We had the good fortune of connecting with Tiffany Kuhwede and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tiffany, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?

When I was starting to look into working for myself, I started small like I do with everything. I began learning about energy work as a form of self-care and quickly realized it was a tool I could share with others. When I started sharing it with others I noticed that it was something that typically has a high cost associated with it.
I wanted to be able to help support people on their healing journey without it costing them a huge amount of money. I also had recovered from so much I knew my story would help provide hope and healing to others. I started studying ways to share my story and began to write it down in different ways. I did not know how I was going to do any of the things I wanted to, but I knew by starting with education, and practice I would figure it out.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My business has a few moving parts. I ran a small private Reiki practice, Healing with Happiness, for several years. I used that practice to grow and continue to learn. I have had a few students I have attuned to practice Reiki and many clients who came to see me on a regular basis. I spent 5 years studying and learning and growing my practice while working a full-time job and studying coaching on the side. I offered my services in exchange for services or donations at first. During this time I also supported survivors of intimate partner violence at the place here I worked. I began holding groups and coaching other survivors in a peer space. I worked with the support of Racquel Garcia to create my own program within the organization we were building together. I ended up closing my private practice and moving my practice and teaching within HardBeauty. The program I created is called Unbroken by HardBeauty. In this program we are peers who have survived and are in recovery from intimate partner violence. I have created groups for women, men, and intersex/transgender/queer humans. I have had 6 amazing coaches work in my program and we are growing! My training for this program recently received State approval for Continuing Education Credits and I am applying for national accreditation within the next month. I also have been holding weekly Reiki sessions for HardBeauty and was able to hire a second practitioner to help support me as I grow. I want people to know they have what they need inside of them to accomplish their dreams. I want people to know they can heal their nervous system from the traumas they have experienced. We all have great power inside and it is up to us to learn how to use it.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My favorite spots in Colorado Springs are pretty typical tourist attractions. Let’s start with my favorite rock on the planet, Pikes Peak! I get to look at all 14,000 feet of her beauty every day! Garden of the Gods is one of the most beautiful places on this earth just make sure you don’t wear white! Manitou Springs is full of the best shops and has a great community of humans and if you are up for it check out the incline, I have only done it once so far. Also make sure you drink the water in Manitou, it is super good for you but may taste a little funny. I love going shopping and out to eat in Old Colorado City, they have 2 certified gluten free restaurants! I also love to spend time in Palmer Park, a beautiful open space right in the center of town. My family collects rocks and gemstones and Colorado is an amazing place for this. We can always find quartz laying around in town and we love to venture into the Rocky Mountains to look for them. I love being outside in nature and I live in the perfect place for it.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Racquel Garcia and HardBeauty. Racquel invited me to walk along side her as she supported young humans struggling with self-harm and suicide. She supported me and gave me the tools I needed to grow into the person I am today. She has created something amazing and has allowed me to part of the entire creation. Without her I would not have created my own program. I am grateful every day for Racquel and all of the energy she has poured into me and my dreams! Also to my family. Without their love and support I would not be alive today. My family has been my biggest reason for what I do and they love me all of the time, no matter what.

Website: https://www.hardbeauty.life/unbroken/

Image Credits
https://coloradospringsfamilyphotography.com/ angelagilesklocke@gmail.com

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.