SWIHA Blog

Coaching is more than a profession—it’s a calling to create safe spaces for transformation. Lori Dye, founder of Village of Islands Yoga & Wellness, embodies this ethos. Her journey from social work and hospitality to coaching and holistic wellness is a testament to the power of aligning passion with purpose.

Natalie DeVaney, a graduate of the Health and Wellness Coaching program at the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), has dedicated her career to empowering individuals on their journey toward health and personal transformation. Her story is one of passion, compassion, and a deep desire to help others reconnect with their paths after life’s challenges.

In the world of holistic health and wellness, few stories resonate as deeply as that of Keisha Peele, the inspiring founder of Healing InnerG - Holistic Health and Wellness Center. With a background that weaves together years of experience and a passion for helping others, Keisha has crafted a unique coaching style that empowers individuals to achieve holistic balance in their lives.

Life often presents challenges that can feel isolating or insurmountable—especially for those navigating the complexities of hearing loss. Maureen Covinsky, founder of Hear 2 Hear U, is a SWIHA Life Coaching Graduate who has turned her personal journey with hearing loss into a mission of empowerment, guidance, and connection for others.

Meet Kayla O’Connell, founder of Mazy’s Garden, a business rooted in spiritual counseling, coaching, and metaphysical products. Kayla’s passion lies in guiding individuals through transformative journeys, helping them heal their minds, bodies, and souls as one. Her path to becoming an Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner and coach is as inspiring as the work she does every day.

Coaching is a transformative profession, rooted in helping individuals unlock their full potential. Few embody this mission more authentically than Gwendolyn Bailey, the founder of Resilience Wellness Coaching and Consulting, LLC. As a graduate of the Holistic Health and Wellness Coach program at the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), Gwendolyn combines personal growth with professional expertise to create lasting change in her clients’ lives.

Amber Gomez, the founder of Cerebral Awakening, is a proud graduate of the Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner program. Her journey into the world of coaching is as inspiring as her approach to helping clients rediscover their inner light.

As the calendar turns to 2025, we’re invited to reflect on the journey behind us and the possibilities ahead. This is a time to pause, breathe, and set intentions for the year to come. The New Year is more than just a date—it’s a powerful opportunity to realign with our dreams and step into a life of purpose, balance, and joy. We are thrilled to announce that January 2025 is officially National Coaching Month! A perfect opportunity to focus on growth, transformation, and the power of intentional living with the beginning of a new year. At the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), we are dedicated to helping individuals achieve their highest potential through coaching, healing, and personal development.

Holidays are a time of year when we hopefully get our dose of “feel good” feelings—like the warm fuzzies you get when you find out your favorite holiday movie is on TV for the 500th time! Those natural highs!! They’re like a party in your brain, thanks to chemical reactions coming from the oldest, the deepest part of our gray matter—like a caveman discovering fire, yet with more glitter and ‘glimmers’! (BTW —Glimmers are the opposite of triggers, brought on by positive chemical reactions.)

What was your life like before SWIHA? What led you to SWIHA and your particular program of study? Why are you passionate about this modality?

Before SWIHA, my life was marked by a journey of self-discovery and healing, particularly following an extensive series of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) treatments. I was on a quest to find out who I truly was and what I was meant to do in life. Despite working in retail, which I found to be unstimulating and unchallenging, I knew I was capable of so much more. My desire to challenge myself and to avoid being stuck in a position that didn’t fulfill my potential led me to seek out a career where I could genuinely help others. A close friend introduced me to SWIHA, and together, we embarked on this journey to acquire hypnotherapy skills to offer as a service in our envisioned New Age store and community garden. My friend, a passionate herbalist and tarot reader, inspired me to explore a path where I could channel my natural leadership abilities and pursue my calling to help others. After leaving a toxic relationship, I knew it was time to follow my passion and become my own boss. So, I enrolled in the Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner Diploma program, specializing in Hypnotherapy.