement through Tai Chi or dance to enhance open and relax the body for increased physical alignment and energy flow.
• Emotional Balance: Movement, music, community, and connection are important for balancing emotions. A monkey-mind, or repetitive thoughts can be calmed with movement based activities. When journaling it is important to journal about the future to move forward with emotions. Meditation can be enhanced by adding a moving meditation to your practice.
• Intellectual Growth: Connection with others can provide a way for new insights and experiences to unfold. Be open to change, to collaborate and explore.
• Environmental Well-being: Nature can provide an instant change to stress, providing a way for the body to relax and the emotions to calm. Living in connection with nature is simple and easy with a result of harmonious systems within the body and mind.
• Spiritual Foundation: Connect with your core beliefs through practices like Qi YINtegration or Tea with Intention, and realize the full power of you to bring life to your relationships and interactions.

Join Us in the Journey

To help you explore and integrate these principles, the Greenwell Center offers classes and workshops such as in-person Tai Chi, and online Movement Made Easy, on-demand, the award-winning Qi YINtegration, as well as the Tea with Intention for Self-Care, and dance-based programs. These sessions are designed to support you in understanding and balancing the Pyramid of Health.

For those in West Kelowna, BC. The in-person Wine Country Tai Chi Society classes throughout the week can enhance your mind-body connection with a regular weekly practice. They also hold three special workshop weekends a year to enhance expertise and skill.

One on One Sessions

Our award-winning program offers 9 sessions that address and balance the Pyramid of Health, while also having a group connection for support and inspiration. You can read more about these programs here.

Choose Your Wellness Plan

This International Mind-Body Awareness Day, let’s commit to honoring the fullness of our well-being—inside and out. Through purposeful practices and an integrated understanding, we can achieve the balance and resilience needed for a vibrant, fulfilling life.

The post Celebrate the Pyramid of Health in 2025 first appeared on Greenwell Center for Holistic Health.

Awaken your Spirit’s Passion

As you reflect on what you enjoyed about your year, and how you listened to your body for its self-care and vitality, consider the wisdom shared by Mariah-Jane as she prepares dance educators. Her idea of education and sharing, as well as the outcome for dancers is reflective in other sports, as well as daily living.

Podcast version

Sound Clip

If you missed the episode previously, and want to go back to listen you can find the links in our previous blog here.

The Cape Breton Tea Company tea highlighted in this episode is Island VitaliTEA, Cranberry and Holy Basil. You can find this in the shop.

The post Nurturing your Inner Spirit first appeared on Greenwell Center for Holistic Health.