SWIHA Blog

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.

From Beauty to Healing

Before enrolling at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), Candice had built a thriving career in esthetics. “I had been in the beauty industry for sixteen years and had owned my own spa for the last seven. I was happy and content in my life,” she shares.

Yet life had other plans. After experiencing three severe car accidents—the last leaving her with a traumatic brain injury and debilitating neck issues—she began questioning whether her future was still in esthetics. “I started to experience economic hardship in my business as well as physical hardship. Mentally, I found myself overwhelmed with life. I was juggling a business, a brain injury, and physical therapy.”

At Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), we honor the courage it takes for our students to turn personal challenges into opportunities for healing, growth, and service. Today, we’re honored to spotlight the journey of Tabitha Newton, a current student in our Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner program. Through her story, Tabitha shares how leaving a toxic job became the catalyst for reclaiming her purpose and building a life aligned with peace, passion, and authenticity.

Every student who walks through the doors of Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA) carries with them a story—a story of searching, of struggle, of transformation, and of hope. For soon-to-be graduate Lindsay Childers, her path to healing and purpose has been one of resilience, courage, and faith in the calling placed on her heart.

Before Stephanie Allen found Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), her life had taken a painful and unexpected turn. Having recently left a career in law enforcement after surviving an assault, Stephanie was left navigating the emotional aftermath—confused, alone, and unsure of how to move forward. While she had a desire to help others, particularly survivors of sexual assault, she quickly realized that true healing begins from within.

At the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), we often witness students walk through our doors carrying dreams that seem distant, even impossible. Gabriela Milan was once one of those dreamers. Today, she’s a vibrant example of what happens when you follow your heart, trust your calling, and allow healing to begin from within.

Before she became a beacon of healing and transformation, Gabriela was clocking 50-hour workweeks as a server at Olive Garden. Deep down, though, she carried a powerful desire: to become a mental health therapist. Yet something about the traditional route didn’t sit right with her. She craved something more soul-connected—something heart-led.

At Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), we often say that every student carries a spark—a calling that draws them to healing work not just for others—for themselves too. For recent graduate Isea Natalie Reid, that spark has become a radiant flame. A proud Jamaican mother, healer, entrepreneur, and survivor, Isea’s journey through SWIHA’s Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner program with a concentration in Spiritual Coaching and Earth Ceremonies has been one of profound transformation, both inside and out.

Life gets crazy. There are distractions, obligations, people relying on you, and priorities that always seem to be shifting. With everything going on in your world, it can be easy to lose sight of what truly matters.

We often make decisions based on what we’re used to, what’s expected of us, or what we think is expected of us—from years of conditioning. This can leave us feeling disconnected, like we’ve lost our sense of self or like we’re chasing a life we can never quite catch.

Before discovering Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), Marleigh Brown had already embarked on a deep personal healing journey—yet something was missing. She had gained insights and clarity on her own, however, she found herself craving structure, community, and a deeper sense of direction. “I knew I wanted to create space for others to feel safe, seen, and supported in their own healing journeys,” she reflects. That longing led her to SWIHA’s Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner (IHAP) program, with specializations in Advanced Professional Hypnotherapy and Life Coaching.

Before Tammy Barnett found SWIHA, she was navigating a path of uncertainty and deep searching. Having endured a life-altering illness that left her disabled, Tammy found herself lost—physically and spiritually. Her body may have been in recovery, yet her soul was yearning for clarity and purpose. That illness became a turning point, prompting her to ask life’s biggest questions: Who am I really, and what am I meant to do with this life?