SWIHA Blog

“For me, it is absolute alignment. I am showing up in absolute alignment doing this work,” says Carmen Payne, who has been a practicing Life Coach since 2013, “It gives my soul so much joy to be serving others in this capacity and be a messenger.”

Carmen had spent twenty years working an IT job, and slowly found the stress of the job compounding until she had the overwhelming feeling that she needed to be doing something more in alignment with her passions. That’s when Carmen pulled out her resume and asked herself some hard questions, including the last time she felt excited and energized to come to work: “The role that literally lifted itself off the page at me was when I was training and coaching people.”

Brian Sheldon, of Brian Sheldon Wellness, is a Nature-Rooted Wellness Coach. “My goal is to help clients who are struggling with feeling lost or unsure of themselves,” he tells us, “We work together to find clarity and establish goals to live a more healthy, happy, and fulfilled life!”

“When I came down to Phoenix to visit SWIHA for the first time, I felt extremely lost and like I was on the edge of discovering something deep inside myself that I have always known and never been able to explain or unlock,” explains Brian. He describes how energy within SWIHA “just felt right”, and he signed up for the Mind-Body Wellness program immediately!

Amanda Dodd was drawn to Life Coaching when she began to feel pulled by a sense of “more”, which is an impressive call when you take in to account that she was already a holistic practitioner working with Reiki, The Emotion Code and The Body Code, as well as doing Mediumship while being a trauma-aware care giver to a special needs child.

As with many souls who are drawn to SWIHA, Brigette Cross found herself at a crossroads in her former field of work. During her time as an account, she describes the feeling that she had something more to contribute: “I was in search of my own spirituality. I wanted more knowledge to enhance my gift so I could share it with the world,” she recalls.

Brigette enrolled in the Mind Body Wellness Practitioner program where she developed her coaching practice, Be-Smiley. Her business’ tagline is: “Life is too precious to live unhappy!” which perfectly encapsulates the goal of Life Coaching.

“I had it in my head that spirituality was against science,” admits Mitra Malaekeh, who has 19 years of experience as a Microbiologist, “I came to understand that they are hand-in-hand for personal development and growth.”

Mitra felt called to expand her understanding of the human experience beyond the physical and biological, and let her curiosity lead her to enroll in both the Life Coaching program and Yoga Teacher Training program at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts.

"I am blessed that I have been able to successfully integrate so many aspects of my life’s personal journey and career into my business model," Brenda Bentley, Life Coach and SWIHA graduate.

As a former international banker, teacher, career consultant, hypnotherapist and facilitator, Brenda has, in her words, "wove various aspects into the tapestry of my coaching business."

"I believe that it's through our own life experiences and challenges that we are able to dig deeper, unearth those hidden treasures so we can step out, make a valuable contribution and be of service to the world during this precious time we have on earth," she affirms.

“I have grown in more ways than one, I have a new appreciation for my life and my experiences. I am forever grateful for the SWIHA community,” Rocio Castellanos, a graduate of the Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner diploma, program tells us, “Even though I was an online student I felt I was always ‘there’.”

Prior to her journey at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, Rocio had worked in the healthcare field for twelve years as a Respiratory Therapist. “I have to say that I wish I had had this training when I was working in the medical field because it would have helped me be of better service to my patients,” she discloses, “Not that I wasn't, however, I know the skills I now have would have benefitted my patients even more.”

“I have always had a passion for mind-body health,” McCall Brown tells us, “I found myself studying and talking about it to friends and family all of the time, so I thought: ‘why don't I become a coach and help others find greater health and happiness?’”

McCall brings that level of self-actualization and merges it with her knowledge of Guided Imagery, Holistic Nutrition and spiritual psychology to help clients step in to their best self through her business, Beautifully Balanced by McCall! She has fully embraced the title of Intuitive Mind Body Wellness and Emotion Code Practitioner.

“I grew up in steak and potato country. My close friends can confirm that I never ate a vegetable,” says Amanda Webster, a graduate of the Mind Body Wellness Practitioner program  “Not surprisingly, I was plagued with symptoms of depression and anxiety and had trouble coping with life.”

During her first month at SWIHA, Amanda recalls sitting in Dr. Mahdi's classes wondering "What the heck is the picture on the screen?"

“Life coaching is a powerful way to develop new ways of thinking and discover the mental and emotional roadblocks that prevent us from achieving our life's goals,” explains Michael Cavalier, a Mind Body Transformational Psychology graduate, “With this newfound awareness, tools to empower us, and an system of accountability there is no limit to the world opening up to us and to the personal and professional growth we're seeking.”