Great Graduates from SWIHA, SWINA & SOY

Sarah Peters: Finding Zen


Before she found SWIHA, Sarah Peters a young woman, working a stressful job in a medical office – She was sick, overweight, and lost. “I was just starting to expand my health knowledge and learning how to self-heal. As I was searching for photography schools online, I 'accidentally' stumbled upon SWIHA,” shared Sarah. After 'stumbling' onto SWIHA’s website, Sarah enrolled into the Mind/Body Transformational Psychology program, specializing in hypnotherapy, Reiki, Life Coaching and yoga. Sarah became fascinated with almost every subject in her program: “I love the psychology of the mind; I love having deep conversations with people and I have always been sensitive to energies – other people’s energy as well as mine! It was so amazing to find a program that connected everything together for me – mind, body, energy and coaching!”

Sarah is currently transitioning into a Sound/Energy Healer and Yoga Teacher position at Knead Me Wellness in North Phoenix – a move she’s very excited about. She’ll begin taking clients there in March 2016, where she’ll share her wide array of gifts, including Reiki, Hypnotherapy, Coaching, Sound Healing and private yoga instruction.

Her sessions are customized to the client’s personal goals and challenges. “Sessions are an average of 90 minutes in length and involve a combination of healing energy work, coaching and education. This process allows for the client to begin to break free of subconscious patterns and behaviors and learn techniques to continue the process once the sessions are complete,” Sarah explained.

She generally works with women because, being a woman herself, she has a better understanding of their needs. Sarah went on to say that she generally attracts a demographic looking to ease anxiety and heal past traumas: “I am told that I provide an environment to fully support the emotional, spiritual and physical bodies.”

When asked how SWIHA has changed her perspective of self, Sarah declared how she’s a completely changed person from three years ago! “I’m only 25 and I feel like I have the wisdom of my elders. My personal and professional relationships have either been removed or changed for the better. I feel humbled, wise and fully prepared for any interactions I find myself in, whether that is energetically or professionally.”

So, what were some of the biggest lessons she learned at SWIHA, as well as any lessons she has for future graduates?

“I realized the magnitude of how much we project ourselves onto everything and person around us. I learned that journaling and meditating are the keys to physical, personal and professional success. Also, I learned that every time I thought I had all the answers, I didn’t. Don’t force anything; put yourself out there; make an effort. It’s very clear when the timing is right for any venture… yet it’s ok to check your horoscope. In all of the courses I’ve taken at SWIHA, the most valuable lesson I learned was how to ‘hold space’ for my clients and myself. This was taught to me in various ways and helped me gain a true understanding of how I must find my own way to relate to and serve others.”
Sarah Peters

In closing, Sarah left us with these words of wisdom: “Leave your ego at the door and follow the flow.” Sarah may be found at kneadmewellness.com

Topics: Great Graduates, Life Coaching, Blog

Chandler Dentist finds healing from SWIHA graduate

I am a dentist and have been practicing here in the East Valley for the last four years. I love my profession but it is hard on my body, specifically my shoulders and neck. Each year I seem to notice more and more discomfort as I practice and occasionally even when I am away from work. It eventually got to a point where I could actually feel a burning and tingling sensation around my shoulder blades. I would notice this one to two times a day, sometimes while working, but sometimes just driving down the freeway. Knowing I want to practice dentistry for a very long time I have sought out many different professional opinions on how to best manage this issue and to hopefully find some relief. The only real relief I have found has been with massage. I have become a regular to several of the spas in the area receiving 2-3 massages per month, which has been helpful to a point.

Topics: Great Graduates, Massage Therapy, massage, Blog

No Perfect Parents ~ A perfect niche for Sarah Senst to claim as a Life Coach

It was in the wee hours of the evening that Spirit spoke to Sarah Senst. “I was unable to sleep one night feeling depressed and anxious about my future. A late night TV commercial for the Life Coaching program at SWIHA was shown! The commercial, the program and the school immediately spoke to me!”

What fueled Sarah’s passion and consuming interest in the Life Coaching program, stemmed from her position as the ultimate life coach – parenting! “I've always enjoyed engaging with people and learning their 'stories.’ This strength has allowed me to connect with many different people from many different backgrounds. People really do care that you care – they don’t care as much about what you know. I think people can feel that I care when they are around me. My passion became more focused after my own personal experience of raising three children in a one-adult home; I realized others could also benefit from support, non-judgement and acceptance in their own parenting experiences. I came to understand that society can be very critical of parents and it is not an area we are highly trained in or prepared for, yet it is perhaps one of the most important jobs in existence. I wanted to create a place where people could talk about the fears, resentments, anxieties, hopes, dreams, frustrations and blessings that accompany raising healthy children. Hence my coaching business, No Perfect Parents, was born in 2005.”

Topics: Great Graduates, Life Coaching, Blog

Kristin Apodaca – First I worked on myself – Now I’m fully prepared to offer my work to others!

Like many SWIHA students, Kristin Apodaca’s path to SWIHA was full of trials and tribulations. Nearly seven years ago, Kristin and her family moved to Arizona for her husband’s new job, leaving her family and old life behind in Boca Raton, Florida. On the outside, she had it all: a loving husband, four beautiful and healthy children, a large home and many friend -- and yet, as Kristin revealed, she felt like she had no idea who she was as a person. Seven years of being a stay-at-home-mom took their toll on her.She spent that time feeling very resentful towards her husband for having to work such long hours, taking him away from their family and herself. All of these factors led her to a breaking point. “I had lost my identity,” confessed Kristin. After briefly using anti-depressants to help cope with her anxiety and depression, she knew there had to be a more holistic route available.

“I knew I had to find an alternative to the medicine; I needed to deal with and explore the feeling of emptiness I felt so that I could be the best version of myself and be the best mom I could be for my children,” said Kristin. After beginning to look into self-help retreats, a friend of hers mentioned the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts. She quickly logged onto SWIHA’s website -- www.swiha.edu -- and knew that this was exactly what she needed.

Topics: Great Graduates, Life Coaching, Yoga Teacher Training, Blog, yoga

StevieAnne Petitt: Lightening Up Enlightenment

StevieAnne Petitt is well on her purposeful path to be an internationally-known and well-received Conscious Comedian and Inspirational Speaker. Stevie’s comedic approach to conscious living prompts her audience to “Lighten up Enlightenment”, finding the humor in this human experience!

Stevie’s journey has been nothing shy of miraculous. She lived in foster and group homes after childhood abuse that resulted in her becoming a ward of the state. Stevie remembers being divinely-guided by one or two mentors at each significant turning point in her journey. “Looking back now, I find that every event was divinely orchestrated to bring me to who I evolved into today. I have the vague memory of several mentors, counselors and therapists whose brief comments of praise and inspiration fueled me for months and motivated me to dream big.”

Topics: Great Graduates, Blog

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