SWIHA Blog

Burnout is a state of chronic—sometimes invisible—physical and emotional depletion. Almost 68% of students in health-related programs report experiencing moderate burnout at some point in their studies (Journal of Medical Education, 2023).

As someone who wore the hats of both instructor and student simultaneously, I can relate. I once found myself saying “yes” to every peer, project, and opportunity—mentoring new students, leading study groups, volunteering for workshops. At first, my cup was overflowing with purpose, yet slowly, motivation evaporated. My sleep vanished. My patience wore thin. Only after a gentle (and honest) conversation with a mentor did I recognize that I, too, needed the same self-care I encouraged in others.

At Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), we celebrate students and graduates who courageously follow their calling into holistic wellness. Recent graduate Tina Lorenzo embodies this journey. With over a decade of experience as a nurse, Tina felt drawn to explore deeper, integrative approaches to healing after navigating her own profound challenges and personal transformation. Her path led her to SWIHA’s Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner program with a concentration in Advanced Hypnotherapy, where she discovered new skills and a renewed sense of purpose. Today, Tina is dedicated to helping others nurture their mind, body, and spirit through holistic care, compassion, and empowerment.

Have you ever felt stuck in a situation with no clear way out? The manifestation wheels are turning, yet nothing is happening. Maybe you’ve spent countless hours creating vision boards, visualizing, repeating affirmations, and doing “all the things”—yet, no change. You start to wonder: Am I stuck in a rut? What if I’m the reason my manifestations aren’t unfolding?

The truth is, resistance is what’s blocking your change. When you want something new, you often resist where you are now. It’s easy to keep focusing on what you don’t want. Many people wait until things get so bad that their desire finally outweighs their patience. They become so caught up in wanting to be somewhere else that they create resistance to where they are.

I used to think that being spiritual meant stepping away from everyday life. In my mind, spirituality belonged to people who could spend hours meditating, practice yoga all day, or live somewhere quiet and remote. For a long time, I believed that because I have three kids, a husband, a full-time job, and even a part-time job on the side, I wasn’t doing it “right.”

For Alejandra Hernandez, life before Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA) was a search for deeper meaning. She had already begun a personal healing journey, longing for something that honored presence, spirituality, and connection to the earth. In a world that often demands speed, productivity, and distraction, Alejandra felt the call to slow down, listen inward, and live in alignment with her soul.

That calling led her to SWIHA, where she enrolled in the Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner program, focusing on Modern Spirituality and specializing in Earth Ceremonies and Healing Botanicals. It was here that Alejandra began weaving together the wisdom of presence, ceremony, and earth-based practices into a life of purpose.

Do you ever wonder who you really are and what purpose you serve here on earth? This question often troubles me as I seek to find my life’s calling. Clearly, I am female, a wife, a mother, a nana, a friend, a director, a coworker, a student, a business owner, and a healer. Yet truly—who am I?

For most of my life, I have been an empath, able to feel a deep and intuitive sense when something is wrong or out of balance—not only within myself—with others as well. This awareness is what led me to become an Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner.

Participating in a massage championship isn’t just about trophies or titles—it’s about stepping outside your comfort zone, embracing growth, and discovering a deeper sense of empowerment. Standing in front of judges, peers, and an audience can be nerve-wracking, yet the experience invites you to confront fears, stretch your limits, and find confidence you didn’t know you had.

When you put yourself in this space of vulnerability, you open the door to creativity, resilience, and transformation. Competing allows you to test new techniques, receive valuable feedback, and approach your practice with fresh eyes. Just like massage therapy itself, the experience of competition can be healing—it challenges you, shapes you, and helps you rise into your fullest potential.

Life doesn't always go as we hope, plan, or expect, yet how we respond to challenges can transform our entire journey. The world teaches us to resist pain. However, what if there is a powerful way to approach difficulties with compassion?

The first question is often, “Why me?” You question why hardship has chosen you. When challenges crash into your world, instead of playing victim, start being the author of your own resilience story. My journey has taught me that life isn't about erasing scars - it’s about understanding that they are intertwined with our most authentic selves.

September is National Yoga Month, a time to celebrate the power of yoga to bring balance, peace, and healing into our lives. It’s also a time to deepen our practice by exploring the “why” behind the movements and traditions we often take for granted. One of those small yet significant traditions is the way yoga teachers cue us to roll onto our right side after savasana. Have you ever wondered why? I did too!

When I think about why I’ve always cued students to roll to the right after savasana — that sacred final relaxation pose — my reasoning was rooted in symbolism. For me, the right side represented the East, where the sun rises each morning. Rolling right felt like an invitation to step into a new day, a new beginning. At the close of practice, my hope is to prepare yogis for renewal, carrying the peace of their practice into the rest of their day.

However, after teaching yoga for more than 14 years, I decided to dive deeper into the wisdom behind this cue. Here’s what I discovered:

In 2004, Becca Schmidt made a decision that would change the entire course of her life. After years of working in the high-stress worlds of marketing, public relations, event planning, and volunteer management, she knew she needed something different. With marriage and motherhood on the horizon, she longed for a career that offered balance, creativity, and flexibility—without sacrificing her passion for connection and communication.

That’s when she found Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA) and enrolled in the Yoga Teacher Training program. Looking back, she calls it one of the most pivotal choices she’s ever made.