February carries a quieter, more inward invitation. As winter continues to hold us in stillness, this month gently turns our attention toward relational wellbeing—how we connect to ourselves, to others, and to the deeper meaning we carry through challenge, illness, love, and resilience.
As we mark Psychology Month, we are reminded of something foundational: mental health is never separate from the body, the heart, or the energetic environments we live within. Our thoughts, emotions, relationships, and physiology are constantly in conversation, shaping how we respond to stress, care for ourselves, and support one another.
At CanBeWell (Canadian Association of BioEnergetic Wellness), February’s theme—Compassion, Connection & the Psychology of Care—invites us to explore compassion not simply as an emotion, but as a bioenergetic force: one that regulates stress, supports healing, and strengthens our sense of belonging.
Compassion as a BioEnergetic Practice
From a bioenergetic wellness perspective, compassion is not passive. It is active, measurable, and deeply embodied. When compassion is present—toward ourselves or others—the nervous system softens, breath deepens, and the body shifts out of survival mode. These changes create the internal conditions where healing, learning, and resilience can occur.
Research continues to show that compassionate states influence heart rate variability, stress hormone regulation, immune response, and emotional regulation. In energetic terms, compassion supports coherence—bringing the body’s systems into greater harmony. This is why compassion is central not only to mental health, but to whole-body wellbeing.
At the Greenwell Center, our programs help you learn more about this harmony, as well as through CanBeWell. We explore how intentional practices—movement, breath, touch, sound, and mindful awareness—can cultivate compassion as a lived experience rather than a concept. These tools help individuals respond to life with greater steadiness, even in times of uncertainty or strain.
Upcoming events to consider:
Feb 22 – Awaken Inner Resonance with Ann-Marie Boudreau and Dr Michelle Greenwell in Mabou
Feb 25 – The Stories We Tell Ourselves with Theresa Stone and Dr Michelle Greenwell online – on sale!
Mar 6 – 8 – Tai Chi Wellness Retreat in West Kelowna, BC with Wine Country Tai Chi Society, facilitated by Dr Michelle Greenwell.
Mar 22 – Sound, Posture and Healing with Ann-Marie Boudreau and Dr Michelle Greenwell in Mabou
The Psychology of Care: Beyond the Mind
Psychology Month offers an opportunity to widen the lens through which we understand care. While traditional psychology has focused primarily on cognition and behavior, integrative and bioenergetic approaches remind us that care is relational and embodied.
Dr Michelle Greenwell, CIH BioEW, first graduated with a Bachelor of Psychology, and enjoyed the profound shifts that movement for wellness created at an emotional level. Her work has continued to discover the deeper aspects of well-being through her latest NeuroArts programs – a link of her passion for the arts, music, dance, Tai Chi, and BioEnergetic Wellness. This winter, her Symphony of Radiance program has brought a heightened awareness to this profound way of working. NeuroArts is empowering at a magnitude not seen by basic movement activities, enjoying music, or doing art for creative expression. You can still sign up for the class, and consider how your self-care can be empowered. Class recordings, art, and additional resources are all ready for you to explore.
How we care for ourselves is shaped by:
- Our nervous system patterns
- Our relational histories
- Our capacity for self-regulation and rest
- The energetic environments we inhabit—workplaces, homes, communities
Care is not just what we think—it is how we feel in our bodies and how safe we feel in connection.
Through CanBeWell’s educational initiatives, newsletters, and events, we continue to highlight practices that support mental health in everyday living—especially in workplace and caregiving contexts where compassion fatigue, burnout, and emotional overload are increasingly common. Be sure to see the FREE award-winning e-books on the front page of the website – Mental Health for the Workplace and BioEnergetic Essentials.
Connection as Medicine
Human connection is one of the most powerful regulators of wellbeing. Feeling seen, heard, and supported alters physiology, strengthens resilience, and restores a sense of meaning. In bioenergetic terms, connection enhances flow—reducing stagnation and supporting adaptive response.
February reminds us that connection begins internally. Self-compassion—meeting ourselves with curiosity rather than judgment—is often the first step toward healthier relationships with others. From there, care expands outward, shaping families, teams, organizations, and communities.
CanBeWell’s community spaces—newsletters, conversations, workshops, and collaborative projects—are designed to foster this sense of shared learning and belonging. They offer places where people can explore wellness together, grounded in both science and lived experience.
Supporting Mental Health Through Everyday Tools
One of CanBeWell’s core commitments is accessibility. Bioenergetic wellness is not reserved for specialists—it offers practical tools that support daily self-care. Simple practices such as conscious breathing, gentle movement, grounding touch, and intentional pauses can significantly influence mental and emotional wellbeing.
These approaches do not replace psychological care; rather, they complement and enhance it, acknowledging the inseparable relationship between mind, body, and energy.
As Leadership Team President, Michelle’s role has been to help steward this integrative vision forward—ensuring that compassion, research-informed education, and practical application remain at the heart of CanBeWell’s work.
An Invitation for February
This month, we invite you to:
- Reflect on how compassion shows up in your body and daily choices
- Explore CanBeWell’s resources, newsletters, and events
- Consider how bioenergetic practices might support your mental health and relational wellbeing
- Engage with a community committed to care, curiosity, and connection
February teaches us that care is not something we offer only when things are easy. It is something we cultivate—through presence, practice, and relationship. Compassion, when understood as a bioenergetic force, becomes a pathway toward resilience, healing, and meaningful connection.
Through CanBeWell and the Greenwell Center, we continue to explore what it means to care well—for ourselves, for one another, and for the systems we are part of.
With warmth and compassion,
Dr. Michelle Greenwell, CIH BioEW
Leadership Team President, CanBeWell
Founder, Greenwell Center for Holistic Health