SWIHA Blog

Do you dream of pursuing your passion for mind-body-spirit wellness and turning it into a profitable opportunity? At Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, we not only teach holistic modalities such as yoga, life coaching, herbalism and hypnotherapy -- we graduate entrepreneurs! We are ready to help you define what your success looks like, and provide you with the building blocks to reach it.

“My life has changed in ways I would've never expected,” Emerald Martin, founder and owner of Green Vibes Wellness tells us, “I had no idea what I was getting into.”

Emerald’s company has been thriving since 2019, a testament to her transformative approach towards Herbalism and Holistic Health. Green Vibes Wellness offers services including one-on-one coaching/health review sessions and a variety of herbal remedies custom-made for each individual client.

“I never felt more at home on a campus, calm, or more intrinsically motivated to learn than at SWIHA,” says Kay Vallely, owner of Revive Coaching, “The lessons I learned are all applicable, meaningful and useful.”

Kay explains that her love of learning ultimately guided her to serve as a Life Coach. She was studying communications and developing her crisis intervention skills while working with family support services.

The journey of an entrepreneur is never linear – especially in terms of levels of motivation. Somedays we may jump out of bed, ready and willing to take on the world. We know we’ll succeed and we’re so excited! The next day, however, may bring feelings of doubt or impatience.

At Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, we believe in holding space for each point on the emotional spectrum. Today we want to share with you some inspiring stories from our graduates who have preserved and truly found their heart’s calling. Click the link above each photo to read their full story!

There are many people who hear the words “alternative medicine” or “holistic wellness” and meet it with immediate skepticism. However, as recently as one hundred years ago, what we now classify at “alternative medicines” were the only medicines available.

The scientific advances during the European enlightenment brought us antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, serotonin inhibitors and other drugs, which caused decreased popularity in so-called “natural” treatments. While the advances in medicine are truly revolutionary and the solution to many previously hopeless health problems, it also brought about the belief that science would eventually cure all mental and physical disease. As a result, “natural” treatments were deemed ineffective and old fashioned in the minds of many people.

You’ve got your skills, your business name, your offerings outlined and your ideal client in mind. Many people get to this stage and think: Now what?  Today, we’ll be looking at ways to create a powerful brand identity to attract right-fit clients, help you stand out and create consistency within your marketing materials.

What is a Brand Identity?

A brand identity is a combination of elements within your marketing materials that serve to make you instantly recognizable. Your audience will naturally connect your brand identity with your products and/or services which increases loyalty and recognition. Getting clear on what your brand identity is helps you to appear consistent, professional and trustworthy.

LinkedIn is a social media platform utilized by companies, recruiters, and potential clients to network, search for and hire professionals with the specific skill set they desire.  The site acts as a digital resume which can be kept in real-time by sharing status updates, recent projects and giving and receiving recommendations. It is especially important if you are looking to offer your services in a corporate environment.

• 260 million users log on to LinkedIn each month.
• 61 million LinkedIn users are senior level influencers.
• 11 million millennials in decision-making positions have a LinkedIn.
• LinkedIn is the #1 platform for Business-to-Business marketing.

For some people, the word ‘Marketing’ inspires an icky feeling: “I started my business to be a healer, not a salesperson!”

We completely understand that you embarked on your entrepreneurship journey with a mission to change lives. However...you have to be profitable as well, right?

As the old adage goes: “Work smarter. Not harder.” Especially if you’re a solopreneur, it’s important to use your energy wisely. Today, we’ll focus on just one social media platform and look at ways to make Instagram marketing fun, true-to-you and successful!

If you were to tell someone fifty years ago that you’re going to a hypnotherapy session or a sound bath, their reaction would likely have been a mix of confusion and laughter. Holistic wellness was something for the counterculture, living on the fringe in spiritual communities and somewhat cloaked in taboo.

Today, more and more people are embracing holistic modalities

• Between 2012 and 2016, the number of Americans doing yoga increased from 20.4 million to 36 million.
• The number of U.S. consumers who adhere to a vegan diet grew from 1% to 6% between 2014 and 2017, increasing 600%.
• The global demand for essential oils was 226.9 kilotons in 2018.
• Wellness tourism is growing 12% per year, with awareness doubling from 1 in 10 people to 1 in 5 people.
• The number of spas have doubled since 2007, producing 2.6 million additional U.S jobs.
• Employment of massage therapists is expected to increase 26% from 2016 to 2026.

“As cliche as it sounds, I truly cannot believe I get to do what I love each day,” Taressa Riazzi, Hypnotherapist and Life Coach, tell us.

It used to be a very different story for Taressa. Prior to her healing journey, she was struggling through a challenging time; doing her best to be a stay-at-home mom while battling significant depression and debilitating anxiety. After realizing that putting everyone’s needs ahead of her own was having a negative impact on her emotional landscape, she knew something had to change.

“I originally was drawn to Southwest Institute of Healing Arts for the nutrition program,” she tells us, “however, after I experienced hypnosis and saw the impact it had on me and those I worked with, I decided to primarily practice hypnosis and life coaching.