It can be frustrating when bringing your team’s requests to life—securing the budget, offering exactly what they asked for—only to see a few employees attend. It’s tempting to think, “We tried, it didn’t work, not doing that again.” But here’s the reality: when it comes to joining wellness offerings, plenty of hidden barriers can stand in the way. Some are internal—like nerves or self-doubt—and others are external, which you as leaders can influence.
By understanding these challenges and intentionally shaping our messaging and workplace culture, we can empower more people to participate and truly benefit from what’s offered.
Below are my top tips to support engagement in your wellness program, and the best part is you can start implementing these today!
· Talk about it everywhere —bring up your wellness program regularly in leadership, department, and all-staff meetings. When leaders consistently highlight the importance of these initiatives, it helps normalize participation and keeps wellness top of mind for everyone.
· Encourage participation - Send a friendly all-staff email granting explicit permission to fully unplug during wellness sessions; encourage team members to silence notifications, set auto-responders, and truly step away from work. A simple leadership nudge can make a world of difference in participation and the impact of each session.
· Prioritize wellness on the calendar - Make well-being a priority in your organization’s schedule by blocking sessions on the company-wide calendar so nothing else gets double-booked or overlooked. Protecting this time sends a strong message: wellness matters here.
· Show up - Join the beginning of at least one session to visibly demonstrate leadership buy-in. Even a brief appearance can boost morale and encourage others to join. And if you’re able to stay for the full experience, you just might enjoy the positive effects yourself!
Show your team that wellness IS a priority with consistent sessions to relax and recharge during the work day!
Learn more about Love + Asana corporate wellness memberships here
About the Author:
Tiffany Lord, E-RYT & Yoga Therapeutic Specialist
Corporate Wellness Coach
Resilience + Stress Management Expert
As the founder of Love + Asana, I help busy professionals feel more resilient and and increase agency in their wellness. This all-levels, accessible approach to physical and mental health at work allows employees to easily learn and implement healthy habits during their work day…and feel the benefits ripple out into all areas of life
Since 2016, I’ve had the honor of coaching thousands of employees through virtual sessions and workshops focused on relaxation techniques, mindset, and mobility. My wellness articles have been featured in fyi50+, CO Yoga + Life, and I’m the author of three “Get With Gratitude” journals based on my online workshop series for resilience through a grateful mindset.
I completed a 200-hour training through CorePower Yoga and received my 500-hour Therapeutic Specialist certificate through Yoga Medicine to complement my background in massage therapy and Bachelor’s Degree in International Business with Cum Laude honors from the University of Colorado at Denver. As a Continuing Education Provider with the Yoga Alliance, I share my knowledge of functional movement and the mind-body connection with yoga instructors wanting to deepen their teaching toolkit.