---
name: wellness-workshop-plan
description: "Plans wellness workshops with curriculum, activity guides, handouts, and post-workshop resource lists."
allowed-tools: Read Write Glob
metadata:
  author: matthewhitcham
  version: "1.0"
---

# Wellness Workshop Plan

## When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when you need to:
- Plan a wellness workshop with structured curriculum and activities
- Create handouts and participant materials for a health or wellness event
- Design experiential activities that teach wellness concepts through practice
- Build post-workshop resource lists that extend learning

**DO NOT** use this skill for multi-day retreats (use retreat-planner), fitness class programming, or clinical therapy sessions. This is for single-session wellness workshops lasting 1-4 hours.

---

## Core Principle

A WELLNESS WORKSHOP SUCCEEDS WHEN PARTICIPANTS LEAVE WITH ONE ACTIONABLE PRACTICE THEY CAN START IMMEDIATELY — NOT A NOTEBOOK FULL OF INFORMATION THEY WILL NEVER REVIEW.

---

## Phase 1: Workshop Brief

### Required Inputs

| Input | What to Ask | Default |
|-------|------------|---------|
| **Topic** | "What is the workshop about — stress management, mindfulness, nutrition, sleep, etc.?" | No default — must be provided |
| **Audience** | "Who is attending — corporate employees, clients, public, specific group?" | General adult audience |
| **Duration** | "How long is the workshop?" | 90 minutes |
| **Format** | "In-person, virtual, or hybrid?" | In-person |
| **Group size** | "How many participants?" | 15-25 |
| **Desired outcome** | "What should participants be able to do after the workshop?" | No default — must be provided |

**GATE: Confirm topic, audience, and desired outcome before building the curriculum.**

---

## Phase 2: Curriculum Design

### Workshop Flow Template

```
## [Workshop Title] — [Duration]

### Opening (10-15 minutes)
- Welcome and introductions
- Set expectations: "By the end of today, you will..."
- Icebreaker activity related to the topic
- Ground rules: safe space, participation, phones away

### Core Content Block 1 (20-25 minutes)
- **Teach:** [Key concept #1] — mini-lecture or presentation (10 min)
- **Practice:** [Activity applying the concept] (10-15 min)
- **Share:** Brief partner or group discussion (5 min)

### Core Content Block 2 (20-25 minutes)
- **Teach:** [Key concept #2] — mini-lecture or demonstration (10 min)
- **Practice:** [Hands-on activity or exercise] (10-15 min)
- **Share:** Group discussion or reflection (5 min)

### Integration Activity (15-20 minutes)
- Combine concepts into a personal action plan
- Participants identify their #1 takeaway and commitment
- Partner accountability: share your commitment with someone

### Closing (10 minutes)
- Recap key takeaways (maximum 3 points)
- Distribute resource list and handouts
- Q&A
- Feedback form
- Thank participants and share contact information
```

### Activity Design Rules

1. **70/30 ratio** — 70% experiential (doing), 30% lecture (listening)
2. **Variety** — alternate between individual reflection, partner work, and group activities
3. **Accessibility** — every activity must have a seated/modified option
4. **Relevance** — each activity directly connects to a concept and the desired outcome
5. **Time buffers** — build in 5-10 minutes of flex time for activities that run long

---

## Phase 3: Materials

### Participant Handout Template

```
## [Workshop Title] — Participant Guide

### Key Concepts
1. [Concept 1] — [1-sentence summary]
2. [Concept 2] — [1-sentence summary]
3. [Concept 3] — [1-sentence summary]

### Activity Notes
[Space for participants to write during activities]

### My Action Plan
- One thing I will START doing: _______________
- One thing I will STOP doing: _______________
- My first step this week: _______________
- My accountability partner: _______________

### Resources
- [Book recommendation]
- [App or tool]
- [Website or article]
- [Your contact info for follow-up]
```

### Facilitator Guide

For each activity, document:
- Setup instructions and materials needed
- Exact timing and transitions
- Facilitation prompts and questions
- Common participant questions and your responses
- Backup activity if the primary one falls flat

### Materials Checklist

- [ ] Presentation slides (if applicable)
- [ ] Participant handouts (printed or digital)
- [ ] Activity supplies (pens, paper, props)
- [ ] Feedback forms
- [ ] Timer or clock visible to facilitator
- [ ] Name tags (if participants do not know each other)
- [ ] Speaker or music player (if using audio)
- [ ] Water and light refreshments

---

## Phase 4: Follow-Up

### Post-Workshop Email (Send within 24 hours)

```
Subject: Your [Workshop Name] resources + next steps

Hi [Name],

Thank you for joining [workshop name] yesterday. I hope you walked away
with at least one practice you can start this week.

Here are your resources:
- [Link to handout / PDF]
- [Link to recommended book or app]
- [Link to follow-up content or community]

Remember your commitment from the workshop — [reference the action plan exercise].
What is your first step this week?

If you have questions or want to go deeper on anything we covered,
reply to this email. I'm here to help.

[Your name]
```

### Feedback Collection

Ask 5 questions maximum:

1. Overall satisfaction (1-5 stars)
2. What was the most valuable part of the workshop?
3. What would you change or improve?
4. Would you recommend this workshop to a colleague or friend?
5. Are you interested in future workshops? (topic suggestions welcome)

---

## Anti-Patterns

- **All lecture, no practice** — a 90-minute talk is not a workshop. People learn by doing.
- **Too many concepts** — covering 10 topics guarantees no one remembers any of them. Focus on 2-3 key ideas.
- **No action plan** — if participants leave without a specific commitment, the workshop impact fades within days.
- **Ignoring the room** — read participant energy. If they are disengaged, shift to an activity. Do not push through slides.
- **No follow-up** — a single touchpoint event has limited impact. Follow-up resources and check-ins extend the value.

---

## Recovery

- **Low registration numbers:** Reduce the minimum, partner with a venue or organization that provides the audience, or offer a free introductory session.
- **Mixed experience levels in the group:** Design activities with beginner and advanced options. Let participants self-select their level.
- **Activity runs too long or falls flat:** Have a backup activity ready. Cut gracefully — "Let's capture our key insight and move on."
- **Participants are disengaged:** Switch to small group discussion or a movement-based activity. Break the pattern.
- **Negative feedback on a section:** Review and revise before the next delivery. Thank the participant for the honesty.
