SWIHA Blog

For Alejandra Hernandez, life before Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA) was a search for deeper meaning. She had already begun a personal healing journey, longing for something that honored presence, spirituality, and connection to the earth. In a world that often demands speed, productivity, and distraction, Alejandra felt the call to slow down, listen inward, and live in alignment with her soul.

That calling led her to SWIHA, where she enrolled in the Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner program, focusing on Modern Spirituality and specializing in Earth Ceremonies and Healing Botanicals. It was here that Alejandra began weaving together the wisdom of presence, ceremony, and earth-based practices into a life of purpose.

Do you ever wonder who you really are and what purpose you serve here on earth? This question often troubles me as I seek to find my life’s calling. Clearly, I am female, a wife, a mother, a nana, a friend, a director, a coworker, a student, a business owner, and a healer. Yet truly—who am I?

For most of my life, I have been an empath, able to feel a deep and intuitive sense when something is wrong or out of balance—not only within myself—with others as well. This awareness is what led me to become an Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner.

Participating in a massage championship isn’t just about trophies or titles—it’s about stepping outside your comfort zone, embracing growth, and discovering a deeper sense of empowerment. Standing in front of judges, peers, and an audience can be nerve-wracking, yet the experience invites you to confront fears, stretch your limits, and find confidence you didn’t know you had.

When you put yourself in this space of vulnerability, you open the door to creativity, resilience, and transformation. Competing allows you to test new techniques, receive valuable feedback, and approach your practice with fresh eyes. Just like massage therapy itself, the experience of competition can be healing—it challenges you, shapes you, and helps you rise into your fullest potential.

Life doesn't always go as we hope, plan, or expect, yet how we respond to challenges can transform our entire journey. The world teaches us to resist pain. However, what if there is a powerful way to approach difficulties with compassion?

The first question is often, “Why me?” You question why hardship has chosen you. When challenges crash into your world, instead of playing victim, start being the author of your own resilience story. My journey has taught me that life isn't about erasing scars - it’s about understanding that they are intertwined with our most authentic selves.

September is National Yoga Month, a time to celebrate the power of yoga to bring balance, peace, and healing into our lives. It’s also a time to deepen our practice by exploring the “why” behind the movements and traditions we often take for granted. One of those small yet significant traditions is the way yoga teachers cue us to roll onto our right side after savasana. Have you ever wondered why? I did too!

When I think about why I’ve always cued students to roll to the right after savasana — that sacred final relaxation pose — my reasoning was rooted in symbolism. For me, the right side represented the East, where the sun rises each morning. Rolling right felt like an invitation to step into a new day, a new beginning. At the close of practice, my hope is to prepare yogis for renewal, carrying the peace of their practice into the rest of their day.

However, after teaching yoga for more than 14 years, I decided to dive deeper into the wisdom behind this cue. Here’s what I discovered:

In 2004, Becca Schmidt made a decision that would change the entire course of her life. After years of working in the high-stress worlds of marketing, public relations, event planning, and volunteer management, she knew she needed something different. With marriage and motherhood on the horizon, she longed for a career that offered balance, creativity, and flexibility—without sacrificing her passion for connection and communication.

That’s when she found Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA) and enrolled in the Yoga Teacher Training program. Looking back, she calls it one of the most pivotal choices she’s ever made.

From Beauty to Healing

Before enrolling at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), Candice had built a thriving career in esthetics. “I had been in the beauty industry for sixteen years and had owned my own spa for the last seven. I was happy and content in my life,” she shares.

Yet life had other plans. After experiencing three severe car accidents—the last leaving her with a traumatic brain injury and debilitating neck issues—she began questioning whether her future was still in esthetics. “I started to experience economic hardship in my business as well as physical hardship. Mentally, I found myself overwhelmed with life. I was juggling a business, a brain injury, and physical therapy.”

At Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), we honor the courage it takes for our students to turn personal challenges into opportunities for healing, growth, and service. Today, we’re honored to spotlight the journey of Tabitha Newton, a current student in our Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner program. Through her story, Tabitha shares how leaving a toxic job became the catalyst for reclaiming her purpose and building a life aligned with peace, passion, and authenticity.

Every student who walks through the doors of Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA) carries with them a story—a story of searching, of struggle, of transformation, and of hope. For soon-to-be graduate Lindsay Childers, her path to healing and purpose has been one of resilience, courage, and faith in the calling placed on her heart.

Happy Labor Day, SWIHA Community!
As we take a collective pause this Labor Day, it's a perfect moment to reflect on the work we do and on the life we're cultivating. Whether you're a dedicated wellness warrior, a conscious cook, or someone exploring your next chapter, today offers an opportunity to celebrate the labor of love that goes into caring for our bodies, minds, and spirits.