SWIHA Blog

It has been called it Destiny or Fate. Some describe it as the Dharma and Karma process. Paulo Coelho, author of one of the all-time besting books, The Alchemist, has taught millions that each person must discover his or her own personal legend—the unique path that leads to an individual's destiny. And well known motivational speaker, Anthony Robbins, advocates that we must “awaken the giant within!”

One of the great graduates of Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, James Patrick, describes this internal phenomenon yet another way. He calls it our ‘Life Sentence’!

James is an impassioned Life Coach, motivational speaker and ordained minister who knows from personal experience that we cannot escape the workwe are “sentenced” to do here on earth. He believes we are intrinsically linked to our personal calling.

To describe the great human search as a Life Sentence may sound a little dramatic at first, yet once you understand what James Patrick is suggesting, it is hard to see it any other way. His foundational belief is that we are all born with a sacred contract that we agreed to live out on earth. It is not something we can run or hide from.

By Janet Lee, Guest Blogger

While the holiday season brings happy times and wonderful memories, it can sometimes be challenging when it comes to maintaining a healthy diet. During this busy time of year, most of us have been on the run completing work commitments, eating at the mall while finishing holiday shopping, attending holiday parties with friends while eating plenty of food and drinking a little too much eggnog! It’s quite possible that the only exercise experienced is walking from the couch to the refrigerator, or running from store to store.

If, you are experiencing low energy, headaches, or lack of motivation . . .

or if your pants are fitting a little tighter than a couple months ago . . . it is probably time to begin again with some healthy reminders!

Let’s get back on track and begin some healthy habits in 2015 to help us feel our very best!

By Nancy Jackson, Online Exit and Placement Specialist

An environmental science major turned holistic entrepreneur, Julie Conway has an interesting story about what brought her to Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA). Her journey started before she even heard of SWIHA, when she had to drop out of college as an environmental science major due to a debilitating illness. “Healing became a full-time job,” Julie writes on her website. She had every intention of finishing her degree, however, months and then years passed, and she was still physically unable to return to school. Eventually she gained enough strength to take online courses, but soon found herself overwhelmed and dropped her classes. She prayed, asking “what now?” She was nearly floored when she heard “a voice tell me to do nothing, just heal.” It was a huge leap of faith for her to trust that voice, and to put her goals on hold. She prayed that when the time was right for her to continue her education she would know it.

Having experienced personal healing using alternative therapies similar to what is taught at SWIHA, Julie became interested in learning more about those therapies. Searching online for holistic psychology degrees, she discovered the Mind-Body Transformational Psychology Online degree offered at SWIHA. “I contacted the school and instantly loved its energy. I felt like this was the sign I had been waiting for so I enrolled and was taking classes only a few weeks later. It was an excellent decision that has truly provided so much transformation.”

Every year, almost half of Americans (45%) make a New Year’s resolution. Of that number, 24% do not succeed in keeping their resolution. What if there was a method that could help us follow through with our New Year’s resolutions and succeed at accomplishing them?

Hypnotherapy is a great tool for clearing away resistance, something that is a common factor when trying to succeed at accomplishing New Year’s resolutions. Linda Bennett, Senior Curriculum Specialist and the Hypnotherapy Program Director for both On Campus and Online Hypnotherapy Programs at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), provides her students and clients with many tools and guided meditations to help “clear away the clutter.”

However, there are some misconceptions about hypnosis that are not true. Many people think that hypnotherapy is similar to what we see on television or in the movies… the facilitator controlling the subject, trying to put them in a trance by swinging a pendulum in front of their eyes. Although that perception makes for a great movie plot and an entertaining stage show, it’s completely untrue says Linda. When someone is in the state of hypnosis they are still completely in control and will only go along

Warming Ingredients for Winter Meals

Dee McCaffrey, GUEST BLOGGER

As the colder weather of winter approaches, our bodies naturally crave warm and grounding foods. Using thermogenic spices in our foods is a great way to warm our bodies and our taste buds. Thermogenic spices, such as cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves, increase the body’s core temperature and speed up metabolism. Warming spices of the holiday season have many health benefits as well—they increase circulation, support efficient digestion, boost the immune system, regulate our blood sugar levels, help with weight loss, and even ward off cancer and Alzheimers.

Spices also bring the aroma of the holidays into our homes and make recipes taste delicious. Here’s a guide to some of the best warming spices, from cinnamon and nutmeg, to more exotic spices such as star anise and cloves. Discover the healing benefits of these warming spices, and how to use them in winter cooking.

The healing art of massage therapy has been around for centuries. The earliest written records of this modality date back to 3000 BC in Egypt and China, and texts documenting the medical benefits date back to around 2700 BC in China. And still today the demand for well-trained touch practitioners remains very high.

An online article from U.S News & World Report stated that the Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates growth in the field of massage therapy by 22 percent between 2012 and 2022, adding 30,000 more licensed massage therapists to the field. Is it possible that YOU might be interested in a career in massage therapy?

The key to those who are successful in massage therapy is loving what you do. This is one career that you can’t fake it. You will either love it, or you won’t.

Owner and founder of Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA) KC Miller became a licensed massage therapist over 25 years ago. “If you would have asked me 26 years ago if I ever dreamed of becoming a massage therapist, I would have looked at you as if you were crazy,” said KC. After someone gave her the challenge of “Try it, see if you like it” she did. Years later KC reflects,

As fairytail-ish as it sounds, Diana Atenco knew one of her life’s callings was tobecome a Toe Reader. She just loved the opportunity to sit with people, listen to the stories of their lives, often pray with them, and always have the opportunity to help them make new choices about how they would step forward powerfully into the world.

Diana completed a series of classes at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA) starting in 2007 and became a Registered Toe Reader. From the very first class she realized she had a gift; without ever fully understanding how she knew even more than what the toe tissue revealed, she was aware that Spirit was using her as a messenger to people of all ages. Before long she knew she needed to deepen the way she was serving her clients, so she returned to SWIHA to take the Hypnotherapy and Life Coaching programs.

Around the time Diana began her journey at SWIHA, her then teenage grandson horribly injured himself in a motocross accident. He became seriously dependent on prescription pain mediation, which developed into an addiction to heroin. For years Diana suffered as she watched her beloved grandson slowly fade into the dark depths of drug addiction.

With age comes wisdom, as well as courage and fortitude; these traits are part of living a long and fruitful life. According to a 2014 US Census Bureau report, the number of senior citizens and elderly people in America is on the rise. In 2010, there were over 40 million people aged 65 and above, comprising 13 percent of the overall population. By 2050, projections indicate the population over 65 years old will comprise over 20 percent of the population.

Internal forces may strengthen as the physical exterior bears the signs that come with aging, and aches, pains and stiffness may put a damper on the quality of life. However, this is where massage can create a great benefit for the elderly.

Massage provides muscle relaxation, improves circulation, normalizes blood pressure, improves immunity, lessens pain, assists with mood management, and lessens social isolation and touch deprivation through mental and sensory stimulation. When working on elderly clients, massage therapists need to take extra special care of the body that is on their table. Licensed massage therapists should embrace the following five facets of safe integrative care of the elder client.

It started as an idea, as many businesses do - a spark of heartfelt inspiration. In December 2010, Krysten Aldridge and Ann Cabano hit the streets of downtown Phoenix to find folks in need of a hug and a cup of soup… what they ended up witnessing was way beyond what they expected.

As the two women walked around Phoenix that day, they were amazed by something that they couldn’t quite put their finger on. It was something they never felt before; it was big, it was beautiful, it was tragic. They began to document what they were witnessing on video. People, mostly homeless, approached them and asked what they were doing, asked if they could be part of the video. Krysten and Ann turned the camera and people quickly began to share their stories. The truth they heard from people shifted their perspective. They learned how and why the people wandering the streets of Phoenix were homeless. They learned about their families, their forgotten dreams, their fears. Most importantly, they learned about how these unique souls experienced love. And they knew they couldn’t just sit back and observe through the lens of a camera.

By Melanie Albert, Guest Blogger

“Eat your vegetables,” is a common phrase that most of us probably heard from our parents growing up. Many people, especially children, believe that vegetables are boring, or that they have no taste. That only “health nuts” eat raw or plain steamed vegetables. This is where “finishing vegetables” comes into Whole Food S.O.U.L. Food cooking techniques. Read on for tips and recipes about how to make veggies fun and delicious for the whole family to enjoy!

Add Culinary Interest to Your Veggies

Finishing steamed vegetables with organic oils, toasted spices, fresh herbs, toasted nuts and seeds, and finishing salts adds delicious taste and culinary interest, with beautiful colors, textures and aromas.

Steam carrots, cauliflower or broccoli in a bamboo steamer and then finish them with different combinations of oils, seeds, salt or spices to create exciting, tasty dishes!