Written by Simone Usselman-Tod
At Wild About Wellness, we do not gather to fix ourselves. We gather to regulate. We reconnect. We slow down enough to hear ourselves again. We call this neurowellness. Not from a clinical perspective or because it’s complicated, but because it is practical, human, and something we can practice every day.
Neurowellness simply means learning how to care for your nervous system so your brain, body, and life feel more steady, clear, and resilient. In many ways, it is also a form of radical self care.
It is the quiet and courageous choice to say that your wellbeing matters enough to pause and your nervous system matters enough to tend to. In a world that rewards pushing and productivity, slowing down can feel radical. And yet it is exactly what our biology needs.
The Nervous System Always Leads:
Before clarity, before creativity, and before meaningful change, the nervous system leads. Everything flows through our nervous system first. Our thoughts, our emotions, our energy, our actions, and our physical, mental, and emotional health are all shaped by the state of our nervous system.
Below conscious awareness, our nervous system is constantly scanning and asking a simple question. Am I safe right now? If the answer is no, even subtly, the brain shifts into protection. Stress hormones rise. Breathing becomes shallow. Muscles tighten. Sleep and digestion are disrupted. Focus narrows. Even our behaviour changes. We rush. We react. We push through. Or we shut down. Not because something is wrong with us, but because our biology is trying to protect us. Over time, that constant state of being on wears on us physically, mentally, and emotionally.
At Wild About Wellness, we begin somewhere different. Before mindset work. Before goals. Before strategy. We regulate first. Because when the nervous system settles, everything else changes. Breathing deepens. Heart rate steadies. Blood flow returns to the thinking brain. We feel clearer, calmer, and more present. This is the foundation of neurowellness.
A Winter Nervous System Reset Walk:
Ten women gathered with me on a cold winter afternoon for a Winter Nervous System Reset Walk.
We began around the fire with a short teaching. Nothing complicated. Just simple education about what happens in the brain and body under stress and why nature can help us return to balance. Understanding our biology helps us be kinder to ourselves. It reminds us that stress is not a personal failure. It is physiology. Regulation is not indulgent. It is essential.
Then we stepped onto the trail. We walked mostly in silence. Not because we could not talk, but because quiet gives the brain space. Space to reset. Space to notice. Space to simply be. There is something about walking in winter that naturally slows us down. The crunch of snow under your boots. Cold, fresh air filling your lungs. Soft light through the trees. Wide open space. These are subtle signals of safety.
Research shows that quiet time in nature lowers cortisol, supports the vagus nerve, improves mood, and restores attention. But you do not really need the science to feel it. Your body already knows.
As we walked along freshly groomed trails through crisp, glistening snow, we began to notice small things. Seed pods caught in branches. A marsh shaped by a beaver quietly restoring the ecosystem. Horses watching us as we watched them. Curious hens peeking out from their coop. Cattails bursting open and releasing thousands of tiny seeds into the winter breeze. The stillness of a white pine grove. Nothing dramatic. Just simple moments of beauty. This gentle attention tells the brain that it is safe here. And safety is what allows the whole system to soften
When we get quiet, something else returns too. The mental noise settles. Our awareness turns inward. We begin to notice subtle shifts. We can tune in. A deeper breath. less tension. A clearer mind. This is often where intuition lives. Not loud or urgent, but calm and steady. The kind of knowing that gets drowned out when life is busy.
Neurowellness rarely looks dramatic. It often shows up quietly. A little more spacious. A little more grounded. A little more like yourself. Sometimes that is exactly what we need.
Return To The Fire
We ended where we began, back at the fire. Warmth on our faces. Feet grounded. Breath slower.
Before anyone spoke, we paused and asked the same question we started with. How do I feel now compared to when we began? You could see the difference. Some women shared. Some stayed quiet. Both were welcome. Nervous system regulation is not performative and does not require words. Sometimes it is simply being together, walking side by side, standing around a fire, and letting your nervous system land.
We regulate better together. Community helps us feel safe. And safety is where wellbeing begins
This is what neurowellness looks like at Wild About Wellness. Awareness. Education. Nature. Community. Expansion. Simple practices are done intentionally. A walk. A circle. A creative afternoon. A quiet moment. Small experiences that help you come back to yourself. Because when the nervous system feels safe, everything else gets easier. You think more clearly. You respond instead of react. You feel more like you. From there, life opens up.
If this way of gathering speaks to you, I would love to stay connected. Join the Wild About Wellness community newsletter to receive monthly updates on upcoming walks, workshops, and events. https://wildaboutwellness.ca/
About Simone:
Simone Usselman-Tod , Stress Mastery & Goal Acceleration Coach transforms stress and self-doubt into clarity, confidence, and momentum. Simone is a science-minded, heart-led coach who blends neuroscience, psychology, and energetic alignment to help values-driven women calm their nervous systems, clarify their direction, and move forward with confidence. Her work harmonizes mindset, nervous system regulation, and purposeful action – so success feels not only achievable, but fulfilling, sustainable, and deeply aligned.