SWIHA Blog

For Sheila Checots, life before SWIHA was a season of transformation. Amidst the unknowns and personal transitions, she found herself drawn to a deeper understanding of how our beliefs shape the way we engage with the world. It was in this pivotal moment—right as she was awakening to the power of perspective—that she stumbled upon an ad for Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA). Following a strong intuitive nudge, she enrolled in the Hypnotherapy program, recognizing it as a powerful tool to help others move beyond their inner limitations and create lives filled with intention and joy.

When Grace Warren enrolled in SWIHA’s Holistic Health and Wellness Coaching program, she was stepping onto a path shaped by purpose, healing, and an unwavering commitment to support women in their most vulnerable moments. As a recent graduate, Grace is already preparing to launch a coaching business grounded in holistic living and dedicated to women’s health—specifically fertility, pregnancy, postpartum care, and hormone balance.

Grace’s passion for this path didn’t arise from textbooks or trends—it was born from her own story.

If you’ve ever left a massage feeling lighter, more relaxed, and deeply cared for, you already know the powerful impact massage therapy can have. Yet have you ever thought about being the one on the other side of the table… using your own hands and heart to help people heal?

Whether you're craving more freedom in your work schedule, feel called to be of service, or are exploring holistic paths that blend mind, body, and spirit, massage therapy might be the career you're searching for.

Before Maha enrolled at the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), her life felt like a dark cloud. She was navigating the depths of adrenal burnout and personal heartbreak, trying to find her footing after a difficult breakup. Though she had applied to SWIHA twice before, it was during this emotional low point that she finally said yes to herself—and to a journey that would change everything.

Before I became a licensed aesthetician, my life looked a lot like most people’s: clocking in at 9, clocking out at 5, living for weekends, and quietly dreaming of “someday.” I knew I wanted more—more purpose, more flexibility, and more time doing something I actually loved. Yet I also knew I was about to step into the biggest role of my life: motherhood.

Before she ever imagined herself leading wellness workshops or helping women reclaim their self-worth, Markayla Clinton worked as a bank teller—efficient, dependable, and quietly dreaming of something more. Her lifelong curiosity about the human mind and passion for helping others had once led her to study psychology in college. Although life’s twists and turns meant she didn’t complete her degree, that inner calling never faded.

Eventually, Markayla’s desire to serve others in a more personal, transformational way reignited. That’s when she discovered Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA). “I found the perfect program,” she says. “My experience at SWIHA taught me a great deal about myself—my capabilities and potential.” Enrolling in the Holistic Health and Wellness Coaching program, she embarked on a life-changing journey that would help her impact others while deeply healing herself.

When most people think of yoga, they picture downward dogs, warrior poses, and peaceful savasanas. However, those physical movements, known as asanas, are just one small part of what yoga truly is. In fact, they’re only one limb of the 8-limbed path laid out in the ancient yogic texts. The real gift of yoga lies in its ability to awaken the inner world… offering a path to presence, connection, and liberation. Yoga is not just a workout; it is a way of life.

When Desarie Lee first found SWIHA, she wasn’t seeking a certificate—she was seeking spiritual alignment. Already practicing Reiki and deeply connected to the metaphysical world, Desarie had read Journey of Souls and felt called to guide others toward the magic and depth of the spirit realm. After a transformative “life between lives” session with a hypnotherapist who happened to be a SWIHA graduate, Desarie’s path was clear. Spirit said “YES,” and so did she.

I came to spiritual coaching not through a textbook or a plan—rather, through an experience that awakened something deep within me. While working as a massage therapist at a yoga retreat, I found myself surrounded by healing energy. I received Reiki sessions, participated in guided meditations, and experienced powerful hypnotherapy sessions. I didn’t know it at the time, however, something inside me was shifting. I felt myself opening, softening, and connecting more deeply with parts of myself I hadn’t accessed in years.

When you hear the word hypnotherapy, what comes to mind? A swinging pocket watch? Stage performers making people cluck like chickens? It’s time to clear the smoke and mirrors—because real hypnotherapy is a powerful, evidence-based tool for healing, transformation, and empowerment.

In a world where stress, anxiety, and burnout are at an all-time high, hypnotherapy is quickly gaining recognition for its ability to create lasting change from the inside out. And it’s not magic—it’s neuroscience.