For Michelle Rodriguez, healing has never been just a job—it has been a calling. With over 22 years in the healthcare field and nine years as a Licensed Vocational Nurse, Michelle has walked alongside countless individuals and families during some of life’s most vulnerable moments. Yet, despite her deep dedication to nursing, something within her began to shift.
“I have held the view that each individual’s situation should be approached holistically, honoring the triune beings—body, mind, and soul—that each person is,” Michelle shares. “I especially believe this when it comes to those who are in the transition of death.”
That belief became the compass guiding her toward a new path—one rooted in care and reverence.
Listening to the Call
Before enrolling at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), Michelle found herself in the midst of a profound spiritual awakening. Though nursing had been a significant chapter of her life, she knew it was no longer fully aligned with who she was becoming.
“I knew that nursing was no longer aligned with my path,” she says. “I started searching for a different career in 2023 and learned about end-of-life doulas. I felt the call pretty much immediately.”
Like many moments of awakening, the clarity came with uncertainty. Though the calling was strong, Michelle didn’t act on it right away. Yet, as she so beautifully puts it—the calling never left.
While working in Northern Arizona, she began researching again and discovered SWIHA. What stood out immediately was the school’s unique integration of the Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner (IHAP) program with End-of-Life Doula training.
“I appreciate that SWIHA offers the EOL doula program combined with the IHAP program to help guide me into starting my own business,” Michelle explains, “where honoring the triune human, while providing compassionate care, can be accomplished.”
The Moment Everything Aligned
Sometimes the most defining moments aren’t loud—they’re deeply internal. For Michelle, saying “yes” to SWIHA was one of those moments.
“I knew that I was on the right path when the moment I said yes to enrolling, everything in my life aligned after that to help me accomplish this monumental goal.”
That alignment marked the beginning of a powerful transformation— professionally and personally.
Becoming an Entrepreneur
One of the biggest shifts Michelle experienced during her time at SWIHA was stepping into an entrepreneurial mindset.
“YES!!! My life has significantly changed,” she says. “I never in my life thought I would be starting a business. The entrepreneurial mindset that I have adopted is the biggest change. I am so excited that this is happening!”
As she prepares to graduate in February 2026, Michelle is intentionally transitioning from employee to entrepreneur, building a business rooted in compassion, presence, and sacred support called The Natural Flow.
Her future offerings include end-of-life doula services, Yoga Nidra sessions, meditation, and breathwork—with the possibility of expanding even further.
“Mostly everything I have learned at SWIHA—intuitive coaching, the chakras, the GRIT skills, the EOL doula skills, and the business skills—will be a great help to me in my business,” she shares.
Lessons in Worthiness and Resilience
Among all the tools, modalities, and teachings, one lesson stands above the rest for Michelle:
“That I am worthy of being an entrepreneur.”
It’s a realization that many healers come to slowly, especially those who have spent years caring for others within traditional systems. SWIHA became a place where Michelle’s spiritual insights were not only welcomed, they were reinforced.
“I encountered a great deal of obstacles on my student journey,” she reflects. “Yet the resiliency that I carry kept me going.”
She credits the guidance of impactful teachers—including Rachel Astarte, Lori Dye, Margarita Garcia, Michael Dye, and Gisele Marasca—and names her favorite classes as her End-of-Life Doula courses, GRIT, Cognitive Wellbeing/Social Responsibility, intuitive studies, Yoga Nidra, and yes—even the challenging business classes.
Words for Future Students
When asked what advice she would give to future SWIHA students, Michelle’s message is both grounding and hopeful:
“Stay with it. Know that you can do it. Your future is worth the investment.”
Michelle Rodriguez’s journey is a powerful reminder that healing paths evolve, callings persist, and it’s never too late to honor what your soul already knows. Through SWIHA, she is transforming years of clinical experience into sacred, holistic support for those navigating life’s final transition—and stepping boldly into a future she once never imagined.
And this is only the beginning.
