SWIHA Blog

Before Beth Stratton discovered Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), she was on a quest for purpose. With a business degree and entrepreneurial experience behind her, life took an unexpected turn when she had to close her business. Feeling lost and uncertain, she enrolled in an accelerated nursing program—driven by her deep desire to help others—yet her plans shifted again when she became pregnant. Life, as it often does, paused one dream to make space for another. Beth devoted the next several years to raising her children and embracing the journey of full-time motherhood.

For two decades, Sarah Bundy worked as a dental assistant—committed to the job, yet deeply aware that something was missing. Each day, she felt the toll of showing up to a career that no longer resonated with her. The stress followed her home, impacting her children and dimming the joy in her daily life. Beneath the surface, Sarah knew she was meant for something more—something aligned with healing, growth, and the soul’s deeper purpose.

Have you ever paused long enough to think about the incredible, unseen world living inside your gut? I'm talking about your gut microbiome—a moving universe of trillions of tiny bacteria, viruses, and fungi. These microscopic microbes aren't just residing there; they're actively working to keep your gut and its lining healthy. And believe me, when your gut is happy, it sends waves of well-being throughout your entire body.

At some point in life, many of us feel a deep inner calling—a whisper that says, “There’s more for you out there.” For Paulette Brown, a retired police officer with a lifelong passion for helping others, that call came with a desire for a new beginning. She knew she wanted to live a more meaningful life, one aligned with spiritual purpose and healing service. That calling led her straight to Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), where she enrolled in the Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner (IHAP) program with the dream of becoming a Spiritual Life Coach.

Have you ever stopped to consider how our thoughts, behaviors, and patterns of thinking impact our well-being and day-to-day lives? Does our mindset jeopardize our future, the way we view ourselves and others, or even the way we feel? What aspects of our past impact the way we think? Can we simply change the way we think to change our reality? Let’s take a closer look.

At Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), we are constantly inspired by the transformational journeys our students undertake—both personally and professionally. One such journey belongs to Joshua Martin, a recent graduate whose path to becoming a healer is as heartfelt as it is powerful.

Ronald Aguilera’s journey into holistic wellness began with powerful synchronicities—moments that felt like the universe whispering, this is your path. Now a student at SWIHA in the Holistic Health & Wellness Coaching program, Ronald is weaving together his passions, purpose, and personal growth into something bigger than himself. Manifesting, as he’s come to learn, isn’t about wishing or waiting—it’s about fully stepping into alignment with the version of yourself you're ready to become. Ronald shares the real magic: aligning your thoughts, emotions, and actions with the life you're calling in, trusting unseen timing, and letting belief lead the way—especially when there's no proof yet. This isn't just about dreaming—it's about becoming.

When Taryn Ravi Sadesh first stepped onto the campus of the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA) in 2011, she was a recent high school graduate with a vision — one rooted in healing, service, and deep spiritual connection. Today, Taryn is a thriving holistic wellness practitioner and founder of Holistic Wellness Sedona, guiding others through transformative journeys with the wisdom, tools, and heart-centered leadership she has cultivated over the past decade.

Before discovering Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), Samantha Devine was navigating the intense demands of military life, motherhood, and the aftermath of deep trauma and chronic burnout. It was a powerful spiritual awakening during a Kundalini yoga practice that opened the door to her healing—and ultimately led her to enroll in SWIHA’s Holistic Health & Wellness Coaching program. Samantha’s path has been one of profound transformation, marked by courage, embodiment, and a deep desire to help others find their way back to themselves. Through her business, Nurtured by Samantha, she now offers trauma-informed coaching, Kundalini yoga, sound healing, and wellness services that empower others to reconnect with their bodies, rediscover their inner resilience, and heal with intention. Her time at SWIHA gave her practical tools and training, as well as reaffirming her purpose: to hold space for others the way she once needed for herself.

At the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), we believe that the soul speaks loudest when life grows quiet—and often, it’s in the stillness of our struggles that we hear the sacred call to awaken. For Anne Harney, that call came during a season of deep emotional exhaustion, standing at the edge of burnout after years of selfless service in special education. What felt like a breaking point became a breakthrough—a divine invitation to return to her true self. Guided by intuition and the desire to live with greater alignment, Anne stepped onto the path of holistic healing, where purpose and passion are no longer just dreams; they become daily practices.