Mindful Movement in Schools

A partnership with Holland Public Schools bringing mindfulness and movement into the school week.

Person jumping mid-air indoors, with a wooden wall and an American flag in the background.

What is the Mindful Movement Program?

Mindful Movement blends dance and mindfulness in one class. Students build exercise, coordination, and spatial awareness, while mindfulness practices help them slow down, notice what they're feeling, and navigate it in a safe, fun group setting. Each session is led by Catie Hauch, MA, CAS, founder of Dance United and Creativity Unites, and her team, during a scheduled break in the school day.

A group of nine people posing together indoors, some wearing casual clothing and others with identification badges around their necks.

Why it Works

Research consistently shows that mindfulness practiced in schools reduces stress and increases attentiveness, and that students, especially those at risk of academic difficulty, often learn best through movement. Mindful Movement puts that research into practice, one session at a time.

A black and white photo of a hand holding a piece of textured paper with letters on circular stickers, reading "TEAK". The background shows a room with a fluorescent light on the ceiling, a window, and part of a framed picture on the wall.

What is the Mindful Movement Program?

This program began at Holland High School, developed alongside the school's social work team and support staff. What started as a small pilot, delayed two years by the pandemic, has grown into an ongoing partnership.

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An empty basketball gymnasium with a wrinkled white cloth in the foreground and an American flag on the wall. The gym has polished wooden floors, a basketball hoop, and a scoreboard above. The area appears to be prepared for an event or maintenance.

Looking Ahead

We're planning another season of Mindful Movement at Holland Public Schools, and we hope to bring this program to more schools and districts in the future. If you're an educator or administrator interested in bringing Mindful Movement to your school, we'd love to talk.