SWIHA Blog

By Will Zecco, Guest Blogger and SWIHA Success Center Manager

There are many aspects to the job that I do at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA). The most rewarding is my role as mentor and coach for the graduates, helping them pursue their dreams and offer their gifts and graces to the world in profitable way.

It is my honor to support these individuals from the early stages of their business development and guide them toward entrepreneurial success. This process is always an interesting and eye opening experience because each one is very unique in their chosen path.

The most rewarding part of this is watching the transformation from being scared and overwhelmed at the thought of starting a business, to the point where they spread their wings and soar. For some this is a slow and possibly arduous process, with many starts and stops; things sometimes become stuck and just never seem to launch. I often tell my graduates, the challenges to build and grow a business are the same no matter what the business is. How do we take a product or service and turn it into a profitable business? It takes more than just a great idea; it takes imagination and perseverance to become successful.

It is seeing the success stories happen that makes my job so rewarding. Knowing that I was able to be a source of support to help these things happen is what makes my soul sing!

Yoga has deep roots - really deep. Estimated to have originated more than 5,000 years ago, this ancient practice predates written language. What began as a spiritual practice (and still is in some forms) is more commonly used in the USA by lay people as a tool to increase flexibility of body and mind, reduce stress and improve balance.

The practice is increasing. According to a 2013 listing by Yoga Journal, the number of practitioners who engage in some type of yoga has stretched from four million in 2001 to 15 million in 2013. While tracking yoga aficionados may be difficult to calculate, the amount of money spent on yoga apparel, equipment, mats and accessories is not.

Statisticbrain.com reported that $27 billion was spent on yoga products – an 87 percent increase than in years past. From Anchorage, Alaska to Zuni Pueblo, New Mexico, Americans are buying yoga products, signing up for yoga classes and enrolling in yoga teacher training programs like never before.

Politics aside, even the U.S. Commander in Chief touts the benefits of yoga.

“Coaching is the process of healing your mind. When you heal the mind, you transform your life.”Richard Seaman,
Lead life coach and instructor at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA).

Whether it’s life coaching, spiritual coaching or business coaching, the process of helping an individual recognize and bring out the best in themselves is a truly transformational process for both the coach and the client. While acting coaches, voice coaches and athletic coaches have been around for many years, life coaching is a relative newcomer in the field.

Kathleen Simonds, a life coach, hypnotherapist, teacher and graduate of SWIHA became a life coach after moving from California to Arizona. The former English teacher was already known for her expertise in the hypnotherapy field and became excited about the prospect of becoming a personal coach.

“I learned about SWIHA and went to the campus and leafed through the catalogue,” said Simonds. “I was like a kid in a candy store. All the classes seemed intriguing, but I was definitely drawn to the Transformational Life Coach program because it was local and reasonably priced.” The school offers both on campus and online classes. She enrolled in the on campus program successfully received her certification. “It is one of many things I do, but I found the training has helped me streamline other aspects of my practice, such as my intake process. Working as a Transformational Life Coach has been very rewarding.”

By Jenna Zizzo

Stress is one the biggest issues plaguing most Americans

Today’s fast-paced world can have a multitude of effects on us, ranging from physical effects such as high blood pressure or insomnia, mental or emotional effects such as high levels anxiety, and even spiritual effects, by bringing us further away from whichever spiritual connection we choose to attain. According to a July 2014 article from NPR, in which more than 2,500 adults across the country were surveyed, 49 percent reported to have had a “major stressful event or experience in the past year.”

We need a method for calming our minds,
healing our bodies and freeing our souls

Our mission is to inspire individuals to discover their gifts and graces, and support them as they share their talents in a loving and profitable way. Discovering your gifts and graces can often mean you need to be fearless in pursuit. We're blessed to have a community of talented and fearless souls. Today we're featuring Julie Christensen, as she shares how being FEARLESS by tapping into her heart has transformed her life.

What does being fearless mean to you?

To me, being Fearless is having the courage to take the hand of your "shadow-self", and let it lead you to your "Golden Shadow"...That part of you that is pure Greatness. To me, being fearless is about living from the vast space of an open heart, rather than the confines of a doubt-filled mind.

What is a aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils for therapeutic purposes.Essential oils are the plant’s “life blood”, as they protect the plant from infection, attract pollinators, repel harmful predators, and assist the plant in healing and repair. The term aromatherapy is a bit of a misnomer as the essential oils are not used solely by inhaling them. Essential oils are used aromatically (inhaled), topically (applied to the skin),and some use the oils internally (orally, pessaries, douches, suppositories).

The use of essential oils has been around for centuries. Pictographs have been found in Egyptian tombs along with vats of expensive oils such as Frankincense. Throughout history and across cultures, the use of essential oils for health purposes has been recorded.

Essential oils have many therapeutic properties based on the plant’s chemical components. Commonly essential oils are bactericidal, antiviral, immune supportive, and analgesic. Dr Jean Valnet , a French surgeon, effectively used aromatherapy in World War II to treat wounds when he ran out of antibiotics!

We all know how important it is to love ourselves just the way we are. We preach it to our children, family and friends. If a friend comes to us saying they aren’t good enough in some area, we’re the first to try and help them work through that belief. Do we show up for ourselves in the same way though?

Confession Time

As a teacher, I often speak with people who attend my classes about the importance of living in the moment and loving ourselves. I have a beautiful soul family all across the globe and an amazing son, yet I found myself feeling lonely and dejected.

In my (hundred thousandth) attempt to quit drinking coffee I have given in to the lure of the mystic drink again... and I feel great. My liver, mind, and nervous system are thanking me for the needed break from the caffeine, but they are also thanking me for the pick-me-up that was very much needed today.
I have been a consistent coffee drinker since I was 4... Yes that is right, and that could be the reason why the comfort of it is almost as important as food and water to me.But what are the benefits of coffee?

The Coffee Controversy

Coffee is so controversial and it seems like it will forever remain that way, so I wanted to share informative facts I came across during my research. Like I said, I am an advocate for coffee, but I also know just because one thing is "good" for one person does not mean it is good for another. Make an educated decision based on the knowledge of your own body chemistry.

According to Mayo Clinic many individuals used in studies showing coffee had ill effects on the body also smoked heavily which caused conflicting results. The website states there are many antioxidants in coffee may aid in preventing diseases like Parkinson's, type 2 Diabetes, and liver cancer. Although coffee contains these healthy nutrients, it is essential to consume the beverage in moderation.

Holistic Wellness Practitioners offer a wide variety of ways to help us transform ourselves and create balance in our life. Hypnotherapy, Life Coaching, Holistic Nutrition, Aromatherapy, Reiki; just to name a few, are powerful modalities that offer tremendous transformation at various levels, including body, mind and soul. These all offer us a chance to tap into the answers and infinite power that is within us, instead of looking outside of ourselves for security, love, happiness and truth. The journey is not always a clear a simple path, but we can certainly still enjoy it. There are many forms of alternative therapy that can can help us transform our lives and enjoy the journey.

How To Make the Most of Your Holistic Wellness Practices and Therapy

1. Remember you are 100% responsible of your life.

Owning responsibility for your own experience is the first step towards transformation. Some people might look for alternative therapy assuming that the therapy is going to save them, or completely change them in some way. The therapy it self is very powerful, but the level of transformation will be equal to the level of openness, intention, and passion you yourself put in the process. Take responsibility and allow the therapy to guide you in your transformation.

Eat Local. Shop at a Farmers’ Market. Buy a CSA. Enjoy a Simple Roasted Roots Recipe

In Arizona where the Southwest Institute of Healing Art (SWIHA) campus is located and where I live, many of the local farmers’ markets will be re-opening for the season after our “dry heat, hot summer”. Fortunately, we do have a few farmers whose produce is available during the summer, so I’ve been having fun shopping from a few farmers for our Whole Foods Cooking Classes at SWIHA this summer.

4 Great Reasons to Eat Local

• Locally grown produce is fresher, tastes better and lasts longer.. Most produce in conventional grocer stores is picked well before it's ready to be picked. Some of the methods used to ripen the food in warehouses and in trucks include methane gas. Food that is allowed to ripen on the vine absorbs many of the flavors and nutrients they are intended to. Local produce shortens the path traditionally traveled from farm to table and the result is better tasting more nutrient dense food.