This year, our podcast episode highlights the work of the Canadian Association of BioEnergetic Wellness and shines a special spotlight on CanBeWell.org, an initiative devoted to empowering individuals with practical tools, education, and community support for their wellness journey.

A Journey of Service and Leadership

My involvement with the Canadian Association of BioEnergetic Wellness spans several decades, reflecting a deep commitment to advancing wellness education and helping people discover their own innate healing potential. Since 2020, I have had the privilege of serving as President of the Association, helping guide its vision of making bioenergetic wellness education accessible to both facilitators and the public.

Joining me in this journey is Natascha Polomski, who has served as Treasurer and Bookkeeper since 2020. Her dedication and thoughtful stewardship help ensure that the organization can continue to grow, develop programs, and support the communities we serve.

In our Podcasthon conversation, Natascha and I share the story of the Association’s growth, the volunteers who sustain it, and the many initiatives designed to bring wellness education to people seeking a deeper understanding of their health.

Highlighting CanBeWell.org

This year’s Podcasthon episode highlights CanBeWell.org, a platform created to bring together wellness resources, courses, and community opportunities.

CanBeWell.org is designed as a gateway for people who want to become more engaged in their own wellbeing. Through the site, individuals can explore:

• Wellness plans designed to support self-awareness and healthy lifestyle practices
• Courses that introduce energy-based approaches to wellbeing
• Events and community conversations that encourage learning and connection
• Opportunities to support wellness education through donations

Support for this initiative helps expand programs that increase mental health awareness, stress reduction, overall wellbeing, and provide skills-based training in areas such as muscle monitoring and biofeedback, empowering individuals with practical tools to understand their body’s responses and support balanced wellbeing.

Strength Through Collaboration

The Canadian Association of BioEnergetic Wellness does not work alone. Our mission is strengthened through collaborations with organizations dedicated to advancing education, research, and awareness in energy-based wellness practices.

These valued partners include:

• Atlantic Therapeutic Touch Network – an organization supporting the practice and education of Therapeutic Touch across the Maritime Provinces of Canada
• Therapeutic Touch Network of Canada – advancing Therapeutic Touch nationally through training and professional development, and internationally with TTIA
• Muscle Tuners International – supporting the practice and research of muscle monitoring techniques and muscle strength and endurance
• Natural BioEnergetics – promoting awareness of bioenergetic principles in health and wellbeing
• Brain Gym Canada – offering educational movement practices that support learning and cognitive function

In fact, Natascha also shares a podcast highlighting the work of the Atlantic Therapeutic Touch Network, demonstrating how these organizations are interconnected in their commitment to helping people discover practical ways to support their health.

A Cup of Playtime Tea

Every episode of the podcast includes a tea ritual, and this Podcasthon episode features Playtime Tea from the Cape Breton Tea Company.

With notes of Chocolate, Peppermint, and delicate Apple blossom, this blend invites us to reconnect with curiosity, creativity, and joy.

The spirit of play is an important reminder that wellness does not have to feel heavy or complicated. Sometimes the most powerful shifts occur when we allow ourselves to relax, explore, and approach life with openness.

A warm cup of tea can become a ritual of pause—an invitation to reflect on how we care for ourselves and how we engage with the world around us.

Engaging in Wellness Rather Than Dis-Ease

One of the central ideas explored in our Podcasthon conversation is the difference between engaging with wellness and engaging with dis-ease.

When people become focused only on illness, symptoms, or fear, their journey can feel disempowering. Health becomes something that happens to them rather than something they can actively participate in.

Bioenergetic wellness invites a different perspective.

It encourages individuals to become curious about their bodies, their emotions, and their energy patterns. Through practices such as movement, breath, energy awareness, muscle monitoring, and biofeedback, individuals can begin to understand the subtle ways their bodies communicate.

This shift—from fear to curiosity—opens the door to personal empowerment.

Instead of asking, “What is wrong with me?” we begin asking,
“What is my body telling me, and how can I support balance and harmony?”

This mindset transforms the wellness journey from one of limitation to one of possibility.

Supporting the Mission

The work of the Canadian Association of BioEnergetic Wellness and CanBeWell.org is driven by volunteers, educators, and practitioners who believe that wellness education should be accessible to everyone.

If this mission resonates with you, there are several ways to become involved:

• Explore wellness resources, courses, and events through CanBeWell.org
• Share the podcast and wellness resources with others
• Participate in community conversations and learning opportunities
• Consider making a donation to support mental health awareness and wellness education initiatives

Every conversation, every course, and every act of support helps expand access to tools that empower individuals to care for their health with greater awareness and confidence.

Wellness begins with awareness.

Empowerment grows through education and community.

Through Podcasthon, we are reminded that when people come together with a shared purpose—to support wellbeing, understanding, and compassion—small actions can ripple outward to create meaningful change.

And sometimes, that conversation begins with a cup of tea and a willingness to explore the possibilities within our own wellness journey.

The post Podcasthon 2026: Amplifying Wellness Through Community first appeared on Greenwell Center for Holistic Health.

Spine and neck pain are among the most common discomforts people live with today. Yet for all the stretching, heating pads, pillows, and posture corrections we try, the pain often returns. Why? Because spine and neck pain rarely originates from the area where we feel it. In Touch for Health (TFH) and other bioenergetic modalities, we’ve learned again and again that the body expresses imbalance in fascinating, indirect ways. The neck may hurt, but the root cause could be emotional overload, hydration issues, digestive imbalance, blocked neurolymphatics, stress patterns, or an overworked meridian system trying to get your attention.

In Episode 3 of our Understanding Body Pain series with Denise Cambiotti, Dr. Kate Montgomery, and myself, we explore how the spine and neck act as a communication system for the entire body — physically, emotionally, and energetically.

Pain Isn’t Always Where the Problem Is

One of the most profound concepts in Touch for Health is that the point of pain is often not the point of origin.

For example:

• Neck pain may be connected to an imbalance in the Stomach, Spleen, or Small Intestine meridian.
• Shoulder tension may arise from hydration stress or emotional worry that weakens the Kidney meridian.
• Lower back pain may relate to the Psoas, governed by the Kidney meridian, or emotional fear patterns.

Denise explains this beautifully in the episode: the body compensates constantly. When one muscle shuts down or becomes inhibited, other muscles tighten, harden, or twist to support us. Over time, these compensations turn into pain, stiffness, or reduced mobility. Pain is not the “problem”—it’s the messenger.

This is why techniques like muscle monitoring and muscle biofeedback are so valuable. They help us discover the priority stress the body is trying to resolve. Instead of chasing symptoms, we listen to the body’s intelligence.

The Spine as an Emotional Highway

Your spine is one of the most energetically expressive structures in the body.

Kate shared her experiences working with elite athletes who often show spinal tension before major competitions. Their upper back and neck tighten when they feel:

• pressure
• fear of failure
• imposter syndrome
• uncertainty during transitions, such as retirement
• emotional vulnerability

She noticed that when athletes learned how to balance the Central and Governing meridians, release neurolymphatic stress points, and hydrate properly, their posture changed — and their confidence returned.

This is not accidental. The spine reflects how well we are navigating life. When emotions are calm, the spine flows. When emotions overwhelm the system, the spine stiffens like armor.

Alignment Beyond Posture

One of the most empowering discoveries in TFH is the role of energetic alignment. Alignment is not simply bone positioning — it is the harmony between:

• muscles
• meridians
• emotions
• hydration
• belief patterns
• stress levels
• energetic flow

Denise explained in the episode how certain spinal muscles act as “guardians” for the nervous system. When fear, pressure, or mental overload hits, these muscles may shut down, leaving us vulnerable to misalignment or injury. By calming emotions first — through ESR (Emotional Stress Release), meridian tracing, or even simple breathing and grounding — muscle tension melts and the tissue becomes workable again.

This is why bodywork is always more effective when the emotions are balanced first.

Muscle Monitoring: The Fastest Way to Clarity

Muscle monitoring isn’t about strength — it’s about communication.
With a light touch to test a specific muscle, the body reveals if a muscle is “facilitating” (working properly) or “inhibited” (stressed, overloaded, or under-reactive).

Once the body shows us where the imbalance lies, we can correct it using tools such as:

• neurolymphatic (Chapman) points
• neurovascular points on the head
• meridian tracing
• emotional stress release
• hydration
• specific muscle techniques
• gait and posture balancing
• central & governing meridian work

Clients often feel immediate relief, not just from physical pain but from emotional heaviness they didn’t even realize they were carrying.

A New Way Forward

Spine and neck pain don’t need to be lifelong struggles. They are invitations — signals from the body requesting alignment, awareness, and emotional clarity. Our experiences with Touch for Health have transformed how we view pain. For many of us, including Denise, Kate, and myself, TFH became the missing piece that connected movement, energy, emotion, and healing.

And this is exactly why I’m so passionate about teaching TFH to others.

Want to Learn These Tools Yourself?

A new Touch for Health Level 1 class begins this January.

If you’ve ever wished you could:
understand your pain
help your family feel better
support emotional balance
learn muscle monitoring
feel confident navigating stress
or simply reconnect to the wisdom of your own body…

…this class is the perfect place to begin.

Fridays 2-5 pm Atlantic (10 – 1 pm Pacific, 6 – 9 pm UK): Jan 9, 16, 23, 30, Feb 6, 13,

If you’re ready to transform how you understand your body — and support others in doing the same — I’d love to have you join us.

Your spine is not just holding you up. It is guiding you home.

To learn more about Muscle Tuners International and Denise Cambiotti’s work, please visit the on demand programs found at www.muscletuners.ca.

To find Kate Montgomery, please message her at katemontgomery@me.com

This podcast reached its 160th episode with this recording. If you have not subscribed to the YouTube channel, please do so here. You can also follow us on Buzzsprout.

Lastly, Tai Chi!!! The spine is completely supported and rewired during the simple and powerful Tai Chi movements. Are you interested in making your movement activities really count for wellness? Consider the Tai Chi Cape Breton class found in the calendar. Join a class in West Kelowna, or Peachland, BC with the Wine Country Tai Chi Society. Or join our online class starting again in January – Symphony of Radiance, formerly known as Movement and Music. The class is on sale until Dec 15 for early bird registrations. Together we will discover the messages of the body, the meaning of pain, and the power of wellness habits to change the way you feel.

The post Understanding Spine & Neck Pain: What Your Body Is Really Telling You first appeared on Greenwell Center for Holistic Health.

Pain is one of the body’s most intricate communication systems. It alerts us when something is out of balance, misaligned, or overworked. Yet pain is rarely the true source of a problem—more often, it is the loudest voice in a much larger conversation happening between muscles, meridians, fascia, reflexes, and the nervous system. In our first episode of the Understanding Body Pain trilogy, we explored this complexity through the lens of the hands, wrists, arms, and shoulders—areas that often carry tension from not only physical strain but also emotional load and energetic imbalance.

At the heart of this conversation lies the science behind pain and the remarkable system of Touch for Health, created by Dr. John Thie and rooted in the groundbreaking work of Dr. George Goodheart. These tools offer a way to understand pain not as an isolated event, but as a reflection of the body’s deeper patterns of communication.

Pain Is Not the Problem — It’s the Messenger

Modern medicine often teaches us to chase the symptom:
a wrist brace for wrist pain, a shoulder stretch for shoulder tension, or a topical cream for elbow discomfort.

But pain is rarely localized. A weak anterior deltoid can cause wrist strain. Tight forearm flexors can come from misalignment in the upper thoracic spine. Shoulder pain can originate from stress patterns in the jaw. Even finger stiffness can link back to the small intestine meridian.

Touch for Health works because it respects the body’s interconnected nature. It recognizes that:

• Muscles communicate through meridians
• Meridians communicate through organ systems
• Organ systems influence posture, mood, and function
• Structural misalignment affects emotional and energetic flow

This is why in Episode 1 we shared examples of how upper body pain often points to deeper imbalances in the body’s bioenergetic network. Once you understand these relationships, you can finally stop fighting pain—and start listening to what it’s trying to tell you.

The Science Behind Touch for Health

While many people assume that energy-based systems are “woo-woo,” the science behind Touch for Health is grounded in:

1. Applied Kinesiology & Neurophysiology

Dr. George Goodheart discovered predictable relationships between muscles and organ systems. For example:

• The deltoid corresponds with the lung meridian
• The supraspinatus aligns with the central meridian

These links reflect neurophysiological pathways—reflex arcs—that influence strength, tone, and function.

2. Proprioception & Biofeedback

Muscle monitoring allows us to access the body’s feedback loop. When a muscle responds weakly, it indicates an imbalance in the energetic or neurological pattern behind it—not simply a lack of strength. This makes muscle monitoring a precise tool for identifying the priority behind pain patterns.

3. Fascia & Biotensegrity

Pain often travels along fascial lines. The upper body, for example, contains spiraling patterns that cross from shoulder to hip, wrist to neck, and elbow to ribcage. Touch for Health techniques—like neurolymphatic reflexes and neurovascular points—help restore hydration, flow, and mobility through these fascial chains.

4. Chinese Medicine & the Five Elements

Touch for Health bridges Western anatomy with Eastern philosophy. Pain is understood not only as mechanical strain but as energetic stagnation. For example:

• Wrist and elbow pain often relate to Metal (lungs, large intestine)
• Shoulder tension may reflect Wood (liver, gallbladder)
• Grip strength relates to Water (kidneys, bladder)

This gives practitioners and individuals a holistic map of pain—physical, emotional, and energetic.

Tools That Transform Pain

In our first episode on hands and arms, we demonstrated several Touch for Health concepts that anyone can explore:

1. Muscle Monitoring

Helps identify the priority imbalance rather than guessing at symptoms.

2. Emotional Stress Release Points

Releases mental tension that contributes to chronic pain patterns.

3. Neurolymphatic Reflex Points

Helps reduce inflammation and restore flow through muscle and organ systems.

4. Meridian Tracing

Clears stagnant energy and supports the body’s natural healing pathways.

5. Posture Awareness

Simple alignment shifts in the shoulders, wrists, and neck can dramatically change pain levels.

Each technique empowers the individual, restoring the understanding that healing doesn’t come from fighting the body—but partnering with it.

A New Way to Experience Pain & Healing

The goal of Touch for Health and bioenergetic wellness is not just relief—it is awareness.
When you know how to interpret the body’s signals, pain becomes a guide rather than a barrier.

Our trilogy will continue to explore:

• Episode 2: Feet, Ankles, Knees & Hips
• Episode 3: Back & Neck

Each episode builds on the science and self-care practices introduced in Episode 1, offering practical tools and a deeper understanding of how pain reveals our path to healing.

You can reach out to Denise Cambiotti at www.muscletuners.ca to learn more about her special programs and the power of her techniques.

You can find Kate Montgomery at katemontgomery@me.com and you can find her two exceptional books on amazon: Sports Touch and End your Carpal Tunnel Pain without Surgery.

Are you looking for a Touch for Health class? Michelle will be offering a Level 1 starting in January. You can email your intent to info@greenwellcenter.com. You can find more information in the shop as well as the description about Touch for Health.

Michelle also offers in person and online movement classes that are embedded with Touch for Health information, this is a great way to understand the power of the information in real time. You can find these courses here.

Looking for a deeper dive? Michelle will be offering a Tai Chi Retreat in West Kelowna, BC in March with Wine Country Tai Chi Society. You can learn more in a few weeks when the full details are released. This is a chance to work in person and gain a deeper understanding of how the concepts reveal themselves through movement patterns.

New knowledge and experience is just one class away. Enjoy the podcast!

The post The Science of Pain & the Transformative Tools of Touch for Health first appeared on Greenwell Center for Holistic Health.

Most people approach health reactively. We wait until something hurts, until symptoms appear, or until a diagnosis forces us to act. In the meantime, our habits, patterns, and stressors continue to influence our bodies in subtle ways — ways that often remain invisible until imbalance becomes illness.

Biofeedback, particularly muscle monitoring, allows us to move beyond guesswork. Instead of trial and error, we can listen to the body directly. The muscle response test — pioneered by Dr. George Goodheart and expanded by countless practitioners — isn’t about testing strength. It’s about understanding the energetic integrity of a muscle and how it relates to the body’s systems. Each muscle reflects information about the organ system and its flow of energy. By tuning in, we gain insight into where the body needs support first, second, or later.

Recent research by Dr. Anne Jensen at Oxford University has helped legitimize this method in the eyes of science. Her work shows that muscle response testing is a reproducible, evidence-based tool to assess the integrity of organ systems. It validates what practitioners have long observed: the body communicates, and it can do so reliably if we know how to listen.

Prioritizing Action Through Biofeedback

One of the most transformative aspects of muscle monitoring is its ability to guide prioritization. Often, when we try to heal ourselves, we attempt everything at once: new diets, supplements, exercises, or meditations. While these practices may be beneficial, they can become overwhelming or even conflicting if applied without order.

Muscle monitoring reveals the body’s innate wisdom. It shows us what needs attention first, second, and third — allowing us to act confidently. Instead of guessing, we follow the signals of our own system.

For example, Denise Cambiotti, DHC, shares that during a session, a client may present with shoulder tension. The muscle test might reveal that the real priority lies in the digestive or adrenal system. Supporting that first often releases the tension in the shoulder without direct intervention. Likewise, Kate Montgomery, ND, has discovered that conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome are frequently linked to musculoskeletal imbalances in the arm and shoulder. By addressing those primary imbalances first, clients often avoid surgery altogether.

Science Meets Spirit

The beauty of biofeedback is that it bridges science and intuitive awareness. By understanding the evidence-based mechanisms — the link between muscles, organ systems, and energy flow — we gain confidence that our actions are effective. Simultaneously, we tap into the intuitive and energetic side of the body, deepening our connection to our own innate healing potential.

It’s a reminder that the body is intelligent. We don’t have to fight it, force it, or guess at what it needs. We simply listen, respond, and support.

Tools and Tips for Daily Biofeedback Practice

You don’t need to be a practitioner to start connecting with the body in a biofeedback way. Here are a few tips shared in our podcast episode:

1. Check In Daily: Spend a few minutes noticing tension, breath, and posture. Where do you feel tight, blocked, or low in energy?
2. Simple Muscle Awareness: Lightly touch or activate key muscle groups while breathing slowly. Notice where your energy shifts or where tension releases.
3. Body Pendulum: This is a gentle method to gauge responses from your system. Holding a pendulum or moving your hand over energy points can provide subtle cues.
4. Tea Rituals: Integrate awareness into daily rituals. In this episode, we sipped Golden SereniTEA, a black and green tea blend with lemon balm and turmeric, encouraging relaxation, confidence, and inner peace. Rituals like this support your energetic alignment.
5. Expand Your Learning: For those ready to go deeper, consider certified training in muscle monitoring, Touch for Health, or energy medicine modalities. Learning alongside experienced practitioners provides confidence, skills, and a supportive community.

Living Biofeedback Daily

When we integrate biofeedback into our lives, wellness stops being reactive. We no longer wait for a symptom to appear. Instead, we respond to the body’s signals, take action in the correct order, and witness our natural healing unfold. Confidence grows as we see the results of intentional action, and old patterns of trial and error are replaced with clear, informed choices.

Muscle monitoring empowers us to trust ourselves. Each session, each check-in, each small ritual becomes an opportunity to support the systems of the body intelligently and intuitively. And when combined with energy awareness, mindfulness, and community support, it forms a comprehensive approach to living wellness daily.

As we close our trilogy, remember: you are not guessing. You are listening. You are acting. And in doing so, you are stepping fully into the wisdom your body has always held.

You can reach Kate Montgomery at katemontgomery@gmail.com.

You can reach Denise Cambiotti at www.muscletuners.ca.

You can learn more about Touch for Health here.

You can experience the tools in our Qi YINtegration and Movement and Music classes. You can learn more in the shop.

Ready to discover more? Check out the Canadian Association of BioEnergetic Wellness, or www.canbewell.org. Denise and Michelle have been on the leadership team for many years, and there are lots of great resources and programs offered through the organization.

The post Beyond the Physical: Living with BioFeedback Skills first appeared on Greenwell Center for Holistic Health.