There is so much to love about yoga, but if you want something that will stand out, explore these alternative wellness (and teambuilding) activities for your next event.
Toronto’s wellness scene has plenty to offer groups seeking fresh ways to unwind. The city serves up unique experiences rooted in nature, culture and a bit of adventure.
1. Experience intimate singing bowl meditation
The concept: A personalized sound therapy session that blends gentle movement, deep relaxation and the resonance of Tibetan singing bowls—all adaptable to the goals of the group and location.
Zen’ing: Founder and instructor Cecily Ann brings a flexible approach to sound meditation. With a background in yoga and singing bowl therapy, she creates experiences that meet groups where they are, whether in a boardroom, a rented studio or a convention centre quiet room.
“With the singing bowls so close to your ears, it feels like it’s just for you, no matter how many people are in the room.”
— Cecily Ann, Zen’ing
Ann’s sessions range from gentle stretching paired with singing bowls to fully immersive sound meditations. Participants are invited to lie on their backs in a circle with their heads oriented towards the centre. Large bowls are placed between each person, close to their ears. For maximum impact, Ann recommends keeping these intimate sessions to eight people. Larger groups can enjoy hybrid formats that blend yoga, breathwork and a more spacious sound bath experience.
Good to know: Ann customizes every session based on group dynamics, comfort levels, cultural considerations and event goals. “Most of the time, planners are looking for sessions that help people relax. They may have come across sound bathing, but with the singing bowls so close to your ears, it feels like it’s just for you, no matter how many people are in the room.
2. Create calm and connection with a hands-on floral activation
The concept: A serene, sensory break where participants slow down, choose fresh blooms and craft their own take-home bouquet.
Olive and Fern Event Co.’s Bloom Boutique: Founder Freya Sayer blends her event-planning background with a creative, tactile floral experience that fits seamlessly into wellness-themed gatherings, conferences and teambuilding events. Guests step away from the bustle, select flowers that speak to them and assemble simple bouquets. No pressure, no rules, just a grounding moment of colour and scent.
“Choose the blooms that speak to you, just enjoy it and have fun.”
—Freya Sayer, Olive and Fern Event Co.
“The idea isn't that you're going to make some spectacular arrangement. It's that you use this time to take a breath, step away from whatever’s going on, choose the blooms that speak to you, just enjoy it and have fun,” says owner Freya Sayer.
Warm guidance and beautifully curated palettes help even hesitant participants feel at ease. For planners, the Bloom Boutique can appear as an open-flow activation, a guided workshop or customized floral favours.
Good to know: Completely customizable, the Bloom Boutique adapts to corporate themes, brand palettes and group sizes—from small workshop circles to large conference-style activations.
3. Experience forest bathing in High Park
The concept: Forest bathing or shinrin-yoku, which emerged in Japan in the 1980s, involves immersing yourself in a natural environment to relax and reconnect with nature.
Blooming Caravan: Emma Rooney, is a certified forest therapy guide whose mobile business facilitates forest bathing and nature experiences throughout the city. Visitors, she’s noticed, have a common reaction to Toronto’s sprawling system of ravines and parks—amazement. “‘Oh, I didn't realize there was so much green space in Toronto!’”
For forest bathing, High Park is one of Rooney’s favourites. She notes the vast urban park has spots “where you can feel very far away from the city” plus environmentally significant areas. “It's got so many types of ecosystems that people might not be familiar with or associate with Toronto.”
Rooney leads participants on winding paths to take in lake views, birdsong and forested areas, as well as a remnant Black Oak savanna, which is “a really rare ecosystem; less than 0.5% of the original landscape remains intact today,” Rooney says.
Forest bathing can be tweaked for varying fitness and ability levels, making it “a really accessible practice for quite a diverse group.”
—Emma Rooney, Blooming Caravan
As Rooney points out, the multiple benefits of time in nature (such as stress reduction) are recognized by the Canadian Medical Association, which endorses PaRx, Canada’s national nature prescription program. Physicians can prescribe time in nature, including practices such as forest bathing. She also likes that forest bathing can be tweaked for varying fitness and ability levels, making it “a really accessible practice for quite a diverse group.”
Good to know: Despite its growing popularity in Canada, many people haven’t yet had the chance to experience forest bathing. Rooney recommends hiring a certified forest therapy guide and keeping group sizes to around 20—a number that supports an intimate experience while respecting environmentally sensitive areas and local park guidelines. To locate certified forest therapy guides, check out Nature and Forest Therapy of Canada.
4. Take to the water at the Toronto Islands
The concept: Activities in and around water allow participants to relax, brush up on watercraft skills and revel in nature.
Toronto Island SUP: A 10-minute ferry ride from downtown, the Toronto Islands offer a unique chance to get away from it all. With the city’s iconic skyline as a backdrop, stand up paddleboarding (SUP) experiences give participants bliss-inducing moments amongst Lake Ontario’s waves and stunning shoreline habitat, all accompanied by knowledgeable guides.
When paddleboarding season is in full swing, typically from June until late September, Toronto Island SUP offers popular options for groups, says owner Julian Ganton. The two-hour Eco-Tour, for example, meanders past two environmentally significant areas of the Islands, two historical yacht clubs, bird migration routes and pollinator gardens. Other customizable group experiences are also available—including kayaking, SUP yoga, sunset paddling and private lessons.
Good to know: Just steps from Toronto Island SUP is the Island Outpost, Ganton’s hub for bike and game equipment rentals, plus a souvenir and tuck shop.
