Meet Heather Willis | Nervous System Health Practitioner & Environmental Scientist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Heather Willis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Heather, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I’ll start by saying my thought process is always a work in progress. I’ve found that if my long-term vision and values behind my business is solid, the thought process and systems to get me there can have more room to play – more fluidity in the action. Initially I purchased my domain, soilmadesimple, with the intention to have an environmental blog. With my background in sustainability and environmental work, and a passion for writing I thought it would be a great way to start pivoting into independent work. I knew that I was looking for an outlet to learn, synthesize and share what I found to be life-changing, or just fascinating in general, to the public. My thought process was to continue pivoting in ways that prioritized 1. empowering others to have autonomy and joy in their lives and 2. invest my time in something that really lights me up from the inside out. I feel really grateful to have held those intentions as my business evolves.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I’m the founder of soilmadesimple, a space for all things nervous system health. I truly believe that the more we can collectively resonate in the notion that self-love automatically equates to earth-love – we all have a better shot at living a joy centered life that ripples out to our neighbours. I came to the space of holistic health through my own journey to healing, a path I’ve found is common for many. At a young age, I was hiking and fell off a cliff – landing myself in an ICU with a traumatic brain injury. To say it flipped my world upside down, is an understatement. It forced me to focus on regaining balance for myself in a world that perpetuated ‘go-go-go’ and a desensitized way of living. My passion started in protecting the planet, and it led me to corporate burnout which exacerbated my health concerns from the brain injury. So I decided that enough was enough, and that the best way I could get as many people as possible to start acting in ways that supports the collective – was to illuminate the ways they were innocently blocking a healthful life for themselves. Including for myself. So on top of being a sustainability SME and environmental scientist, I became a holistic health practitioner and self-awareness facilitator. And I get to bridge the personal and collective gap every single day in my work, and I love it. If there’s one thing I’d love people to know in life it’s this: get what you came for. There are a million and one ways to show up in this world. Where to invest your time and money in. You have this one lifetime to do all the things that light you up, so get what you came for. If you keep finding yourself putting off ‘that thing’ until XYZ happens. Stop. And if that doesn’t seem possible, acknowledge that you can’t pivot on your own. Get the professional support you require to actually start taking action on those things. Because you’re worth it, seriously. That’s all I’m in the business for. To empower you to take action in life by prioritizing your nervous system and your health. Because it’s really hard to have a great day, when every day the mind believes there’s something bad that’s going to come along.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Okay I’ll answer this in two ways, since I believe you’re asking about LA.

For my current home, O’ahu:

We would have an outdoor adventure. I love getting outside with my two rescue dogs, Nesta and Tuna, and I have a saying ‘never leave the boys behind.’ So my bestie and I would take the boys to all their favourite spots. Kahala Beach, because it’s quiet and dog friendly. The perfect place to read a book, and enjoy the sunshine. We’d climb Three Peaks Hike off Olamana Trail and pay reverence to ‘aina. We would watch the sunrise at Makapu’u Lighthouse, and have a local vegan lunch at Peace Cafe. A day in Waimea Valley is a must, watching the waves crash at Logs and getting an acai bowl at the OG Sunrise Shack in Pūpūkea. We’d sign up for a traditional lei making class with my friend at Ecomindfullei, and go to a mindful sober-curious dance party at another friend’s community centric busines DABL. We’d support a local owned thrifted bookstore called BookHouse Hawaii, and get some great produce at the farmers market and make dinner at home in North Shore enjoying the sunset catching some waves at Haleiwa Beach Park. I’d prioritize space, fluidity and openness – I really love to let the land / ‘aina tell us where to go and I find cultivating a sense of presence helps with that.

For LA:

We would have a foodie, gardens and outdoor adventure. I love getting outside with my two rescue dogs, Nesta and Tuna, and I have a saying ‘never leave the boys behind.’ So we’d be getting outside a lot. I love how quickly you can get above the city in Angeles National Forest. We’d wind through the San Gabriels, and camp at my secret spot. Spend the day in Marina Del Ray checking out the vintage shops and eating at Planta Cocina because the vibe is great. We’d get a picnic spread at Erewhon, becuase duh, and spend a day at Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens getting lost in the beauty, eating near the Lily Ponds sharing story and journaling about our experience. I love walking through the Arts District and grabbing a bite at Cafe Gratitude. We’d have a splurge evening in West Hollywood with friends at Gracia Madre, I really love the ambience in their patio and the food is so nom nom. With the time left over we’d go to Las Padres National Forest outside Ojai and jump off the rocks into the springs. I’d prioritize space, fluidity and openness – I really love to let the land tell us where to go and I find cultivating a sense of presence helps with that.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My entire life experiences I have to thank for where I am, and what I’m gettin’ into. Susan at Samarasa / Yoga Sex & Death community, the knowledge you share alongside your heart is the juice. Time spent near you and the YSD crew, continues to help me in coming back home each day. Nanay & Chaz, you are the greatest friends I could know. Your consistent love and ability to truly let your daughter be who she is, astounds me. I love you.

Website: https://www.soilmadesimple.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soilmadesimple/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@soilmadesimple

Other: Threads: @soilmadesimple Free Health Tool called my ‘Health Accelerator: 6 Tools to Regain Balance & Self-Connection’: https://creative-maker-8650.ck.page/d1638a60be?mcp_token=eyJwaWQiOjc4MTA0MSwic2lkIjoxODk2NDA3ODA4LCJheCI6ImFiNGJkY2UzOWM4YTI3N2Y1NWI1MWMzZjY0Y2Y1OGE2IiwidHMiOjE3MTE3MzY0MDEsImV4cCI6MTcxNDE1NTYwMX0.–eT8BMFm2E9muJ0lkft_htgdrhWy6dNpul5Zy_Rl2U

Image Credits
A’lime. Angie. Stephanie. And Sammie.