Arts for Health Programs
WHOLISTIC: Wellness, Health, and Opportunities for Living Successfully Through Tai Chi and Artistic Movement
Movement for Whole-Person Health.
Leadership for Healthier Communities.
The WHOLISTIC Program trains community leaders to bring accessible, evidence-informed Tai Chi and dance-based movement programs into communities. Participants learn to support physical mobility, cognitive vitality, emotional well-being, and meaningful social connection.
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What is WHOLISTIC?
Whole-person health through movement, creativity, and community
WHOLISTIC brings together public health professionals, researchers, clinicians, movement educators, and community partners to promote healthy aging through Tai Chi and artistic movement. The program prepares community leaders to deliver safe, inclusive, culturally responsive programs while helping expand access to movement-based health opportunities.
The university’s current initiative brings together physical therapists, public health professionals, researchers, clinicians, dance educators, and community partners. Its grant-supported implementation especially focuses on older adults with chronic health conditions who need continued support following hospitalization or injury.
Tai Chi for Whole-Person Health
Learn gentle mind-body practices, Qigong, Tai Chi forms, safe adaptations, and community teaching skills.
Dance for Brain and Whole-Person Health
Learn accessible dance activities that support movement, memory, creativity, emotional expression, and social connection.
Four Dimensions of Whole-Person Health
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Physical Health
Balance, mobility, coordination, strength, flexibility, and fall-risk reduction
psychiatry
Cognitive Health
Attention, memory, reaction time, executive function, and motor-cognitive engagement.
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Emotional Health
Mindfulness, stress reduction, creativity, positive emotion, and self-expression.
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Social Health
Belonging, communication, community participation, empathy, and interpersonal connection.
How the Program Works
Designed to develop a sustainable community-based workforce, expanding equitable access, supporting ongoing training, and assessing health-related outcomes.
Learn
Complete foundational training in movement, safety, inclusion, whole-person health, and community engagement
Practice
Develop practical skills through guided participation, readings, movement practice, and supervised experience
Lead
Co-lead or independently lead accessible movement sessions in community and health settings
Strengthen the community
Expand access, track participation and outcomes, mentor future leaders, and support program sustainability
Leadership Pathway
The three levels to becoming a WHOLISTIC Leader:
Facilitator
Instructor
Master Educator
Community Impact and Partners
Supported by community partnerships
The WHOLISTIC Program is based in the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health and supported by collaboration among public health professionals, movement educators, health organizations, and community partners.
The current older-adult initiative received a Community Reinvestment Award from Banner–University Family Care. Learn More >
Develop practical skills, earn a program certificate, and help make whole-person health opportunities more accessible.
Become a movement leader in your community now.
Questions?
For questions about WHOLISTIC and our training programs or to explore partnership opportunities, please contact Yunjia Yang, PhD at yunjiayang@arizona.edu.