About

About Me

Catherine Vial – Founder, MindBody Pathways™

I am an experienced educator and professional learning facilitator with over 30 years’ experience teaching in secondary schools and more than a decade serving as a Head Teacher. My professional life has been dedicated to supporting the intellectual, emotional, and developmental growth of young people. Over time, this work has expanded into a broader focus on how educators and schools can respond thoughtfully to the increasing demands placed on attention, wellbeing, and learning in contemporary education.

My career has been grounded in quality education, alongside a long-standing commitment to supporting student wellbeing, teacher sustainability, and effective learning environments. I hold a Bachelor of Education, Graduate Certificate in Applied Buddhist Studies, Diploma in Mindfulness and Neuroplasticity and for more than 12 years I have researched, developed, and delivered mindfulness-based programs within educational settings.

In my role as Mindfulness Project Officer at Nan Tien Institute and lecturer for the Mindfulness Schools program, I have trained educators across Australia in embedding mindful awareness into classrooms, wellbeing programs, and whole-school cultures. My work focuses on helping educators understand the mechanisms of mindfulness, attention, and stress, and on translating this understanding into practical, classroom-ready approaches that support both learning and wellbeing.

I have designed and delivered a wide range of initiatives, including:
• Two-day Mindfulness in Schools professional learning programs
• Whole-day and extended professional development workshops
• 120-minute mindful awareness workshops delivered as part of staff development days
• 6-week stress reduction programs for educators
• Year 7–10 Mindfulness wellbeing workshops
• School-based intervention programs, including Schools for Success
• Transition programs and mindfulness programs delivered at school retreats
• and free 12-week teacher/community mindfulness education programs

Most recently, I delivered a 120-minute professional development workshop in a NSW secondary school, supporting staff to develop a shared understanding of mindfulness, attention, and nervous system regulation, and to apply these concepts meaningfully within teaching practice and student wellbeing frameworks.

My work has also included international collaboration. I co-led a mindfulness initiative between Australia and Slovenia, where my program was implemented in high school environments in both countries. As part of this collaboration, I facilitated a mindfulness retreat in Croatia for participating students, educators, and researchers, contributing to cross-cultural dialogue around education, wellbeing, and mindful pedagogy.

In addition to my work in schools, I am a certified Holistic Life Coach and Mind–Body Practitioner. This qualification informs my understanding of adult learning, reflective practice, and professional wellbeing, and supports my work with educators by providing insight into stress, attention, and self-regulation—while maintaining a secular, evidence-informed educational framework.

My approach is professional, practical, and grounded in educational realities. I work with schools and educators to build calm, focused learning environments and to support sustainable teaching practice through a clear, research-informed understanding of mindfulness and attention.