SWIHA Blog

Diversifying food choices is essential for keeping our gut’s microbiome healthy. When our digestion is performing optimally, our bodies can absorb the maximum amount of nutrients from the foods we consume, thereby improving the performance of all of the systems that keep us healthy!

There is also mounting evidence showing that what we eat affects physical health and mental health. A great way to keep our mind, body and spirit happy is by consuming a rainbow...in the form of a salad, of course!

This dish is able to be completely tailored to your personal preference. Read the guide below for suggestions on creating your own Rainbow Superfood Salad!

In 2013, Carol Gardner was in hospice care from a lifelong battle with lupus and a twenty year battle with a rare form of Multiple Sclerosis. It was a fight she was determined to win, and says: “I researched nutrition on my own and created a meal plan that reversed the damage caused by both illnesses.”

Two years later, she decided to enroll in SWIHA’s Holistic Nutrition Wellness Practitioner diploma program to learn more about nutrition for herself. Carol tells us: “Dee McCaffrey's course convinced me that I could help others with this newfound knowledge.” Carol says that the greatest lessons she learned in her program were how to write articles, how to speak with clients, and the vast amount of nutrition information she gained.

There are many aspects to consider when choosing an eco-conscious lifestyle, and one of the most simple changes you can make is with your diet! The carbon footprint and water usage of our foods is often overlooked, however the U.S agriculture industry emits almost six-hundred million metric tons per year and accounts for eighty-percent of our nation’s water usage annually.

Today we’ll explore some options that are nutritious, delicious and gentle on the environment!

“I guess you could say I've lived many lives before I found SWIHA,” says Serena Gosling, an Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner student who’s graduating this month,  “Spirituality always interested me, but I only scratched the surface.”

Serena explains that she spent much of her teens and early twenties using drugs as an escape. “I was still really lost, until about two and a half years ago,” she tells us, “I had a massive awakening and realized I wanted to help others heal. A few months later I found Southwest Institute of Healing Arts.”

Have you been noticing communication issues, technological mishaps, or difficulty with your emotions lately? Yep, it’s true: We are in Mercury Retrograde until July 31st. Fear not! There is a simple ceremony that may help relieve some of the tension.

Smudging is an ancient Indigenous American ritual with thousands of years of history and the ability to powerfully cleanse energies. If you’re looking to reduce emotional and spiritual negativity in your body and living space, a smudging ritual is an excellent way to do so and Mercury Retrograde is the perfect time!

Usually the SWIHA blog is full of inspiring stories, tips for holistic living and exciting updates about our programs. Today, I want to shift the dialogue a bit and talk about a topic that is emotional for many: violation of boundaries by a practitioner, spiritual leader or advisor.

We believe the way to empower survivors of abuse is through open, honest conversations, so we will be having one today. If you are sensitive to the topic of sexual abuse or harassment, please proceed reading mindfully.

“My life truly is my very own happy place,” Janell Erickson tells us, “I have found healing and health through holistic and inspirational living.”

Janell is a transformational coach, using an array of modalities to facilitate major shifts in the lives of her clients. Her path to SWIHA, however, was full of twists and turns!

“I had a totally different lifestyle,” Janell explains, “I was married, raised two step-sons, lived by the Colorado River, worked as a human resource manager, as well as owned a thriving ice cream truck business and eventually a steakhouse. And then the low tide of life swept in and set me up for the next part of my journey.  I survived an alcoholic husband, bankruptcy and finally divorce.

Maybe you dream of giving your own Ted Talk, motivating others to follow their dreams, or speaking at a professional convention about your area of expertise. There’s one inevitable piece of the puzzle for those with a message to share: public speaking.

The thought strikes fear in to many, and it’s understandable! However, once you become comfortable talking in front of larger groups, you will more easily connect to smaller groups and within your personal relationships. Public speaking will help uncover a deeper part of yourself, making you more authentic and interesting on and off stage.

If you make a point to center yourself before stepping on stage, you may just have the time of your life!

Rudy Frame is a Massage Therapist, Yoga Teacher and currently pursuing the 700-hour Western Herbalism program at SWIHA. He’s been a SWIHA student since 2005, when he took a course on Gua Sha while working in a chiropractor's office.

He tells us: “I took a different route of service for six years in the United States Marine Corps, traveled the world and completed a Bachelor’s degree. However, government work was no longer appealing to me. Like a light bulb it hit me: go back to SWIHA and work on my own healing journey from my short time of intense service in the Corps.”

Healing arts are more popular than ever, and one of the most accessible (and versatile) modalities is Massage Therapy. In addition to being a relaxing spa experience, it is now widely used in medical settings for pain management, stress reduction, and in conjunction with traditional treatments. Sessions can be both preventative and restorative, which means that no one doesn’t need a massage!

Southwest Institute of Healing Arts began as a humble massage school in Arizona. In honor of those roots, we’ll look at three reasons you’ll absolutely love a career in Massage Therapy: