🧠 Neuroscience Nuggets: Journey to Mental Wellness in Tulum Mexico 🌴
Did you know that there was a period in my life when I was deeply immersed in neuroscience?
I was studying neuroscience at McGill, working at the Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI), and living on Doctor Penfield Avenue, a street named after the renowned American-Canadian neurosurgeon!
Photo caption: A photoshoot I did for a job application at Airbnb, for the role of ‘Reward Program Manager’. (I didn’t get the job because an offer was given to another candidate before the hiring managers saw my application, but) I had so much fun shooting this with Yannick Khong and using my actual MRIs from working at NeuroRx; it’s something I gave a proper shot at and enjoyed doing!
The last few weeks have brought me back to that time, as we're now almost one month away from the mental wellness retreat in Tulum, Mexico, and I couldn't be more excited!
I've been fully immersed in crafting the workshop content for the retreat, and it's been an amazing journey. Working on these workshops really gets me into a flow state, a concept rooted in neuroscience by Dr. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.
This is what truly sets apart my retreat from most yoga retreats around the world.
Here are some of my favourite concepts of neuroscience that we’ll be diving deep into on the retreat:
The basics of neuroscience
The fascinating facts about the brain and our nervous system
What neuroscience is and all of its disciplines
Brain anatomy & functions, intriguing stories like “Dr. Penfield, I can smell burnt toast!”
Zooming in on the microscopic level of neurons
Impact of neurotransmitters on our mood and behaviour
Neuroplasticity and growth mindset
The concept of ‘neurons that fire together, wire together’
Dr. Carol Dweck’s famous studies on grade 8 students and their math marks in school
How we can apply this knowledge to our lives, including ‘the 5 languages of love’ to others and ourselves
Though what I'm really looking forward to the most is the group discussions! Learning about these concepts is one thing, but applying them to our lives with our own personal tweaks is where the real magic happens.
With participants from diverse backgrounds, including clinical psychologists, a senior marketer, a seasoned HR professional, and a young data analyst, I can't wait to hear everyone's insights and perspectives!
This past week, I began working on the third workshop:
Stress and Breathing
delving into the research of my former professor at McGill, Dr. Sonia Lupien, we'll explore chronic stress & hormones on our behaviour,
understanding stress physiology (fight, flight, freeze, fawn),
how to break down a stressor or stressful situation,
why deep belly breathing (diaphragmatic breathing) works to reduce stress,
and how to practice proper breathing techniques
In the coming weeks, I’ll design workshops on emotion regulation, intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation, and achieving a flow state.
While some topics may need to be incorporated into the aftercare program due to time constraints — because we need to enjoy Tulum and swim with sea turtles in the ocean (plus so much more!), the goal remains the same: to equip people with practical tools to improve their mental health and build resilience.
If you're ready to embark on this neuroscience-based mental wellness retreat, where you'll have the opportunity to reflect, reset, and practice self-care and self-love, then:
Or:
Need more retreat details? 🕵️ Find them here.
Ready to invest in yourself alongside 6 other amazing women? ✅ Book one of the last 3 spots here.
Want to meet other participants or get a taste of the retreat? 🌺 Sign up for a free Meet-up Circle here.
Still unsure? 🧑💻 Schedule a free discovery call here.
Remember: healing is a journey, and you’re not alone 💗
Anna ✨
