Arts for Health and Wellness
Arts for Health Programs
Arts programs cultivate physical, emotional, cognitive health, and social connection to promote holistic wellbeing.
Wellness, Health, and Opportunities for Living Successfully Through Tai Chi and Artistic Movement (WHOLISTIC)
The Wellness, Health, and Opportunities for Living Successfully Through Tai Chi and Artistic Movement (WHOLISTIC) program, designed to engage older adults, brings arts activities to the community and uses guided movement (Tai Chi & Dance) to promote emotional, social, cognitive, and physical integration for participants.
The WHOLISTIC program is coordinated in partnership with the Quincie Douglas Center, Park Senior Villas, UA Cancer Center and the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center.
The current older-adult initiative received a Community Reinvestment Award from Banner–University Family Care. Read more >
Tai Chi for Cancer
Hosted by the University of Arizona Cancer Center's Circles of Holistic Care Program, the Tai Chi for Cancer Center weekly virtual class is designed for cancer patients and their caregivers.
Date/Time: Every Tuesday from 10:00am to 11:00am
Location: Online via Zoom
The physical activity involved in Tai Chi and dance promotes balance and releases endorphins, the body’s natural "feel-good" hormones, which reduce stress and elevate mood. In addition, dancing with a group fosters a sense of community and belonging, which is crucial for mental health and emotional stability.
The program was developed to keep both the mind and body healthy for older adults. Sessions will bring participants together, alleviate social isolation and loneliness, and contribute to greater social cohesion, health equity, and community well-being.
Creative Arts for Lowering Mental Stress (CALM)
The Creative Arts for Lowering Mental Stress (CALM) program, launched in Spring 2025, provides a series of in-person workshops each semester that includes healing dance, meditative drawing, and singing bowl meditation. Students, staff, and faculty are encouraged to participate in the CALM arts workshops. Programming is designed to build connection in the college community, reduce stress, and promote mental well-being.
Our arts programs are developed and led by postdoctoral research associate Yunjia Yang, PhD. Read more about Yunjia’s approach to arts for health and wellness.
Yoga 4 Youth
In collaboration with the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine (AWCIM) and the Zuckerman Family Center for Prevention and Health Promotion, and supported by funding from the Greer Foundation, Yoga 4 Youth is an innovative program designed to inspire Tucson’s younger generations to practice mindfulness, manage stress, and enhance overall well-being.
Targeting underserved communities and local school districts, the program offers experiential field trips featuring garden and nutrition sessions, yoga and mindfulness activities, and hands-on health lab experiences.
Through these initiatives, we aim to foster a healthier, more mindful generation in Tucson’s underserved areas and establish a replicable model that can be implemented in communities around the world.
Past Programs
Dance, Resilience, Empowerment for Active Mental Health & Wellbeing (DREAM)
An innovative dance program designed for children in grades 1-5, the Dance, Resilience, Empowerment for Active Mental Health and Wellbeing (DREAM) class promotes physical and cognitive function through movement and dance. It mixes various dance types, such as Zumba, body percussion, and creative dance, to engage students and promote the wellbeing of both mind and body.
More than just an art form, dance is a powerful tool for nurturing the brain, the body, and the spirit of our children. It provides a means of self-expression, a celebration of culture, and enhances brain function. Recent studies have shown that engaging in dance has unique and lasting benefits for the brain, especially for young people.
Dance for Brain Health
As part of the WHOLISTIC program, Dance for Brain Health offered older adults opportunities to improve physical fitness, stimulate cognitive function, and reduce social isolation through guided dance experiences. The program fostered community engagement while supporting healthy aging and quality of life. Presented in partnership with the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center, the program highlighted the role of movement and the arts in promoting overall well-being.