SWIHA Blog

Deepen Your Practice: Yoga Body Psychology is Ancient Wisdom and Modern Science

Posted by Mel Rhoden on 3/30/21 4:00 PM

What a year we had last year! I am convinced I may not have made it had it not been for yoga. I started 2020 in Yoga Nidra training and fell in love with the sleep based meditation practice. As someone that has always struggled with shutting my brain down and trying to get all of the thoughts racing through my head to stop, the practice of Yoga Nidra was able to take my meditation practice to the next level.

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Topics: Yoga Teacher Training, yoga nidra, yoga, Amrit Institute, Yoga Body Psychology

Your Diet is Influencing Your Emotions: Exploring the Gut-Brain Axis

Posted by Taylor Jablonowski on 3/25/21 4:00 PM

We all have days where we’re in an inexplicable funk and can’t seem to shake it; nothing out of the ordinary is happening externally yet we feel unmotivated, sad, foggy or simply just blah. In recent years, scientific research into the connection between our brains and our bellies has suggested that these moods may not be as random as they seem.

In 2015, the National Center for Biotechnology Information concluded that: “Insights into the gut-brain crosstalk have revealed a complex communication system that not only ensures the proper maintenance of gastrointestinal homeostasis, but is likely to have multiple effects on affect, motivation, and higher cognitive functions.

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Topics: Holistic Nutrition, Mind Body Wellness, Healthy Eating, healthy living, Standard American Diet, Gut-Brain Axis

St. Patrick’s Day is “Happy St. Freedom & Faith in Me Day” to Michael Anthony Suszczynski

Posted by KC Miller on 3/19/21 9:00 AM

For SWIHA graduate Michael Anthony Suszczynski, St Patrick’s Day is the anniversary he left the corporate world and began to recognize his ability to manifest what he wanted. A few years back he asked the Universe for help to leave his secure job doing IT recruiting of almost 10 years in exchange for the “real work" for which he had deep passion. The next day Michael went into work and was laid off completely out of the blue. He was momentarily taken aback, and was surprised at how upset his co-workers were for him. After he caught his breath, he realized he has manifested exactly what he had asked for.

Michael reflects, “Being freed from my job that day, on St Patrick’s Day, I now consider it St. Freedom and Faith in Me Day. I asked Spirit for something with childlike passion and it showed up incredibly fast. It was such a beautifully alive moment for me," he continues, "The more I have come to have faith in myself and my conversations with the Universe, the more I am able to manifest into my life.”

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Topics: Recipe, Healthy Eating Tips, Nutrition Coach, Raw Foods

Maximize Micronutrients With Rainbow Superfood Salad

Posted by Taylor Jablonowski on 3/11/21 4:00 PM

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!

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Topics: Motivational Monday, Holistic Nutrition, Recipe, Healthy Eating, Vegan, healthy lifestyle

Make Your Own Mock 'Meat' With Just a Few, Simple Ingredients!

Posted by Taylor Jablonowski on 3/4/21 2:52 PM


The term ‘seitan’ is of Japanese origin, coined in 1961 by George Ohsawa who was an advocate of the macrobiotic diet. Sei, meaning "made of” and tan, the first character in the Japanese word tanpaku, which means protein. However, this vegan meat alternative can be traced as far back as 1500 years ago to Buddhist monks in China. Seitan has proven itself to plant-based eaters and beyond thanks to it's chewier texture versus other soy-based meat alternatives.

Although it is made of flour, seitan is low in carbohydrates, contains almost no fat, and is an excellent source of protein. It's widely available in grocery stores in many forms, however we'll be exploring how you can make it at home -- with no fancy ingredients or machines necessary. In fact, all you need is flour, water, your hands and a little imagination!

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Topics: Vegan, Nutrition Coach, Plant-based-diet, Holistic Recipes, seitan

Stuffed Squash Recipe: A Healthy, Customizable Meal for All Dietary Types

Posted by Taylor Jablonowski on 2/25/21 4:00 PM

Squash is a dietary staple for many cultures around the world. From its more common cousins, such as the zucchini and spaghetti squash, to the more obscure varieties such as the kabocha and zephyr squashes, these herbaceous vines are both delectable and nutritious! Today, we’ll be looking at basic squash preparation and ideas for stuffing them to create a complete and satisfying meal.

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Topics: Vegetarian, Holistic Nutrition, Recipe, Healthy Eating Tips, Vegan, Plant-based Foods

What is Yoga Nidra?: The Benefits of Becoming a Yoga Nidra Practitioner

Posted by Mel Rhoden on 2/18/21 4:00 PM

How do you meditate when you have a busy mind? The average person has 60,000-80,000 thoughts per day; that’s 2.500-3.300 thoughts per hour. That’s a lot of thoughts to try to bring into stillness.

This was my challenge. I’d always wanted to meditate, but trying to stop my brain thoughts while on the mat were near impossible. That is, until I found Yoga Nidra. I’ll never forget my first time receiving a Yoga Nidra session, day one of Yoga Nidra level one training. I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I signed up for this course.

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Topics: spirituality, yoga, Meditation, yoga nidra, Healing Modalities

A New Career by Next Year? Why You Should Train to Be a Massage Therapist Now

Posted by Taylor Jablonowski on 2/11/21 4:00 PM

Are you feeling ready for a change? Do you desire to positively influence the lives of others? If lifelong learning, human connection and steady employment are appealing to you, you may be perfect for a career in Massage Therapy.

In just eleven months, you could be on your way to a fun and fulfilling career through our Massage Therapy program, beginning on March 1st (AM schedule) and April 5th (PM schedule). Southwest Institute of Healing Arts offers the flexibility to choose what works best for YOU, with a wide range of electives and diverse scheduling options.

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Topics: Massage Therapy, massage, Our Success Center, Career Statistics, Gainful Employment

Get to Know: SWIHA’s Alignment with the Amrit Yoga Institute & Our Updated Yoga Curriculum

Posted by Taylor Jablonowski on 2/4/21 4:00 PM

In the practice of yoga, it’s traditional to follow a lineage to allow for more integration of the vast yogic teaching. After three members of the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts’ leadership team traveled to India and birthplace of the Amrit Yoga Institute teachings, we are now aligning our curriculum with this lineage through incorporating I AM Yoga® in to our curriculum. This provides a valuable opportunity for you to learn an authentic expression of yoga which honors its spiritual intentions and provides a complete mind-body-spirit focus.

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Topics: yoga therapist, Advanced Yoga Training, Amrit Institute, Yoga Philosophy, I AM Yoga

Michelle Buonincontri Uses Life Coaching to Reframe Abundance & Create Financial Sovereignty

Posted by Taylor Jablonowski on 1/28/21 4:00 PM

“I have always been an empath and someone that others sought for counsel. It was something that I pushed away for many years before attending SWIHA,” Michelle Buonincontri tells us.

As in many stories we hear from our graduates, Michelle describes her discovery of Southwest Institute of Healing Arts as “serendipitous”. She had moved from New York to Arizona and attended a Celebrate Your Life event on campus. “I immediately loved the curriculum and knew I had to do the Life Coaching program,” she says.

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Topics: Great Graduates, Life Coaching, abundance, national life coaching month, Financial Coach, Limits Beliefs

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