SWIHA Blog

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.

At Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, we see the power and potential in every soul, and Jessica Bardzinski is a shining example of pure determination!

“Before SWIHA, I was a stay at home mom. I had two children in two years,” Jessica shares, “I felt like I was lost in the trenches of life. I felt there was something more but didn't know where to turn.”

Jessica initially came to SWIHA to study nutrition, after her daughter had health problems that  doctors couldn’t seem to explain. “I had been reading everything I could get my hands on about the American food supply and SAD (Standard American Diet),” she says, “I wanted to learn more and get a degree to share with other mamas all this valuable information I had been learning.”

At first glance, marketing emails seem simple and maybe even a little outdated (Gasp!). However, the majority of consumers actually prefer to communicate with brands and businesses via email, especially in the “discovery” phase of their journey. It’s never been more crucial to develop a strategy for your campaigns or you may hear crickets--or worse--unwillingly end up in your prospective clients' & clients’ spam folder!

Before we break down a few examples of an effective marketing email, there are a few basic rules to follow:

Jonathan Sorrell found himself meandering through mundane days in the traditional job force after his time serving our country in the military. Until one day, when he looked around and realized that he was not touching or affecting lives to his full capacity.

“I went online looking for programs,” he tells us, “I had heard about SWIHA and decided to check it out.”

The decision was an easy one for him to make. Jonathan says: “When I touched the handle and walked through the main door, a feeling of calmness came over me, and said ’you’re home!’”

Diversifying food choices is essential for keeping our gut’s microbiome healthy. When our digestion is performing optimally, our bodies can absorb the maximum amount of nutrients from the foods we consume, thereby improving the performance of all of the systems that keep us healthy!

There is also mounting evidence showing that what we eat affects physical health and mental health. A great way to keep our mind, body and spirit happy is by consuming a rainbow...in the form of a salad, of course!

This dish is able to be completely tailored to your personal preference. Read the guide below for suggestions on creating your own Rainbow Superfood Salad!

In 2013, Carol Gardner was in hospice care from a lifelong battle with lupus and a twenty year battle with a rare form of Multiple Sclerosis. It was a fight she was determined to win, and says: “I researched nutrition on my own and created a meal plan that reversed the damage caused by both illnesses.”

Two years later, she decided to enroll in SWIHA’s Holistic Nutrition Wellness Practitioner diploma program to learn more about nutrition for herself. Carol tells us: “Dee McCaffrey's course convinced me that I could help others with this newfound knowledge.” Carol says that the greatest lessons she learned in her program were how to write articles, how to speak with clients, and the vast amount of nutrition information she gained.

There are many aspects to consider when choosing an eco-conscious lifestyle, and one of the most simple changes you can make is with your diet! The carbon footprint and water usage of our foods is often overlooked, however the U.S agriculture industry emits almost six-hundred million metric tons per year and accounts for eighty-percent of our nation’s water usage annually.

Today we’ll explore some options that are nutritious, delicious and gentle on the environment!

“I guess you could say I've lived many lives before I found SWIHA,” says Serena Gosling, an Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner student who’s graduating this month,  “Spirituality always interested me, but I only scratched the surface.”

Serena explains that she spent much of her teens and early twenties using drugs as an escape. “I was still really lost, until about two and a half years ago,” she tells us, “I had a massive awakening and realized I wanted to help others heal. A few months later I found Southwest Institute of Healing Arts.”

Have you been noticing communication issues, technological mishaps, or difficulty with your emotions lately? Yep, it’s true: We are in Mercury Retrograde until July 31st. Fear not! There is a simple ceremony that may help relieve some of the tension.

Smudging is an ancient Indigenous American ritual with thousands of years of history and the ability to powerfully cleanse energies. If you’re looking to reduce emotional and spiritual negativity in your body and living space, a smudging ritual is an excellent way to do so and Mercury Retrograde is the perfect time!

Usually the SWIHA blog is full of inspiring stories, tips for holistic living and exciting updates about our programs. Today, I want to shift the dialogue a bit and talk about a topic that is emotional for many: violation of boundaries by a practitioner, spiritual leader or advisor.

We believe the way to empower survivors of abuse is through open, honest conversations, so we will be having one today. If you are sensitive to the topic of sexual abuse or harassment, please proceed reading mindfully.