SWIHA Blog

What do we do after experiencing a tragedy? How do we come back from a major setback? Is there hope after living a life of self-destruction and despair? Is it possible to heal and move forward in a positive direction after our deepest hurts? By taking the initiative to make positive changes, to let go, and to say ‘yes’ to transformation and growth, we can connect with our truest self, and spare ourselves even more suffering.

“After having a hypnotherapy session from a student in the clinic, I knew that SWIHA was the place for me,” Kaye Bahr tells us, “After my session, I felt such a great relief from the stress and anxiety I was experiencing and I wanted to provide a similar experience for others. My very first session put me on a path to a new career.” 

Kaye made a brave leap from her fifteen-year role as an elementary school teacher to enroll in the Mind-Body Wellness Practitioner program and pursue a path as a  Clinical Hypnotherapist. She began her business Aspect Wellness, where she is a Performance Coach who works mainly with female business owners looking to grow their businesses, and yet finding that there is something holding them back.

Diana Gogaan is an NLP Master Coach, Equine Professional, Reiki Master/Teacher, and Shamanic practitioner.  Combining coaching, equine assisted activities, spiritual awareness, and energy work, her clients often achieve goals faster than with other conventional methods.  She blends the energy and wisdom of working with nature and animals into a multi-sensory experience that speaks to heart, mind, and spirit – all at the same time.

“I now know my worth and my life's purpose,” declares Marquita Almodova-Keeme, a Massage Therapy and Life Coaching graduate.

Marquita was seeking a new career in a peaceful environment and, to her, massage seemed like the most logical choice. She was being called to serve others, and her first day of Cranial Unwinding with Lisa Kearn was a defining moment on her journey: “That’s when I started to embrace the spiritual teachings of SWIHA,” she tells us.

“Five years ago I was standing in my gym in California talking to a friend about how I had kept getting this feeling that there was something more I was suppose to be doing with my life,” Kari Whipkey tells us, “I could feel that I was not supposed to be a personal trainer for much longer. As I was talking I got a vision of me talking on stage with a microphone in front of thousands of people. I was telling my story. That scared me so much! I hadn't told more than my family and best friend that I had struggled with eating disorders and I had never done public speaking. All of that was so out of my element but I couldn't deny that it was my future. A couple months later I moved to Arizona, told my story, got so much loving response to my vulnerability and realized I was on the right path and that I would eventually manifest that vision.”

Before her time at SWIHA, Kimberly Balzan found her life at a standstill. She was going through the motions but not moving forward, fearful of life and what change may bring.

“I felt like I had no direction,” she describes, “I just happened to be at a friends Melissa Corter who was leading this meditation called Yoga Nidra. I honestly had never heard of it and didn't know what we were going to do. Well, when it was over I sat up and thought ‘That was the coolest thing I have ever experienced’. When I got in my car, I said to myself out loud: ‘I am going to learn this and teach it!’ I knew at that moment something incredible had happened.”

Reiki is a Japanese therapeutic technique where the practitioner is believed to channel Universal energy in order to activate the natural healing process and restore well-being. It’s often used in conjunction with traditional treatments or additional healing modalities, such as massage therapy.

Mikao Usui, the originator of Reiki, considers the core principles the "secret of inviting happiness."  Each principle begins with the words “Just for today…” as a reminder to focus only on what we are capable of changing (our present thoughts and actions) and to release the past or future.

Christine Iring, SWIHA graduate and founder of The Wounded Healer, believes wholeheartedly that anything is possible with the right mindset, people and surroundings.

She tells us: “Five years ago, I believe I hit my rock bottom due to divorce, selling my home short sale, and relocating for a job…yeah, many major life changes. That in itself took major adjustment, reflection, and ‘doing the work’,” Christine continues, “SWIHA took a better version of me and provided the tools I needed to create a business with awesome modalities, but more importantly discovering even more of myself, my purpose and enjoying the journey along the way!”

SWIHA graduate Elizabeth Hartigan embodies the essence of her business, The Gratitude Girl! She specializes in helping women entrepreneurs grow their business and coaching them in order to get from where they are to where they want to be. She provides her clients inspiration, motivation, accountability, and ideas to move them forward.

“Life coaching is about helping someone reach their optimum potential,” she explains, “it’s about providing balance and support while they take inspired actions. It’s being their biggest cheerleader and believing in them, and reminding them of who they truly are.”

Nicholas Stanley believes he was guided to SWIHA by his “Angels, Ascended Masters, and loved ones”. In 2015, Nicholas was involved in a serious car accident in Long Island where he passed over into the light and came back into his body with a new awareness, mission and purpose.

“When I woke back up from not being responsive, I didn’t know who I was, where I was, or what I had been doing for the past few years. I felt a sudden switch in my mind, body and soul,” he explains.