SWIHA Blog

How Medical Massage Therapist, Renae Valdes-Seago, Transforms Lives with the Healing Power of Touch

Posted by Jade Marvin on 8/4/22 4:00 PM

Before SWIHA I had the privilege and blessing of being a full-time wife and mom of four amazing children. We owned a mortgage company that my husband ran. My husband of 15 years passed away unexpectedly after a 25+ year struggle with chronic pain which led to opioid addiction. This rocked our world and my children and I lost everything. The depths and darkness of addiction ran deep and his passing uncovered a painful spiral of a brilliant man.” said Renae Valdes-Seago. She continues, “I found myself lost, undereducated, underemployed and urgently needing to figure out how to provide for my family. I didn’t find SWIHA, my angel grandmother led me to this institution for my own healing and to rediscover the gifts I was born with. I felt guided to choose medical massage because of the world I existed in loving a man who hurt constantly and searched tirelessly for respite from pain.”

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Topics: Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, spirituality, Massage Therapy, SWIHA, entrepreneur, Holistic Healing, Holistic wellness, Arizona, Tempe, Licensed Massage Therapist, medical massage, Shamanic Reiki, Arizona Massage School

How Ashlynn Finley Follows Her Heart’s Calling to Hold Space for Others on Their Healing Journey

Posted by Jade Marvin on 6/9/22 4:00 PM

Your brain understands facts. Your heart understands emotions. Your intuition understands truth. Above all, follow your intuition. It will never fail you.” - RKL

Living up to other people’s expectations is always difficult. It is hard enough to even live up to your own expectations. When we change how we seek validation and choose to pursue it within ourselves compared to outwardly things or beings, we start to live our life for ourselves and nobody else. Once we can grasp this concept of trusting our own intuition, and letting go of outside influences, we truly start to live our life’s true purpose. Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, Great Graduate Ashlynn Finley, went through just that. She was living a life based on what her family wanted for her, until she made the decision to completely change her life, and chose to follow her passions and live the life she always dreamed of.

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Topics: Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, Great Graduate, SWIHA, entrepreneur, Holistic Healing, Intuition, Reflexology, Reiki, energy work, Spirit, Holistic wellness, Oracle Cards, Arizona, Tarot, Tempe, intuitve guide, community, Affirmations, Holding Space, Traditional Reiki, Empathy, Angels and Guides, Business Owner, Heart

From Dreams to Reality: How Rebecca Merrill Found the Courage to Go After Becoming a Health & Wellness Coach

Posted by Jade Marvin on 6/2/22 4:00 PM

Don’t downgrade your dream just to fit your reality. Upgrade your conviction to match your destiny.” - Unknown

Sometimes, dreams can seem too big or scary to achieve. That the road and work will be long and hard, and sometimes even unachievable. Well, what if I told you the only thing standing in your way is you? Rebecca Merrill, Southwest Institute of Healing Arts Great Graduate of the Holistic Nutrition Wellness Practitioner Diploma program, didn’t let that stop her. Although the thoughts of not accomplishing her dreams and goals crossed her mind, she didn’t let that get in her way of living her true purpose of serving others in a meaningful way. Rebecca asserts, “Three years ago, I didn't think where I'm at now was possible. I'm proud of how far I've come and can't wait to see where this journey takes me next.”

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Topics: Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, Holistic Nutrition, Great Graduate, SWIHA, Holistic wellness, balance, Arizona, Tempe, Nutrition Coach, Holistic Education, Holistic Nutrition Wellness Practitioner, Health and Wellness, Health and Wellness Coach

5 Things You Most Likely Didn’t Know About Coffee

Posted by Jade Marvin on 3/15/22 4:00 PM

Coffee can help you live longer? This is how we brew it, people! Most start their mornings with a yawn…otherwise known as a silent scream for coffee. Specifically in the U.S. - people are IN LOVE with coffee. Roughly 62% of Americans drink coffee every day - coffee may as well just love us back. Research suggests that coffee may help reduce the risk of illnesses ranging from cancer to heart disease to Alzheimer’s. With coffee being super tasty, energizing, and a major source of antioxidants, what’s not to love?

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Topics: Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, Holistic Nutrition, SWIHA, Recipe, Holistic wellness, Arizona, Tempe, Caffeine, Coffee, Coffee Lovers, Coffee Recipe

Happy National Peanut Cluster Day! Let’s Get Coo Coo for Goo Goo Clusters

Posted by Jade Marvin on 3/8/22 4:00 PM

Happy National Peanut Cluster Day!! Here’s to another calendar holiday you didn’t know you needed in your life. What’s not to love? Peanuts? Chocolate!? Give it to me! Peanut Clusters are the perfect combination of salty and sweet. The first retail peanut clusters were introduced in 1912 and were called the ‘Goo Goo Cluster’. Peanut Clusters were so popular with soldiers that they were even shipped weekly during World War II to those fighting the front lines. So, on this glorious holiday that mixes everyone's two favorite things: peanuts and chocolate - we must celebrate with a delicious recipe!

Peanut Clusters are relatively super easy to make! This can be a delectable dessert that's ready in minutes. You basically melt the chocolate, add the peanuts, stir them together, and then let them harden! Here is an exact recipe below:

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Topics: Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, Holistic Nutrition, SWIHA, Recipe, Holistic wellness, Holistic health, Arizona, Tempe, Holistic Nutrition Wellness Practitioner, National Nutrition Month, National Peanut Cluster Day

5 Wellness Tips to Kick Start National Nutrition Month

Posted by Jade Marvin on 3/3/22 4:00 PM

Chew your way into a healthy lifestyle this National Nutrition Month! What better way to launch yourself into the spring season than by motivating yourself to have a healthier lifestyle? National Nutrition Month was first celebrated in March of 1973, for only one week. The purpose was to deliver nutrition education to the public while also promoting the profession of dieticians. As interest in Nutrition grew, the week expanded into a month-long celebration in 1980! With this growing awareness of Nutrition, and the importance of making informed food choices and developing healthy eating habits, National Nutrition month can be exactly the call to action you need to get started on your health journey! Every year, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics establishes a theme for National Nutrition Month, this year the theme is “Celebrate a World of Flavors” - meant to embrace global cultures, cuisines, and inclusion.

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Topics: Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, Holistic Nutrition, SWIHA, Recipe of the Week, Recipe, Nutrition, Holistic wellness, Healthy Eating, healthy living, Gluten-free, Holistic Health and Wellness, Vegan Recipe, Nation Nutrition Month, Wellness Wednesday, Gluten-Free Recipe

4 Daily Routines to Boost Energy & Creativity: SWIHA Student Blog Series

Posted by Kayley Sexton on 2/22/22 4:00 PM

If you are lacking in the area of energy, brain function, fatigue, creativity, focus, and immunity, I have a routine with food in combination with supplements that have significantly helped me. I take these with a meal daily. I may take these with my first or second meal, depending on what my day looks like. If you're more prone to the mid-day slump, this may be better to start at noon rather than in the morning. You may even want to repeat this routine twice a day. It’s really simple and you’re probably already doing one of these things… Let me show you how to pair these daily items the most efficiently.

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Topics: Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, Holistic Nutrition, SWIHA, Nutrition, Holistic wellness, Arizona, Tempe, Energy, Gut Microbiome, Biohacking, Creativity, Caffeine, Coffee, Red Light Therapy

Aromatherapy for Spiritual Healing: Create Your Own Energy Clearing Spray

Posted by Jade Marvin on 2/1/22 4:00 PM

Aromatics, resins, incense, and smudging are all great techniques for clearing and protecting an area, asking for guidance and setting intentions. Whether you are a professional or just curious about Aromatherapy for personal use, Aromatherapy is accessible to all. Amy Horn, LMT and one of SWIHA’s Aromatherapy Instructors states, “An energy clearing and protection spray is just one of the ways in which I incorporate healing botanicals into my daily life. Our bodies are so easily synchronized to the healing properties of thousands and thousands of different plant chemicals and energies. As a practitioner, try some aromatherapy in your sessions and document the results. Most often, I see that my clients’ sessions were amplified, with a deeper and more meaningful experience.

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Topics: Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, aromatherapy, SWIHA, Essential Oils, Meditation, Holistic wellness, Holistic health, Arizona, Tempe, smudging, Aromatherapist, Energy Clearing, Energy Protection, Aromatics, Resins, Incense

How Life Coach Kami Pollvogt Teaches Her Clients to Live with Intention

Posted by Jade Marvin on 1/25/22 4:00 PM

The power of intention is the power to manifest, to create, to live a life of unlimited abundance, and to attract into your life the right people at the right moments.” - Wayne Dyer

Great Graduate Kami Pollvogt, of the Life Coaching Program here at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, worked in corporate America for over twenty years. When her company downsized and eliminated her department, she was left wondering what she wanted to do with her life. For the first time in a long time, the possibilities were endless. Kami knew she had a passion for human psychology. Kami states, “I found I loved it and realized that all my life I was curious about human behavior and really liked helping others with achieving greater awareness of who they are”. This life revelation in 2016 brought Kami life lessons of self-awareness, living life with intention, and her journey to SWIHA.

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Topics: Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, Life Coaching, SWIHA, Mindfulness, Holistic Healing, life coach, Holistic wellness, Arizona, coaching, Tempe, Holistic Education, Group Coaching, Intention, Self-Awareness, Art Therapy, Holistic Coach

5 Grounding Techniques to Cultivate Success & Self-Regulation

Posted by Jade Marvin on 1/18/22 4:00 PM

Anxiety is a primal human experience to anticipate and prepare for threats, which can serve as a good thing. However, too much anxiety can quickly turn into mental health issues and can disrupt your daily life, relationships, work, and more. Anxiety can feel different for everyone, luckily, there are some very effective and scientifically proven ways to help us become more grounded, balanced, and in tune with our bodies. Here are 5 Grounding Techniques you can utilize to self-regulate when life is feeling out of place:

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Topics: Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, Massage Therapy, SWIHA, Mindfulness, massage, Holistic wellness, exercise, Holistic health, Breathing Techniques, Arizona, LMT, Mindfulness Exerise, Grounding Techniques, Earthing, Stretching, Massage Therapy Program, Grounding

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